SsangYong Tivoli – the latest compact SUV from Korea – launched

In an event that took place in Seoul Korea, SsangYong Motor Company, a part of the Mahindra Group, launched its Tivoli, a compact SUV from its stable. The car has been priced at $15,000 to $21,500. The car is also the first product from the Korean carmaker after Mahindra bought 70% stake in the company in 2011.

The compact SUV, based on the platform of X100, has been developed in a period of almost four years with an investment of 320 million dollars. Out of the 1,00,000 units the company plans to manufacture in the first stage, 60,000 units are expected to be sold in the export markets.

Speaking on the launch of the Tivoli, Mr. Pawan Kumar Goenka, President – Mahindra Automotive Division said, “The Tivoli is the result of 42 months of hard work and the investment of 350 billion Korean Won (£212m). With the help of the Tivoli, SsangYong will fulfil its ambition of being the most innovative and respected Korean motor company.”

The car will be powered by either a 1.6-litre petrol engine or a 1.6-litre diesel. The petrol engine will produce 124bhp of maximum power and 157Nm of maximum torque. The diesel engine will arrive later, towards the end of 2015. The diesel variant will have the four-wheel drive option too. The car will also come with a 5-year unlimited warranty. Another possibility is of a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine that Mahindra and SsangYong are developing together as you read this news.

The Tivoli will go on sale in the UK market this summer and should, ideally, reach India by mid-2015.