2015 SsangYong Tivoli launched in South Korea

SsangYong has officially launched their "first compact global SUV" - the Tivoli. Developed over a period of four years, the model has been launched in South Korea. The Tivoli is based on SsangYong's “Nature-born 3Motion” design philosophy. SsangYong will offer dual-tone body and roof options, while the SUV will be available with black, beige, and red interior colours as well. The Tivoli uses high-strength steel (HSS) for 71.4% of its body, and ultrahigh-strength steel (UHSS) for the remainder.

The Tivoli is powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine that produces 124 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 157 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm. The SUV is offered with both, 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Claimed fuel economy figures come in at 12 km/l and 12.3 km/l for the automatic and manual variants respectively. The automatic, which SsangYong claims is "as fast as a Dual Clutch Transmission", weighs in at 1,300 kgs while the manual is lighter by 30 kgs.

Length x width x height x wheelbase dimensions come in at 4,195 mm x 1,795 mm x 1,590 mm x 2,600 mm respectively. The Tivoli features a MacPherson strut / Torsion Beam suspension setup and is available with 16-inch or 18-inch wheels. The car is brought to a stop by 4 disc brakes, with safety features including 7 airbags, ESP and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The feature list includes a 7-inch infotainment system screen, 6 speaker sound system, automatic climate control, ventilated driver’s seat, heated steering wheel and heated second-row seats. Luggage space on the Tivoli comes in at 423 litres and the second row seats fall flat to free up additional storage space.

SsangYong has priced the Tivoli at Korean Won 16.3 million (approximately Rs. 9.31 lacs) for the TX (M/T) variant; 17.9 million (approximately Rs. 10.22 lac) for the TX (A/T) version; 19.9 million (approximately Rs. 11.36 lacs) for the VX version and 22.2-23.7 million (approximately Rs. 12.68 lakh – Rs. 13.53 lakh) for the LX variant. The company plans to sell up to 100,000 units of the new model annually of which 40,000 units are planned for the Korea market while the rest would be dedicated for exports. International sales of the Tivoli should begin in the second half of 2015.

The Tivoli's launch possibility in India is still up for speculation, but if it is brought here in its current form, it will compete with models like the upcoming Hyundai IX 25 and Nissan Terrano.