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.

The highly awaited Hyundai ix25 has been crash tested in China. Tested under C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Program), the compact SUV scored a 5/5 safety rating. The car's ranking was ascertained after putting it though 4 tests. Namely, the 100 percent overlap frontal impact test, 40 percent overlap frontal impact test, side impact test and whiplash test.

In the 100 percent overlap frontal impact test, the ix25 scored 15.89 points out of 18, while traveling at a speed of 50 km/h. In the 40 percent overlap frontal impact test, the SUV scored 14.11 points out of a possible 18, while traveling at a speed of 64 km/h.

In the side impact test, a deformable barrier was driven into the centre of the car at a speed of around 51 km/h. Here too, the ix25 excelled and scored a full 18/18. The whiplash test also saw the Nissan Terrano rival come away with full marks.

Hyundai will launch the ix25 in India this year and is targeting 90% localized production, in order to price it competitively.

Source: auto.163

The Renault Duster has proven to be a one model saviour for the French car maker in India. Under either the Renault or Dacia badges, the compact SUV is very popular in markets such as India, Brazil and certain European nations. The next generation Duster is likely to go on sale in 2017, and a report suggests that the SUV will see an increase in length, along with the provision of 2 more seats at the back.

According to the report by a French publication, the new Duster will see an improvement in space at the back in order to better accommodate 2 additional passengers. It is important to note that the Duster is already offered with the option of adding a jump seat as an accessory. However, the jump seat is quite small and is ideally usable only for small children. Expected to be revealed towards the end of 2016, the new Duster will get design inputs from the Oroch concept, which was showcased at the 2014 Sao Paulo motor show. The new Duster is also likely to see a reduction in weight along with more efficient petrol and diesel engines.

Source: Cardisiac

Official images of the SsangYong Tivoli have been released. Codenamed 'X100', the Tivoli compact SUV is scheduled to make its debut in January 2015. The Tivoli represents a shift in SsangYong design. Exterior features include day time running LEDs, a slim black radiator grill, beefed up fenders, roof rails, blackened A & B pillars and integrated indicators in the ORVMs.

An interior image shows the Tivoli with red-black dual tone upholstery, silver surrounds for the AC vents and a flat bottomed steering wheel with integrated controls. Also shown in the image are the analogue speedometer and tachometer with a digital MID in between, a central infotainment screen with map support and automatic climate control. Another sketch shows the Tivoli with 7 airbags. Reports suggest that the Tivoli will be offered with 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines.

While sales in South Korea will begin in January, global sales are expected to begin mid-2015. Mahindra & Mahindra have been tight lipped on whether the Tivoli will be brought to India. The compact SUV crosses the 4-metre length mark, putting it in the league of rivals like the Nissan Terrano and yet to be launched Hyundai IX 25.

Earlier this week, the upcoming YBA compact SUV from Maruti Suzuki was revealed in a spy shot. Now another image has been put up and this time the rear of the car has been revealed.

The YBA will have a length of less than 4 metres. It will be Maruti's rival for the Ford EcoSport. The car's design is influenced by the Suzuki iV-4 concept, which was showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. For the production version, the company is likely to tone down the aggressive look of the concept. The greenhouse of the SUV looks remarkably similar to that of the Swift hatchback.

The image shows the rear windscreen with a single wiper, roof-mounted rear spoiler and bumper with a silver skid plate and reflectors at both ends. Reports say that Maruti will provide a tail gate-mounted spare wheel for the YBA. However, spy images of the Ford EcoSport facelift suggest that the car could carry its spare wheel elsewhere and Maruti might be tempted to follow.

The YBA is likely to be powered by engines from Maruti's current range. However, there are rumours that it could get a new Fiat-sourced 1.5-litre diesel engine in place of the 1.3-litre DDiS unit, which is a downsized version of the 1.6-litre JTD engine. It is likely to produce more than 100 bhp.

The YBA could also be equipped with Suzuki's AllGrip all-wheel drive system, which will give it an advantage over the front-wheel drive only Ford EcoSport. The SUV is rumoured to be slated for a 2016 Auto Expo debut.

Source: Autocar India

The upcoming compact SUV from Maruti Suzuki has been revealed in a spy shot. Codenamed YBA, the SUV will be less than 4 metres in length and will be Maruti's rival for the Ford EcoSport.

The image of the YBA put up by Autocar India suggests that its design is influenced by the Suzuki iV-4 concept that was displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. The 2015 Vitara, which was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in October this year, has also been based on the iV-4. The YBA is more compact than the Vitara. With a raked windscreen and tapering side windows, the greenhouse of the SUV looks remarkably similar to that of the Swift hatchback.

Unlike the iV-4, the YBA has a sober-looking front grille with horizontal slats and the bumper houses a wide air dam. The prominent skid plate seen on the concept seems to have been left out as well. The rear of the YBA is not visible in the image. However, it is believed that the car will have angular tail lamps and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel.

The YBA will slot below the S-Cross and is likely to be powered by engines from Maruti's current range. The SUV is rumoured to be slated for a 2016 Auto Expo debut.

Images of a new low-cost compact SUV, believed to be from Renault have emerged on the internet. The SUV is smaller than the Duster and is likely to be sold in emerging markets in the future.

Going be the images, the test mule of the SUV appears to be very basic. It has a grille that resembles that of the Duster facelift, small wheels and thin tyres, budget ORVMs and single windscreen wiper. The lights of the car resemble those on other Dacia models.

The SUV could be manufactured in either Morocco or Algeria. It is likely to be heading to various emerging markets including Russia.

Renault has not revealed any plans of bringing this car to India. However, with the compact SUV market being as lucrative as it is and more and more manufacturers planning to join the fray, the French manufacturer will not want to be left behind.

Source: World Car Fans

Compact SUVs and crossovers have quite caught the fantasy of Indian car-buyers over the last few years. Renault's Duster and Ford EcoSport paved the way to this all new segment. Soon, manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Skoda and Toyota tried to grab a share in this segment by introducing beefed up versions of their regular hatchbacks. However, all of them received a lukewarm response by the market.

Hyundai's 'me too' contender - a beefed up version of its premium hatchback - Elite i20, has been spied by a Motorbash reader. The car will receive minimal (if any) mechanical changes apart from a butch looking body kit, different alloy wheels and roof-rails to give it an SUV-ish look. The Cross Polo, Fabia Scout and the Etios Cross, all came when their respective hatchbacks were fairly old and required some spice to sustain interest in the products. What is confusing though, is that the Elite i20 has been launched only a couple of months ago and is doing fairly well too, so this move by Hyundai seems quite interesting. This could possibly be an interim move by Hyundai to enter the compact SUV space before the ix25 hits the showrooms sometime in 2015.

The Elite i20 crossover will face some serious heat from Fiat, which is geared up to launch the Avventura crossover - which includes a rear mounted spare wheel, higher ground clearance and more apart from plastic body claddings over the regular Punto Evo.

The sub 4-metre compact sedan segment is surely catching the fantasy of car manufacturers in India. We had reported that Volkswagen India is said to be in the final stages of approval for a sub 4-metre sedan based on the Polo hatchback. Finally, the concept has got the green light. This car is likely to have the same wheelbase as the VW Polo. We aren't sure how well a boot will be incorporated to the already long (3971mm) Polo, without hampering the Polo's understated design.

This sub 4-metre sedan should hit the showrooms within the next 2 years. VW might command a premium for this car over its direct competitors as it is expected to be positioned above all current sub 4-metre sedans. The segment is currently dominated by Maruti's Dzire followed by Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze and Tata Zest.

Another segment that VW is eyeing on is the compact SUV segment. We had earlier reported that the sub 4-metre Taigun is not going to come to India. VW is currently still undecided about the platform which this new SUV will be based.

Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser, VW board member, in an interview with Autocar says that VW is also contemplating to include more features and technology in their cars. Expect tech like Mirror link (compatible with Smartphone) and Apple's Car Play to be introduced with this new SUV. The company is targeting to launch this SUV within the next 3 years in India.

Italian carmaker, Fiat is rumoured to be working on a new compact SUV, which it plans to pit against the Ford EcoSport. Codenamed X3U, it is likely to use the company's modular 326 platform and might be displayed at the 2016 Auto Expo.

The X3U is expected to have aggressive styling with good handling and ride. A new 1.5-litre diesel engine is likely to power the car. This unit is a downsized version of Fiat's 1.6-litre JTD power plant. The downsizing will help Fiat avail of tax benefits, which should allow it to price the SUV more competitively. The engine is expected to produce more than 100 bhp and an Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) is likely to be offered on the car as well.

The compact SUV segment is growing at a fast pace. The Ford EcoSport is the only contender that is under four metres in length. The X3U will look to capture a part of the sub 4-metre SUV segment and is expected to be launched in early 2016.

Source: Autocar India

Note: Images used for representation purpose only.