Ssangyong XLV concept previews next-gen compact SUV

Unveiled at this week's 2014 Geneva motor show, Ssangyong says the XLV (for ‘exciting smart lifestyle vehicle’) provides an insight into its all-new Mazda CX-5 rival that will become one of the brand’s “core strategic models to underpin its future growth”.

The XLV concept measures 4430mm long, 1845mm wide, 1600mm tall and rides on a 2600mm wheelbase, giving it similar proportions to the top-selling Mazda.

The latest in a long line of concepts that started with the XIV-1 in 2011, the Ssangyong XLV showcases the brand’s new ‘Nature born – 3 Motion’ design philosophy that aims to convey the values of the words “robust, specialty and premium”.

The concept’s cabin features a unique 2+2+2+1 seating layout, with the seventh seat sliding between the second and third passenger rows, while occupants can adjust the transparency of the double-layer glass roof to let the desired amount of light in.

Orange honeycomb graphics line the dashboard, which features a high-resolution instrument cluster and a central display screen linked to a smartphone that slots snuggly beneath it in the centre console.

The XLV concept’s hybrid powertrain combines a 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with a 10kW electric motor and a 500kWh lithium-ion battery, and claims average CO₂ emissions as low as 98 grams per kilometre and combined cycle fuel consumption around 3.7 litres per 100km.

Adaptive front lighting and cruise control, auto emergency braking and lane-keep assistance headline the list of advanced driver assist features Ssangyong plans to introduce to its international showrooms in the near future.

Production of the XLV is set to follow the introduction of the sub-compact X100, which will become the first all-new Ssangyong SUV since the Korando of 2010 when it launches in the first half of 2015.