Ssangyong Eyes U.S. with New SUV

South Korea's Ssangyong Motor Co. is considering a new model that could be sold in the U.S., according to several media reports. The vehicle would be based off the all-new Tivoli subcompact SUV that Ssangyong currently is launching in various global markets, but with design cues borrowed from this year's XAV concept vehicle.

Ssangyong, which is Korea's fourth largest automaker, has never sold a vehicle in North America. Doing so, company officials acknowledge, would require a huge investment and altering its current distributor-based sales model. But the 62-year-old company believes that it could be successful in the U.S. with a Jeep Wrangler-type SUV that also could help it expand its current sales in Europe.

Ssangyong officials tell Autocar that the company has enough production capacity to build a third variant of the Tivoli at its Pyeongtaek, Korea, plant. A second derivative a long-wheelbase, seven-seat version of the base model will be added next year.

The Tivoli is the first vehicle to be fully developed under India's Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., which acquired a 70% stake (now 80%) in Ssangyong in 2011. Ssangyong has invested 350 billion won ($314 million) in the program over the last 42 months.

Ssangyong is targeting global sales of 100,000 units next year for the Tivoli. The vehicle competes against the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur.

Built on a 102-inch wheelbase, the Tivoli stretches to an overall length of 165 inches and stands nearly 63 inches tall. The front-wheel-drive model features McPherson struts and springs in the front, and a torsion beam suspension with rear-mounted springs in the rear.

The tiny SUV features a host of safety features, including seven airbags and extensive use of high-strength steel in the body construction. Design cues are shared with Ssangyong's third-generation Koranado SUV.

Buyers can choose between a pair of 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines (a gasoline or diesel mill) mated with either a manual or automatic 6-speed transmission. A smaller turbocharged engine also is in the works and a plug-in hybrid variant is being considered.