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SsangYong is perfecting its EV aspirations

The e-SIV compact SUV could pass for a production unit

If SsangYong launched this electric SUV now, a number of customers would fall for it. PHOTO FROM SSANGYONG

SsangYong Motor Company is an automaker that specializes in SUVs. With the preponderance these days of electric sport-utes both concept and production, it only makes sense that the South Korean brand creates its own. So here is the e-SIV (short for “Electronic Smart Interface Vehicle”), SsangYong’s centerpiece display at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. It is the brand’s fifth EV concept in the past eight years—after the KEV1 in 2010, the KEV2 in 2011, the e-XIV in 2012 and the Tivoli EV-R in 2015—underscoring the company’s serious intent to focus on electric cars in the near future.

At 4,460mm long, the e-SIV concept is just a little over 100mm shorter than the CR-V. PHOTOS FROM SSANGYONG

The e-SIV is a compact electric SUV that measures 4,460mm long, 1,870mm wide and 1,630mm tall. It is powered by a 140kW electric motor that has a cruising range of 320km to 450km, depending on your driving style and traffic conditions. The 61.5kWh battery can be recharged to 80% capacity in just 50 minutes. The vehicle’s maximum speed has been pegged at 150km/h.

The concept car is best viewed from the rear. PHOTOS FROM SSANGYONG

The e-SIV’s modern-looking exterior is supposed to showcase SsangYong’s “New Horizon, Smart Dynamism” design language. According to a press statement, the main values in the styling are youthfulness and sportiness.

Inside, the concept EV has four individual bucket seats and a digital dashboard that looks like part of the props for the next superhero movie from Marvel Studios. Autonomous driving and connectivity are the other highlights of the vehicle, which explains the cockpit’s futuristic appearance.

The white cabin looks gorgeous in the virtual world, but would be a pain to maintain. PHOTOS FROM SSANGYONG

SsangYong is expected to introduce its first battery electric vehicle by 2020. That will be two fleeting years from now. Judging by the e-SIV, there’s reason to hope that the production version will be a good one.



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist for 26 years. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



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