While most of the eyes were on the latest and greatest debuting in New York, the SsangYong XAV concept SUV hit the ramp at the 2015 Seoul Motor Show.
Power for the XAV — short for eXciting Authentic SUV — comes from a hybrid powertrain featuring a 1.6-liter engine paired to a so-called e-4WD system that places electric motors to the front and rear wheels, linked to a lithium-ion pack. No power figures were given for the setup.
SsangYong says the design for the concept is meant to evoke an “authentic” SUV experience, with strong masculine lines up front — also a retro design based on the automaker’s second-gen Korando; the first was a Jeep CJ-7 clone — and an equally strong backside with storage space for tools and emergency equipment, augmented by an oversized rear bumper.
Speaking of the Korando, the XAV is a preview of what the fourth-gen SUV could look like, and would join the smaller Tivoli in SsangYong’s collection as it and its parent company, Mahindra & Mahindra, look for a way to break into the North American market.
Toyota called…no, wait…that’s just too easy.
It’s Monday morning, easy is what we’re looking for.
“What if a radioactive KIA Soul bit an FJ Cruiser..?”
Ssyangyong make some weird looking vehicles.
The quality of their products is supposed to be exceptional good. A throwback from it’s MB ties.
Their MB ties amounted to the original ML-Class.
I wouldn’t call a vehicle that fought the first-generation Focus for the “most recalls in a year” award, and the Land Rover for “worst reliability” to be something to crow about.
I concur. The original M-Class was subpar from nearly every standpoint, and was completely shown up by the X5 and MDX.
I can’t say I would agree with the exceptional quality assumption, given the number of rattle trap, smelly older Ssangyong vehicles I saw driving around in S. Korea. They were in various states of trim falling off and collapsed suspensions.
@CoreyDL,
The Ssyangyong pickups we get are of a better quality than what the Japanese can produce.
I do agree some of the older Ssyangyongs could of been better. The drivetrains were quite good.
I should have made my comment clearer.
The right form factor but styled by Crab People.
Hmm…the driver’s side tires appear to be mounted backwards. Anyone else seeing that?
They don’t appear different from the passenger’s side wheels. They all appear to have that weirdly flat-surfaced hub with deep recesses for the lug nuts.
Plastic “hub caps”?
I was more referring to the tread pattern. If you look at the rear shot it looks like on the driver’s side the directional pattern is mounted so the grooves push water to the center of the tire as it rolls, while on the passenger’s side the “point” of the tread (at the center) would hit the road surface first pushing water to the tread shoulders. That’s how a directional tire should be mounted on a 4-wheeled vehicle.
Wow.. you’re right. The more direct rear view clearly shows that.
Having half your car be more susceptible to hydroplaning than the other half would certainly make for an eXciting driving eXperience!
I didn’t realize SsangYong had changed its logo.
It’s looked like that since at least 2008. Which one were you thinking of?
Why is it sticking its tongue out at me?
Shooting marbles?
Holy fook. It looks like a DUKW. Which almost rhymes with Juke. It will be a face-off for the homeliest vehicle on the road.