Delhi Auto Expo: Mahindra to debut the SsangYong Tivoli in India
The new SUV is set to lock horns with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster etc
We have long been advocating the case for the SsangYong Tivoli’s entry in India, and Mahindra seems to have finally answered the calls. After its launch in South Korea earlier in 2015, the Indian carmaker is now set to debut the new SUV in India at the Delhi Auto Expo in February, reports have claimed.
Although Mahindra is the largest manufacturer of SUVs in India, their presence in the sub-4 meter SUV segment had been missing till they announced the TUV300. The new TUV of course will go up against the likes of the Ford EcoSport but Mahindra needed a soft-roader type SUV to put up a fight against the Hyundai Creta. And this is where the SsangYong Tivoli will stake its claim.
The Tivoli seeks design inspiration from its European SUV counterparts and could appear more attractive than its competitors once it arrives in the Indian market. All in all, with its bold lines, wide and muscular wheel arcs and other modern design elements, the car adheres to most of Mahindra’s design philosophy while spicing it up with some Korean-European ideas.
While the Tivoli was originally only launched with a petrol engine, it also got a diesel version later on which of course would be the apt one to get to India. The petrol engine is a 1.6-litre motor that makes 128PS of peak power and 160Nm of peak torque. The diesel on the other hand is a 1.6-litre motor that gets 116PS of peak power and 300Nm of peak power. Both engines come with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic gearbox and are offered with a front wheel drive or all-wheel drive setup.
The pricing of the SsangYong Tivoli could define its success, or failure, in the Indian market. Even with prices starting at about 11 lakhs for the lower end trim levels and going up to about 14 lakhs for the top of the line car, there could be a huge market in this segment that features the likes of the Hyundai Creta, the Renault Duster and Toyota Innova.
Courtesy : Zigwheels