SsangYong SUVs to capture 20 percent market in Korea

New vision to bring new models and higher sales, says SsangYong, South Korea's smallest carmaker.

SsangYong revealed a new brand development and sales growth strategy for the next few years.

Called "Aspiration 2016" the new ambitious vision will not only result in more new models hitting the streets of South Korea and other markets, but also means the carmaker will increase its sales significantly and become more competitive player in the automotive field.

According to company's CEO Lee Yoo-il, SsangYong's vision is to become the most innovative and respected Korean automobile company.

Speaking of sales, the carmaker wants to lift its sales from less than 100.000 units achieved last year, to more than 160.000 vehicles by 2013 and hit the 300.000 sales by 2016.

At the same time, SsangYong aims to capture around 20 percent of domestic SUV market share. The company is recognized as a niche carmaker focusing on SUV and crossover vehicle production.

To achieve the above-mentioned sales goals, SsangYong revealed it plans to unveil five facelift models by 2013 and four completely new models by 2016. Some of them will also be zero-pollution electric vehicles.

One of those 4 new vehicles will be the production model of the XIV concept crossover vehicle, which made its debut at Frankfurt Auto Show, last month. The Kia-Soul-crossover sized CUV will feature sporty design and plenty of features at affordable price, say sources close to the carmaker.

You can see more details about the exciting XIV concept by following the link: SsangYong XIV-1

Meanwhile, Hyundai also intends to launch a B-segment SUV withing a year or two, meaning the battle for consumer will intensify further with new-coming models from Hyundai and SsangYong. And Kia might add its share by unveiling the next-generation all-wheel-drive Kia Soul!

Hyundai, SsangYong lift sales targets

SsangYong is the smallest South Korean carmaker. Actually, it is not even Korean anymore, since it was acquired by India's Mahindra & Mahindra automobile maker a while ago. Still, the company has its own know-how and production plants in Korea, therefore we can say it's remains to be a "Korean" car brand.

Well, recently, the SsangYong revealed its plans to increase its 2012 global sales by introducing several new vehicles, including the hot-looking XIV concept car, which was unveiled at Frankfurt Auto Show last week. In addition, the carmaker also plans to introduce a mid-size pick-up truck and offer it at International markets.

SsangYong plans to sell 40.000 new vehicles in the European market in 2012. Of the total sales target set for next year, 25.000 units are expected to be sold in Russia, while sales in Britain is scheduled to reach 3.500 units. The rest of the planned sales quota will be sold over the rest of Europe.

SsangYong's domestic rival, Hyundai Motor Company also announced earlier this week that it plans to sell more cars worldwide than planned earlier. Combined sales of Hyundai vehicles are expected to hit 4 million units, up 100.000 units from 3.9 million planned, initially.

The fastest growing car maker on the planet puts high hopes on both of just-recently-launched vehicles, the all-new Hyundai i40 and 2012 Hyundai i30. Especially the latter has just received a very positive response from European media and consumers. FYI, it was launched on Tuesday in Frankfurt.

Hyundai succeeded to make the new i30 hatch to look more European than the outgoing model, therefore the company expects it to be in a very high demand from the beginning of its sales scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2012.

Hyundai's European market share stood at 2.6 percent in 2010, falling short of its 4.6 percent in the U.S. However, new models are expected to lift Hyundai sales in Europe by about 10 percent to as much as 400.000 units this year.

SsangYong makes comeback with new XIV-1 concept crossover!

SsangYong, the South Korean fourth largest carmaker, is ready to make a full comeback with release of a 2012 Kia Soul-sized crossover vehicle.

Currently in the concept form, the XIV-1 is more than just a design study and previews the all-new B-segment crossover vehicle that is expected to hit the market within two years.

Initially, the yet-unnamed crossover vehicle from SsangYong will be sold in Korea, while later the carmaker will also offer it at markets outside Korea. This means, the model could soon appear in Europe, Russia and perhaps even in United States.

According to insider reports, SsangYong want to bring the CUV out as quick as possible!

Honestly, we really like the styling of a concept car. It looks by far the most appealing product SsangYong has ever created. Eventhough still in concept form, we are pretty sure that the final model will look pretty close to the concept released at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, yesterday.

Hyundai, Kia watch-out, cause this is a striking crossover vehicle!

Here are a few additional images of the highly-attractive XIV-1 concept:

Kia Optima Hybrid record

Kia is one of the leaders in the automobile industry when it comes to fuel economy. The carmaker has proved that recently by celebrating the setting of a new Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid gasoline vehicle, while driving across all 48 States of the USA!

Drivers Wayne Gerdes from Wadsworth, Illinois, and Chris Bernius from New York City, successfully piloted a factory-standard 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid sedan through a 7,899 mile route across America and achieved an incredible average fuel consumption of 64.55 mpg US (3.64 l/100 km), beating the car’s official EPA highway fuel consumption figure by 61.37 per cent.

Kia's 48 state challenge was completed in 14 days driving an average of 564 miles per day. The Optima Hybrid used just over 5.5 tanks of gasoline to complete the route, recording an average distance of 1,418 miles between fill-ups. To comply with Guinness World Record guidelines, the Optima Hybrid had to carry two people and their luggage throughout the journey.

The record attempt was verified by Philip Robertson, Adjudicator at Guinness World Records, who also presented the drivers with their Guinness World Record certificate at an official handover ceremony at Kia Motors’ manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia on September 12.

The record set is officially titled “Lowest fuel consumption driving through all 48 contiguous U.S. states in a gasoline hybrid car,” which is a new category created by Guinness World Records. In order to qualify for a new record, the Kia Optima Hybrid was required to achieve a minimum of 52.27 mpg, which the fuel-sipping Optima Hybrid exceeded by 23 per cent.

After a send-off by local dignitaries and Kia team members on August 26 at Kia’s manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia, the drivers departed on their epic journey in a clockwise direction, with the two drivers averaging approximately 564 miles per day. They finished their route in the city of Greenville, South Carolina, just over two weeks later on September 9. After a rigorous accreditation process by Guinness World Records, the drivers and car were transported to West Point for the closing ceremony and celebration.

Senior Executive Vice President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, Thomas Oh, commented, “Kia Motors is deeply proud to have set a new Guinness World Record. It is testament to the quality of the design, engineering and production methods of the Kia Optima Hybrid. The drivers had to complete their unsupported drive through all kinds of American terrain and weather conditions and they did it without a single hitch from the Optima Hybrid while setting what is such an impressive fuel consumption figure.

“While travelling across the United States the Optima Hybrid experienced temperatures ranging from more than 118 degrees Fahrenheit to less than freezing point. The team climbed through the formidable Rocky mountain chain and negotiated rush hour traffic in Chicago, New York City and Las Vegas – which makes the Optima Hybrid’s fuel consumption figure all the more impressive,” added Mr Oh.

Record-breaking driver, Wayne Gerdes, said, "The Kia Optima Hybrid was the perfect vehicle for this long road trip. It is spacious, comfortable and fun-to-drive, and the parallel gasoline-electric powertrain provided considerable efficiency at highway speeds and the car performed flawlessly throughout the 7,899 mile drive."

Find more about Kia cars and other South Korean carmakers here...

SsangYong XUV 1

SsangYong Motor Company, which was acquired by Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra, has revealed plans to unveil a brand-new crossover vehicle in September!



Named SsangYong XUV 1, the concept crossover is scheduled to make its official public premiere at the forth-coming Frankfurt Auto Show. The carmaker describes its new concept CUV as a "premium Crossover Utility Vehicle" that belongs to sub-compact car segment.



This means the XUV 1 concept is about the same size as Nissan Juke or Kia Soul crossover and slightly smaller than new Hyundai Tucson CUV.



In terms of design, the concept vehicle boasts attractive exterior layout (see the official teaser images) with a plethora of unique styling elements.The SsangYong XUV 1 features a wraparound wind-screen that extends the glass area to the large C-pillars and coach style doors.



Inside, the concept car features flexible seating layouts while all chief functions inside the cabin are controlled via mobile devices and smart instruments...



More details will be available once the vehicle makes its public debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show (next month).



What does this mean for Hyundai and other carmakers? Simply, more competition!

SsangYong XUV 1 image gallery: