With SsangYong specializing in building crossovers,
it was only a matter of time before they showed us their latest idea of what a
futuristic people hauler should look like, outside and in. This concept‘s name
is the e-SIV, which stands for Electronic Smart Interface Vehicle, and by the
looks of it, it seems to tick all necessary boxes with regards to powertrain
technology, connectivity and active safety systems.
The e-SIV’s shape and size will also dictate what
SsangYong’s next generation C-segment SUV will look like, blending a sloping
roofline with the ruggedness of a proper utility vehicle, yet one that’s also
aerodynamically efficient.
Inside, there is a user-centric interface, four
independent bucket seats, a full length information display and a second-row
center console that allows passengers in the rear access to main console
information. Visually though, the cabin is all about having a bright and modern
ambiance, utilizing a Geonic pattern on the soft materials, to go with the
ambient lighting around the instrument panel and door trims.
The e-SIV has a lot of
features going for it, such as its machine learning-based voice recognition
tech, autonomous navigation and radar and camera sensors – at its best, this
concept boasts Level 3 autonomous capabilities, once you add another sensor to
increase the automatic lane and active driving functions.
The connected car function in the e-SIV can not only
monitor the SUV’s battery remotely during charging, but will also predict the
driving range based on the amount of charge. Then there is the telematics
service, which allows for several functions to be controlled remotely – such as
turning the power on and off, working the air con, car diagnostics and vehicle
management, emergency driving and even driver safety support.
As for the infotainment service, this is where
machine learning speech recognition comes into play, working to manage music,
radio and inter-connected home control. The SsangYong e-SIV concept measures
4,460 mm in length, 1,870 mm in width, 1,630 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,675 mm. Thanks to its 187
HP motor and 61.5 kWh battery, it can cruise for anywhere between 320 and 450
km between charges, at speeds of up to 150 km/h.
