Skip to main content

SsangYong to show convertible crossover at Geneva

ssangyong xiv-2Does anyone need a convertible SUV? Korean automaker SsangYong apparently thinks so; its XIV-2 (eXciting User Interface Vehicle 2) concept has the tall body of a crossover, but also a folding roof. The concept will be debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. Company spokespeople said Ssangyong was trying to “blend the characteristics of a robust and powerful SUV with the dynamic style of an open-top sports coupe.”

The XIV-2 is based on the XIV-1 concept SsangYong showed at the Frankfurt show, so it gets a steeply raked windshield and low roof, not unlike the Range Rover Evoque’s, and large alloy wheels. The rear diffuser and centered exhaust outlet give the XIV-2 performance credentials it probably doesn’t deserve. Power comes from 1.6-liter gas or diesel engines.

The top borrows its design from the Fiat 500C. Like the tiny Fiat, the XIV-2’s top slides back between fixed roof rails and folds into a stack on top of the tailgate, blocking rear visibility.

Never heard of SsangYong? It’s a Korean company that primarily builds SUVs and vans. It sells them in its home market and others, including Europe, but not the United States. That is probably a good thing, because SsangYongs are pretty ugly; Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson said the cars looked like they were designed by someone who had lost their glasses.

Sometimes it takes a fringe element to come up with a wacky idea like this, and it might even be a marketable one. Buyers of new convertibles, believe it or not, have very little choice. There are small convertibles (Mini Cooper, Fiat 500C), sporty convertibles (Ford Mustang, Mazda Miata), and luxury convertibles (BMW 3 Series, Audi A5). But if someone wants a normally-priced car that isn’t a sports car, but is a convertible, there are only two choices: the Chrysler 200 and the Volkswagen Eos.

When you factor in people’s tendency to abandon normal cars for the high driving position of SUVs, you can see the potential a convertible crossover would have. That’s probably why Nissan decided to build the Murano Cross Cabriolet, which is about as daft as a car can be.

The XIV-2 is 164.0 inches long, much shorter than the 190.1-inch long Murano. That puts the concept car in the compact crossover class with the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan’s Rogue.

Of course, the odds of a convertible crossover from an obscure carmaker becoming a success in the American market are pretty long; Nissan is having trouble selling Murano Cross Cabriolets, despite its projections. SsangYong does deserve some points for originality. If companies didn’t try some crazy ideas once in awhile, cars would be pretty boring.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Alpine sale: Up to $160 off speakers and subs for your car
alpine speaker sale crutchfield march 2024 car and amp setup on table

If you’re looking to kit your car out with some superior speakers or a subwoofer, Crutchfield is the place to go today. Right now, there’s a huge sale on Alpine subwoofers and speakers with nearly 50 different items forming the sale. As there are so many options, the best idea is to hit the button below to see what’s around. If you don’t know where to start though, read on while we take you through some great items in the sale.

What to shop for in the Alpine sale
Buying the best aftermarket car speakers are important for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road and is currently dealing with a mediocre sound system. One good starting point in the Alpine sale is the 2-way speakers for $104 instead of $130. You get two 2-way speakers with a polypropylene/glass fiber/mica woofer with a specialized rubber surround. There’s a one-inch silk dome tweeter with speakers able to handle up to 80 watts RMS with 240 watts peak power. The grilles aren’t included but the factor ones should be fine for most purposes.

Read more
Mercedes to trial humanoid robots for ‘low-skill, repetitive, demanding’ jobs
Apptronik's Apollo robot at work in an auto plant.

Humanoid robots have been coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, and some major companies are starting to take note.

Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just entered into an agreement with Texas-based robotics specialist Apptronik to collaborate on identifying applications for highly advanced robots that the auto giant could deploy. The deal will involve a trial that will see Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot work alongside Mercedes' human workers on the factory floor.

Read more
Hyundai Ioniq 9: price, release date, range, and more
Hyundai Ioniq 9 Front

Hyundai has been at the forefront of EV development for a while now, largely thanks to the success of the crossover-sized Hyundai Ioniq 5. But the company is readying another new EV that could be even more popular than the Ioniq 5 -- or at least more desirable in the U.S., the land of big cars.

The upcoming Ioniq 9, previously set to be called the Ioniq 7, will be Hyundai's take on an electric SUV. It will be to Hyundai what the Kia EV9 is to Kia. It will have three rows and carry over design elements from the Ioniq 5.

Read more