SsangYong Shows XIV Compact Concepts

Mahindra Group Co and Korean SUV specialist SsangYong has not one but two new XIV Concepts at the Paris. And they're both aimed at the new compact SUV phenom.

My interest in both goes beyond the fact that they're the best, most proportionate interpretations of the design deprecation we saw with the first XIV a few years ago. It lies in the platform these cars will be built on. And yes they will go into production.

So I'm talking about compact SUV platform that SsangYong is co-developing with its parent Mahindra. Both companies will have products based on it that will hit the market in 2015.

SsangYong gets to go first and so the XIV Adventure will likely spawn the first of the new compact products. Mahindra's C101 subcompact SUV to rival the Ford EcoSport will likely be the second product and we'll get to see it in about a yeast from now in time for Diwali 2015.

The two concepts shown at Paris are very close in styling terms to the actual products say company sources, and the sharing goes beyond the platform. Both SsangYong and Mahindra products will also carry a new generation powertrain that is also under development and close to being market ready. We will also likely see the Korean (and export) market models sporting a new automatic gearbox.