IT HAS had a checkered history and once it almost went out of business, but somehow SsangYong, Korea's oldest manufacturer, has managed to survive and is celebrating its 60 anniversary this year.

First launched in the UK 20 years ago, the brand almost went under in the Pacific Rim financial crisis of the late 1990s and over the years has had associations with well-known automotive brands including Mercedes-Benz, Daewoo and SAIC, which now owns MG.  Today it is backed by  Mahindra & Mahindra, which vies with Tata as India's largest automotive producer.

To celebrate the company's anniversary, the British importer has launched two special edition models.

The first is based on the four wheel drive Korando ELX4 and adds 18" diamond cut wheels, an electric sunroof, rear spoiler and chrome detailing, and is completed with a pearl white lily metallic paint finish.  Available in either manual or automatic form, it is priced at £21,245 and £22,745 respectively.

The second takes the comprehensive specification of the Rexton EX and adds front parking sensors, an electric sunroof, heated seats front and rear, a power adjustable passenger seat, DAB sat nav and, like the Korando special edition, is finished in pearl white lily metallic paint. Again its available with either 6-speed manual or 5-speed Mercedes-Benz T-Tronic automatic transmission, with prices of  £25,995 or £27,495 respectively.