While the eyes of the motoring world were firmly fixed on the French capital where the Paris Motor Show is being staged, something rather unpredictable involving Jeep was taking place on the other side of the globe.

For the company chose Brazil as the location to unveil its all-new Compass model and Jeep says it decided on that particular setting in celebration of the start of production at a new Jeep assembly plant there.

Jeep says the new Compass will be the most capable compact SUV ever, but unfortunately British and European drivers will have to wait about a year to check that out because it’s not due to go on sale here until the second half of 2017.

The company says that the Compass will be a “truly global” car which will be produced with no less than 17 powertrain options for customers in more than 100 countries around the world.

It will officially be launched at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November ahead of its North American introduction in the first quarter of next year.