Will be introduced in India.
Clearer shots of the Jeep Compact SUV (codenamed 551) test mule with a production-spec body have surfaced online, courtesy of Noticias Automotivas reader, Joelmar Barbosa. It is expected to be unveiled at the beginning of next year, before making its debut at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March.
As seen in the spyshots, the Jeep Patriot successor will not feature the boxy styling of the Renegade, but a Jeep Grand Cherokee-inspired exterior. According to the report, it has a wheelbase of 2.67 m, which is 10 cm longer than the Jeep Renegade.
The Jeep Compact SUV could be based on FCA's Small-Wide architecture sourced from the Jeep Renegade. Depending on the market, it will offer a range of engines that include a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol, 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo petrol, a larger 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder, and a 1.6-, 2.0- and 2.2-liter Multijet turbodiesels. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual or 9-speed automatic gearbox, while higher variants will get 4×4 as standard.
Also Read: Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee spotted on test in India
The Jeep Compact SUV will be manufactured at FCA's new facility in Pernambuco, Brazil and exported to LHD markets across the globe. It will also be manufactured in China by local partner, Guangzhou Automobile Group, for the local market.
For the Indian market, Jeep will introduce the RHD version of the Compact SUV towards the end of 2016, which could be assembled at Fiat-Tata JV's Ranjangaon facility at high localization levels. The India-made SUV will, reportedly, be exported to RHD markets like Australia, South Africa and the UK.
[Source: Noticias Automotivas]
