FCA India confirms the development of a sub 4-metre Jeep compact SUV for India.
Jeep is developing a sub 4-metre compact SUV for India. Mike Manley, head of Jeep and Ram brands has given the confirmation of the fact at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show that Jeep is working on a compact SUV for the Indian market which will measure under four metres in length.
The compact SUV will rival the Ford EcoSport, Maruti Vitara Brezza and the Tata Nexon and is expected to be based on the Renegade’s platform or a modified version of it. The Renegade is currently the smallest SUV in the Jeep line-up, measuring 4.32 metres which means it will not be eligible for small car benefits. A report from March 2016 claims that a new Jeep SUV based on the next generation Punto’s platform is under development.
Slotted below the Renegade, the new SUV will also need a diesel engine displacing less than 1500cc to qualify for the small car tax slab. While there is the familiar 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engine, a report from September claims that FCA will not be upgrading the oil burner to comply with BS6 emission norms.
The automaker is currently riding on the success of the Compass SUV in India while the Renegade is rumoured to be launched in India in the second half of 2019.
Sub 4-Metre Jeep Compact SUV
– FCA India confirms sub 4-metre Jeep compact SUV is under development
– The compact SUV will be slotted below the Renegade
– The new SUV could underpin the Fiat Argo’s MP1 platform
