Jeep is about to become more aggressive than ever. The Fiat owned legendary SUV maker is planning to make a new entry level product which will take on the likes of the Nissan Juke and Ford EcoSport. Now all this can be the second Jeep product to be manufactured in India after the Compass which will launch next year.
Speaking to Autocar UK, Jeep supremo Mr Mike Manley, has confirmed that such a vehicle is a possibility. Now there has been reports that Jeep will be working on a sub-Renegade model but this is for the first time that someone from FCA has confirmed it.
Here’s what he had to say:
“I’m pretty confident that it is going to be a viable segment for us in the future. Still have to be capable (sic). When you think of some of the elements that make a vehicle capable, such as ground clearance, the geography of the vehicle makes it more difficult. You have to be very careful in terms of the geometry of the vehicle, plus the kind of four-wheel-drive system that you employ.”
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Now that’s reassuring to hear that the sub Renegade will not be a mere utility vehicle and will continue following Jeep’s lineage. The report also adds that the sub 4 metre SUV has been codenamed 526. Now if FCA can manage to localise this product and price this competitively then the Jeep brand can actually carve out a share for itself. Fiat’s performance in India has been dismal despite having some of the best-looking products in the segment.
Can this new small SUV from the Ranjangaon facility change their fortune?
