Jeep’s upcoming electric crossover, tentatively called ‘Jeepster’ by the media, has been photographed undisguised in production for the first time during a photo shoot in Portugal. In these photos, it looks very much like the concept drawing shared with the world at a presentation hosted by Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, in March. That includes the X-shaped taillights, the body lines over the rear wheels, and the seven-slot grille that, like other EVs, appears to be filled in.
Jeep says it will reveal more details
about the crossover, including as the name, at the Paris Motor Show, this
October. Sitting lower to the ground than larger models from the brand that are
on the road today, this ‘baby’ Jeep looks like a more road-focused vehicle.
That makes sense, though, since it is suggested that the EV will replace the
Jeep Renegade, which is getting a little long in the tooth.
Official details regarding this vehicle
have not yet been shared, but it is unlikely to be based on Stellantis’
upcoming STLA electric vehicle platform, which isn’t expected to be ready for
the road for another few years. Instead, it will probably make use of the eCMP
platform that was developed by PSA.
That platform underpins the Peugeot e208
and the Opel Corsa e, with the former being good for 362 km of
range. Neither has AWD which will likely be a requirement for the
Jeep. The platform is also capable of underpinning plug-in hybrids, which may
explain why a version of this vehicle has reportedly been seen testing with
tailpipes.
Expected to be produced at Stellantis’
Tychy, Poland plant later this year, Jeep’s first fully electric vehicle will
hit the roads in Europe early next year, though we might have to wait until the
end of 2022 or the first half of 2023 to see it in North America.
