Jeep 551 (Spyshot)
Jeep’s upcoming compact crossover,
internally known as the ‘Jeep 551’ and commonly referred to as the ‘Jeep C-SUV’
has been spied testing in China, courtesy CarNewsChina. The fresh spy shots
show some exterior details and give a peek at the dashboard of the Jeep 551.
The Jeep 551 will be a common
replacement of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot as production of the first
generation Jeep Compass and first generation Jeep Patriot will end in December.
To tap as many global markets as possible, Jeep will make a right-hand version
also.
The Jeep C-SUV will look somewhat
similar to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It will be based on the Fiat 500X and the
Jeep Renegade‘s small-wide front-wheel drive platform. Engine options and
transmission choices will reportedly be 2.0-liter Tigershark petrol and a 170
hp 2.0-liter MultiJet II diesel and 6-speed manual and 9-speed automatic
respectively.
The Jeep 551 will be produced in Brazil,
Mexico, China and India. The Jeep C-SUV’s production will start at FCA’s new
Pernambuco assembly plant in Brazil in late-September, and following its world
premiere at the 2016 Sao Paulo Auto Show in November, it will have its U.S.
debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show the same month and enter production in
Toluca, Mexico on 30 January 2017.
U.S. sales of the Jeep 551 will commence
in early 2017. Indian production of the Jeep 551 will be from the Tata-Fiat JV
plant in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra later next year.
