Jeep made headlines earlier this year when it confirmed development of a new sub-four-metre SUV in its five-year plan announcement. Kevin Flynn, managing director, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India, has now stated that the model in question will be launched in India in 2020. Flynn spoke of the compact SUV in an interview with Business Standard.
The compact SUV will be the smallest model to wear the Jeep badge and will become the de-facto entry point to the brand. In India, the model will compete with models like the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon and Ford EcoSport, aside from upcoming compact SUV models from Hyundai, Mahindra and Kia. Jeep officials have been vocal about any model with the Jeep badge being ‘true to DNA’ so you can expect the model to have a certain degree of off-road ability, as well. While it is more than likely the model will be built on a front-wheel-drive platform, it isn’t too speculative to think of an all-wheel-drive version in development as well.
With no test mules having been spotted in the open, the design and styling is not known for the moment, but rest assured, the design will not veer too much from Jeep’s established look.
As with the right-hand-drive Compass, FCA’s plant at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra could also serve as the mother plant for right-hand-drive versions of the Jeep compact SUV.
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