Jeep working on another small SUV

Jeep’s new owner FCA is aggressively reaching out and expanding its presence across global markets. The brand’s two primary models, the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee are already on sale in India. The manufacturer has also confirmed that it will bring in the recently-unveiled Jeep Compass to India next year.

To further fuel its growth strategy and get more mass-market, Jeep is currently in the process or readying another SUV which will sit below the current smallest Jeep, the Renegade, globally. Primarily aimed at the emerging markets, this new SUV will share its underpinnings with Fiat which will also most likely have its own version as well.

This new SUV will be based on Fiat’s X6H platform. This new architecture is an evolution of the current Fiat 326 platform that has been strengthened and is lighter than its predecessor. It is also likely to underpin a range of next-gen Fiat models. The new SUV, currently known by its codename Jeep MG, will be first shown next year and will likely be manufactured at Fiat’s Betim plant in Brazil. It will be sold in South America initially. Style-wise, the new Jeep MG will get more of a squarish or boxy look, just like the Jeep Renegade. This new Jeep will be one of the future models that will be sold in India and it will be locally manufactured at Fiat’s Ranjangaon facility, just like the Compass.

On the engine front, there are not many details, but it would be a safe bet to see Fiat’s trusted Multijet range of engines powering them. What’s more, there will be a 4WD variant as well. This new Jeep model will definitely bring the iconic brand to a more mass-market audience. As far as pricing goes, Fiat is working hard on reducing its cost base in order to try and undercut pricing of its prime rivals, the Duster and the Creta.