Jeep Compass India launch confirmed

The Jeep C-SUV which was also known by its Brazilian codename Project 551, made its global debut at the Sao Paulo Show last year as the new generation Jeep Compass. FCA India has confirmed that the car will be launched in India by Q3 2017.

In a statement to Rushlane, FCA India revealed – “We are delighted that customers cannot wait to own the all-new Jeep Compass. We understand that we have had a good number of enquiries already at our Jeep Destination Stores and customers are already wanting to make a booking though we have not yet officially announced the opening of bookings for our SUV. We are undoubtedly in an exciting phase as we are gearing up to launch India’s first locally-manufactured Jeep SUV. The Made-in-India Jeep Compass will roll out of our Ranjangaon facility near Pune. To put speculation to rest, we would like to reiterate that we will launch the Jeep Compass in the third quarter of CY 2017 and bookings will be officially announced closer to the launch.”

Brazil and India will be the primary production locations of the new Jeep Compass which will be positioned above the Renegade and below the Cherokee. Apart from that, the SUV will also be manufactured in Mexico and China. Brazil will cater to the North and South America market, while India will cater to Europe, Asia and Australia markets. China will take care of local demand.

The new Compass is a global SUV. It would act as a single product successor for the Liberty and Compass models. Fiat-Tata JV plant at Ranjangaon has been expanded to accommodate the new Jeep’s production.

Design
New Jeep Compass SUV carries the brand’s new global design language for luxury SUVs. In the front is the trademark grille with a lot of chrome. The variant which has been spied is the top-spec variant, which comes in dual paint finish and a lot of chrome.

The headlight cluster is similar to that of Grand Cherokee, while fog light casing is similar in design to that of new generation Land Rover SUVs. On the sides, if you manage to get your attention off those chrome finished alloys, you can notice the prominent Jeep styled wheel arches in the front and rear. Interiors are on the lines of new generation Jeep models. It will features soft touch materials, large TFT screen in the center, chrome inserts, etc.

Spy Shots
Here are the latest spy shots of the first made-in-India Jeep SUV. The images were shot in Pune, by a Rushlane reader. Though the prototypes are fully camouflaged, it is easy to observe that they are sporting production-ready body panels. Expect the India-spec Jeep Compass to be fitted with extra bit of chrome.

Engine & Price
Based on the Renegade’s platform, the new Compass will be powered by a 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engine. The petrol option will deliver 160 hp while the diesel will deliver 170 hp. Transmission option on offer for Indian market will most likely be a 9 speed auto. Higher variants will be offered with a 4×4 system. Like every other Jeep, the new model would be boasting of above par off-road capabilities.

New Compass is the first made-in-India Jeep. To keep prices low, localization level of over 90% will be achieved. Once launched, it will compete with the likes of Honda CR-V, Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai Tucson.

This article has first appeared on Rushlane.com