The Chinese car market is very important for Jeep, with the U.S. automaker unveiling no less than four Chinese-inspired design concepts at the Beijing Auto Show. The Renegade-based Zi You Xia, the Wrangler Sundancer and the Cherokee Sageland and Urbane bring Chinese design cues to Jeep’s most important production models.

Based on the 2015 Jeep Renegade, the Jeep Zi You Xia design study “highlights a more sophisticated aspect of the Renegade’s personality,” according to Jeep. Zi You Xia, which means “rebel”, is inspired by the colors of the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. The concept is finished in a Warm Chocolate Gray with contrasting Dark Anodized Bronze accents, while the roof panel, grille surrounds and door mirror caps are painted Dark Charcoal. The study rides on unique 20-inch, Dark Anodized Bronze alloy wheels.

On the inside, the Zi You Xia features rich brown leather upholstery on the seats and door panels with ‘ombre’ grey/black plaid fabric inserts. The cabin combines Piano Black color with grey A-pillars and headliner. The air vents, speaker bezel, gear shifter, steering wheel bezels, cup holder and door release handles are finished in an Anodized Copper, reflecting the metallic color common in sports equipment.

Now let’s move on to the two Cherokee-based studies, the Sageland and Urbane. The former is inspired by the historical landmarks and natural sceneries found throughout the mystical expanse of the Shangri-La Region. The exterior is painted in Ivory tri-coat Pearl with bronze grille collars and front and rear fascia appliques. The Daylight opening (DLO), roof rack, door mirror caps and exhaust tips are painted in Satin Bronze chrome.

The interior combines the earth-tone color palette with light, neutral grey Nappa leather seats featuring red and water blue accent stitches. The seats also feature stitching inspired by traditional Chinese knot design, and the pattern on the door appliques derived from the color and finish of Chinese ornamental door knobs.

The Cherokee Urbane study combines “the night life of a modern megacity with glamour and elegance.” It features a Maximum Steel metallic exterior with Hyper Black accents on the roof rack, door mirror caps, grille collars, front and rear fascias, wheel finishings, vehicle badging and antenna.

The cabin of the Urbane has Chinese calligraphy referenced through the use of bold brush stroke patterns in the decorative door applique accentuating the predominantly Piano Black interior. The seats are finished in dark red Nappa leather with bright red accent stitching, while the floor mats feature a unique decorative pattern inspired by traditional Chinese windows. 

Finally, the Jeep Wrangler Sundancer study is a stylish take on the rugged off-roader that features a tri-coat Chocolate Brown metallic color with gold accents, unique Golden Bronze tone-on-tone ghosted pattern on the fender flares, bronze tinted windows.

The restyled front and rear bumpers feature linear LED, with 20-inch pale gold billet aluminum wheels with polished gold inserts completing the exterior changes. The interior features Axis II perforated seat inserts and exclusive Berry Baltique Semi-Aniline leather. The gold color scheme from the exterior continues inside, with new ‘Gold Rush’ interior paint on the door handles, steering wheel bezel, grab handle, gear shifter trim ring bezels and sill plates.

By Dan Mihalascu

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