Jeep is developing a new ultra-compact off-road vehicle that will slot below the Renegade in the company’s portfolio and act as a direct rival to the Suzuki Jimny in the global markets it’s offered in.
Discussing the vehicle during a recent interview with Auto Express, Jeep’s European head of brand marketing, Marco Pigozzi, said that it will be approximately four meters (13 feet) in length, slightly longer than the compact Jimny that is 3.64 meters (11.9 feet).
“The car will be able to be used as a bad-ass Jeep, but it has also been designed to be used everyday,” Pigozzi said of the vehicle.
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Jeep recently announced that it will electrify its entire line-up by the year 2022 so the latest model in question will feature some kind of electrified powertrain. Like the Suzuki Jimny however, it is unlikely that the Jeep will have all that much power to play with due to its small size and scarce overall weight.
As for what will underpin the baby Jeep, that remains a mystery. Thanks to the merger between PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, it’s possible the vehicle could use the same Common Modular Platform architecture as electric versions of the Peugeot 208, Vauxhall Corsa, and DS3 Crossback.
Nothing else is known about the entry-level Jeep in question. If the car manufacturer is able to nail the design of the vehicle and ensure it is enjoyable and capable off-road like the Wrangler, we see no reason why it couldn’t prove as popular as the latest-generation Suzuki Jimny.
The ultra-compact off-road segment is about to get interesting.
Note: The concept pictured here is an independent study by designer Le Yang Bai
Jeep Modular Concept by Le Yang Bai
