Speaking at an FCA “What’s New” press event in Michigan, Michael Manley, head of Jeep and Ram brands for FCA offered some new insights into the timetable for what lies ahead for Jeep. Manley confirmed the long-rumored single-vehicle replacement for the current Jeep Patriot and Compass models will be revealed in Brazil in September at FCA’s new Pernambuco assembly plant and make debut in U.S. trim this November at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Spun from the Renegade platform and referred to internally as the C-SUV, this new sub-compact Jeep is destined to carry either the Patriot or Compass name and versions destined for the American market will roll out of the FCA plant in Toluca, Mexico, instead of the current facility in Belvidere, Illinois.
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Adding a bit more specificity to what he stated in a KBB.com interview done at the 2016 New York Auto Show, Manley also confirmed that that the new Wrangler Pickup model will go on sale here in early 2018. That eagerly anticipated addition to the lineup will be based on the next-gen Wrangler that’s set to launch in during the first half of next year. While not saying whether the Wrangler Pickup will have a 2-door or 4-door body configuration, he did note it will have a cleaner, more efficient aero profile and deliver notably better fuel economy.
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Manley also admitted that Jeep is exploring the possibility of extending its range on both ends of the current product spectrum. While a sub-Renegade entry seems increasingly likely, chances of it ever being sold here instead of in other global markets are slim to none. Conversely, a range-topping Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for the U.S. appear to be near done deals, with the two premium-grade vehicles sharing a basic platform differentiated by trim and powertrain elements.
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