Jeep News: Jeep's CEO Says New Compact SUV To Debut At New York, Wrangler Pickup Is Comfirmed

[William Maley]

Jeep is on a roll when it comes to sales and the brand is hoping to continue that with two new products in the pipeline.

 

Mike Manley, global chief for Jeep told The Detroit News that the brand will introduce a replacement for the Compass and Patriot at the New York Auto Show in March. Manley said the replacement will use the name of one of the outgoing models.

 

“We’ve got two very good names, two well-established names with Compass and Patriot that continue to perform very well. It will be one of those names — which one, we’re going to have to wait and see,” said Manley.

 

Patriot has the better recognition in the U.S. while Compass is well known in Europe.

 

Manley also confirmed that Jeep will be getting a pickup based on the next-generation Wrangler. The truck would be built alongside the Wrangler at the Toledo plant.

 

“Sergio and I work very, very closely on the Jeep product portfolio, and both of us have been a fan of a potential Wrangler pickup ..." said Manley.

 

“For me, there is a historical place in our lineup for it.”

 

More details about the pickup are expected to come out later this month when FCA has their 2016 Earnings call.

 

Source: The Detroit News

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[G. David Felt]

This should be a win win for Jeep

[Stew]

Sounds interesting.  I wonder if the new CUV will keep the Com/Pat's value pricing?  I am guessing i will probably slide in between the Renegade and Cherokee with pricing as it does in size.  The 9 speed auto will be a welcome edition as I am sure there will be Trailhawk with he 9 speed auto with low range. If it picks up the combined prices of the current 2 that will mean 14-15k a month for it, not shabby at all. 

 

And so happy the Wrangler pickup is official.  It will no doubt be a massive hit basically right off the bat.  The Jeep faithful have been asking for this, well, for decades!

[Robert Hall]

They could combine the names, and have the Compatriot.  Or use Patriot in the US and Compass in Europe as they did with Liberty and Cherokee.

[smk4565]

I'd go with the Patriot name, those 2 models do need to be merged into one, there is a lot of overlap with the lower end Jeeps right now.  Renegade, Patriot, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee gives them a nice line up.

 

I love the Wrangler pick up idea.  The Wrangler is an icon product, pickups sell well, and a Wrangler pick up would be a really strong competitor to the Tacoma, Colorado/Canyon, and Frontier.  Wrangler could use some updated powertrains though, they still have a 5-speed automatic in it, I think they should make a 4-cylinder option also to pair with the V6.  The 190 hp 2.4 liter 4-cylinder with the 8-speed auto from the Charger/300 would make a nice entry level Wrangler, and probably get pretty good fuel economy.

[Stew]

I'd go with the Patriot name, those 2 models do need to be merged into one, there is a lot of overlap with the lower end Jeeps right now.  Renegade, Patriot, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee gives them a nice line up.

 

I love the Wrangler pick up idea.  The Wrangler is an icon product, pickups sell well, and a Wrangler pick up would be a really strong competitor to the Tacoma, Colorado/Canyon, and Frontier.  Wrangler could use some updated powertrains though, they still have a 5-speed automatic in it, I think they should make a 4-cylinder option also to pair with the V6.  The 190 hp 2.4 liter 4-cylinder with the 8-speed auto from the Charger/300 would make a nice entry level Wrangler, and probably get pretty good fuel economy.

Nest Wrangler, which his will be based of of, will have the updated 3.6 pentastar and the 8 speed transmission.  There is also supposed to be an ecodiesel version.  I don't think a 4 would make he cut though.

[smk4565]

A 4-cylinder diesel Wrangler would be sweet.

[ccap41]

A 4-cylinder diesel Wrangler would be sweet.

Of any vehicle on the market the Wrangler seems like the most appropriate use of a smaller diesel engine. Even more so than trucks(because MOST aren't doing long hauls with them). It would jump fuel economy, which is dog$h! now, I would have to believe a diesel powerband would be waaaaay better off road as well(just guessing as I'm no off-roader myself). It just seems like one application that almost "needs" a small diesel to keep it around(CAFE). 

 

Something in the range of 200hp/300tq..whatever needs to do that. I think the small Duramax in the Canyonado would be perfect. I'd also think you'd want a lil 4 over a 6 for weight purposes...especially because diesels are heavy. 

[Stew]

I agree, turbo diesel  4 would be perfect.  Low end torque and high fe?  yip.  I would bet it would soar in popularity just like the Canyon and Colorado diesels and the ram diesel. 

[smk4565]

The Wrangler in the 80s and 90s always had an entry level price 4 cylinder model.  It seems now like the Wrangler got big and they want to see 4-door v6 Wranglers.  I still think the 2.4 liter Tigershark with the rwd 8-speed would give decent enough acceleration, near 30 mpg highway and low base price.  And there has to be a 4-cylinder diesel in the FCA empire, that they could put in a Wrangler.

[ccap41]

^ That's true but I think the take rate on it would be so low it wouldn't be justifiable.. I mean a 184hp/171tq seems fairly adequate.. I guess if Toyota can sell their Tacoma with 159hp/180tq to people the smaller Wrangler would be fine with it. I think a small diesel would be a better option to invest in though. 181hp/369tq from the 2.8 Duramax would be absolutely PERFECT in my eyes. 

 

Something like what Ford uses overseas in their Kuga 2.0 diesel, 177hp/295ftlbs would be adequate for a smaller than Colorado/Canyon. 

[G. David Felt]

^ That's true but I think the take rate on it would be so low it wouldn't be justifiable.. I mean a 184hp/171tq seems fairly adequate.. I guess if Toyota can sell their Tacoma with 159hp/180tq to people the smaller Wrangler would be fine with it. I think a small diesel would be a better option to invest in though. 181hp/369tq from the 2.8 Duramax would be absolutely PERFECT in my eyes. 

 

Something like what Ford uses overseas in their Kuga 2.0 diesel, 177hp/295ftlbs would be adequate for a smaller than Colorado/Canyon. 

Agree, 4 banger diesel and V6 is perfect for the Wrangler.

[smk4565]

I would only offer a gas 4-cylinder in a base 2 door wrangler, hard top or soft top.  Not in the higher trims or 4-door.  Probably not the pickup.  But look at FCA's CAFE situation too.  What do they make that gets good fuel economy and sells in volume?  The Dart has lousy volume, the Fiat brand is a sales joke. So they are going to have to find fuel economy gains in Jeeps, Rams and 300s and Chargers.