Global launch of India-bound Jeep C-SUV (Jeep 551) in Q3 2016 - Report

Brazil will be the first market to get the Jeep C-SUV.

Speaking to Motoring Australia, head of the Jeep brand, Mike Manley, has confirmed that the Jeep C-SUV (Jeep 551) will only come out in the third quarter of the calendar year. The global launch will be in Brazil, he confirmed.

Reports initially expected FCA's utility vehicle brand to unveil the single replacement of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot at the 2016 New York Auto Show this week. However Manley believes that it is appropriate to unveil the vehicle in Brazil, which will be the first market to manufacture the compact SUV.

Unlike the squarish Jeep Renegade, spyshots have revealed the SUV sporting a contemporary design similar to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep 551 will be based on FCA's Small-Wide front-wheel drive platform, and will slot between the Jeep Renegade and Jeep Cherokee.

Engine choices are expected to be the 2.0-liter Tigershark petrol and  2.0-liter MultiJet II diesel engines. Transmission options for FCA include a 6-speed manual and 9-speed automatic, while an AWD system is likely to be standard in top-end grades.

Also Read: Jeep Renegade spied testing in India

As for the Indian market, the Jeep C-SUV will be manufactured at the Tata-FCA JV plant in Ranjangaon starting 2017. FCA has invested $280 million on a line in Ranjangaon for manufacturing the vehicle, and India is likely to serve as a production hub for the RHD version.

[Source: Motoring Australia]