India-bound Jeep 551 to be called Jeep Patriot or Jeep Compass - Rendering

Will be based on a modified version of the Jeep Renegade's platform.

The Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass are set to be replaced by a new mid-size crossover this year. Commonly referred to as Jeep C-SUV, it reportedly has its world premiere at the 2016 New York International Auto Show in March.

Early development of the Jeep C-SUV was on a modified Jeep Renegade body. The engineering mules of the production version have been spied many times, and based on their spyshots, speculative renderings from Car And Driver Brazil preview the likely design and styling of the production Jeep C-SUV (codename: Jeep 551).

A new report from The Detroit News says that either of the two names (Jeep Patriot or Jeep Compass) will be retained for the Jeep 551. Underpinning the new crossover is a modified version of the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade's small-wide front-wheel drive platform. This means that the Nissan Qashqai rival will have a car-like unibody construction.

Front-wheel drive layout should be standard while all-wheel drive should be available moving up the range. Engine and transmission choices should include ~164 hp 2.0-liter Tigershark petrol and ~170 hp 2.0-liter MultiJet II diesel and 6-speed manual and 9-speed automatic.

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The Jeep C-SUV will be a truly global product as it would be made in left-hand drive and right-hand drive versions in different continents. The RHD version will be made in India at the Tata-FIAT JV plant in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra and the compact crossover's sales globally should commence in H2 2016.

[Source: Car And Driver Brazil and The Detroit News]