Jeep To Launch Compact 4-wheel Drive Vehicles In The UK

Year 2007 will be a great year for Jeep enthusiasts because 2 all-new cars will be launched by the automaker to satisfy the cravings for fuel economy, design, performance and price of the aficionados.

Said compact 4x4s are Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass Rallye, which come in competitive features, packages and prices. This will be the first time that Jeep will be offering fuel economy figures which are in excess of 43 mpg.

Jeep is famed for its high-performance vehicles which were especially used to transport troops during the World War II. In this present time, Jeep has maintained its manufacture of high-performance vehicles. Nevertheless, the automaker will be reaching out to the youth market which was not previously considered.

Peter Lambert, Managing Director of Chrysler Group UK, said: "Customers are increasingly interested in family hatchbacks with four-wheel drive systems as they offer better handling and enhanced safety on the road. The new Jeep Patriot offers classic Jeep looks, a roomy interior, a choice of fuel efficient diesel and petrol engines and an all-new 4WD system in a package the size of a Ford Focus. These two family hatchback sized cars represent a new chapter in the history of the Jeep brand - the compact 4x4 segment in Western Europe is expected to increase to nearly 400,000 units by 2010, and these new car-based four-wheel drive vehicles mean the Jeep brand is ideally placed to meet this growing demand."

Patriot and Compass Rallye are based on the Dodge Caliber hatchback platform. Both vehicles will also feature first-rate parts Jeepwhich include tough body, wheels and more. Jeep will also offer a 2.4-litre petrol and a VW-sourced 2.0-litre diesel engine.

"The vast majority of our vehicles sold in the last few years have been diesel powered and it is vital for the success of these new Jeeps that we have a small diesel engine that is competitive in the family hatchback segment. The 2.0-litre diesel will enable Jeep drivers to achieve a combined fuel cycle figure of 43.5mpg for the first time," Lambert further noted.