(Words: Bryan McTaggart – Photos: Chrysler) – One has to wonder what is going on inside the Jeep office at Auburn Hills. We recently were given the new Cherokee, which Lohnes got to drive. He loved most of everything that the oversized Dart had to offer except for the nose, which made me think that a Liberty was mounted by something heavier and angrier (don’t ask.)
The latest news from Jeep is the Renegade, and this looks like the Cherokee program scaled down even further. Unveiled at the Geneva motor show and looking more like the direct replacement for the Liberty, the Renegade is meant to fight it out in the B-SUV segment and world markets. Just take in the photos for a moment…does anyone else picture a lifted Kia Soul?
The Renegade is based off another Fiat: the upcoming 500X AWD. Jeep’s actual phrase for the new styling is “Tek-Tronic”, where angled lines compete against rounded lines. All it makes me think is that whatever Millennial they hired to dream up that name should be fired. Some interesting things do make it to the Jeep. Ignoring the interior color combinations (“Tresspass Black” and “Free Falling”, the latter being a brown color), the Renegade offers Jeep’s Trail Ready line with the Trailhawk model. Jeep is claiming up to 8.7” of ground clearance, plenty of articulation, and the Jeep Selec-Terrain controller, which sets up the AWD system for your environment. The Trailhawk even gets a rockcrawling mode. With the 17” wheel/tire combination, they claim. It even comes with a PTO unit…just wait until the Mopar Performance catalog comes out for ’15, you can get a lawnmower unit to tow behind it…maybe.
As most of you are cringing while reading this, I’m sure the first question is, “WHY?” That’s an easy one. Chrysler-Fiat has realized that they needed a global vehicle. Jeep has good brand recognition. Fiat has a platform that can be tailored to an expected 100 countries with sixteen engine options, but don’t get that excited: we only get the 1.4 Multiair turbo four and the 2.4 Tigershark N/A four in the U.S. At least you can get a six-speed behind the 1.4. If you buy the 2.4, you’re stuck with the nine-speed automatic. The final kick in the groin? All Renegades are to be built alongside the Fiat 500X in Melfi, Italy.
This is the first Jeep built purely outside of the United States.
Cue the hate mail.
Chrysler is doomed! A “Jeepo” built in Italy? Sergio your nuts.
Jeep is doomed. A transverse motor in the Grand, and now this?
The Grand Cherokee has a transverse motor? Don’t think so….
The Grand Cherokee has a longitudinal engine. The Cherokee is the one with the transverse engine
W…..T………F………???????
More like a little _____ box on wheels . Oh … and btw … its not the first JEEP built on a FIAT platform . That honor goes to the other _____ box on wheels … the new JEEP Cherokee .
And .. errr …. hate to be the bearer of very bad news … but …. ahhh ….. Marchionne’s next revelation will be the Wrangler/JK replacement …. also built on a FWD FIAT .
Oh … but wait … here’s the real rub . Underneath them all is the Suzuki SX4 .. built for FIAT … with FIAT power trains etc ….. manufactured in Eastern Europe
Nuff tears yet ? Damn well should be . And … considering I’m hoping BS hasn’t become yet another bit of corporate controlled automotive press …. its about damn time IF BS is gonna report on new cars …. that BS unlike every other site on the net … especially ALD AW AA PDL etc … begins telling it like it is … rather than the bs the manufactures want us to hear
😉
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BTW .. The Grand Cherokee is a Mercedes ML … last of the Mercedes platforms that Chrysler/FIAT will have access to … its the Cherokee … also a FIAT that has the transverse drive train
What next? A 300 with a Fiat 500 motor? Chrysler needs to buy their stock back before it becomes Fiat.
I think are beloved Chrysler Corp is doomed once again, and probably for good, it may take a while but the foundations are being laid to destroy it.
It’s an ugly little cuss, ain’t it?
Bryan, great write up dude!! Too bad it’s on a rebodied, raised suspension baby SUV.
Gotta start somewhere, lol…
At least the grill isn’t a screwed up as the Cherokee. I saw one of those ugly cusses for the first time yesterday. Talk about screwing up design language.
Chrysler IS gone. Its badge engineering for Fiat from now on.
OMG! This is not a Jeep! Fiat will eventually KILL the Jeep brand as we know it!
Is this Bang Shift or Motor Trend?
My Grandfather Chuck Mashigan was Director Of Jeep Styling from 1972-1982 when he retired. Some of the most bad ass jeeps ever came out of this era!
Names like Honcho, Laredo, Cherokee, Chief, Golden Eagle, and Renegade all were meant to convey prowess and power.
There was a time that Renegade meant something but sadly that has come to a horrific end.
Yes folks, the rough and tumble capable go anywhere jeep is dead.
Killed by the Italians.
Its lifeless corpse will be drug through the streets worldwide for all the masses to see
by hordes of mediocre soccer moms, stinky foreigners, and want to be cool hipsters looking to sound macho when they tell the sorority girl du jour that they ” Drive a Jeep”,
I cant help but think that my grandpa would be rolling over in his grave if he could see what has become of his beloved Jeep brand!
What next a Renegade Skinny Jeans edition????
Disgusted!!!!
Seriously, if Chrysler/Fiat had to p*ss of somebody let it be the Jeep crowd. This generation of Jeeps will subsidize the Mopars we love — bring on the Alfa Romeo SRT Barracuda!
One word. Renault. It is the 80s all over again.
Man, it’s a good thing the only good 4×4’s are domestic. I’d really be worried of Toyota or Suzuki ever produced anything worthwhile in the past.
Jesus, what a piece of garbage.
JEEP.
Japanese Engineering Eventually Prevails.
Just get a Tacoma and slap in an ARB. Better looking, more practical, reliable and awesome than anything Heep will roll out for the remainder of its worthless existence.
“gotta start somewhere”?
How about with the Box Cherokee that sold millions , most of which are still on the road.
This POS is just that, a JINO (Jeep In Name Only)
The skinny jeans, horn rim glasses metrosexuals will love it.
And to think our military used Jeeps to win wars, I’m guessing the war is over.