29 Sep 06 16:14
The Jeep Compass, represented at the Paris Motor Show by the Rallye, is more of a crossover wagon than an all-out 4x4, though Chrysler promises that it will have true Jeep off-roading ability. It gets most of its styling cues from the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee rather than the Wrangler and Commander.
It's a controversial new member of the Jeep family, as it's built on the Dodge Caliber road car's platform rather than having a separate body-on-frame chassis, but it 'broadens the global appeal of the Jeep brand', says Chrysler. 'It's a contemporary-styled Jeep concept that targets new buyers who might not have previously considered the brand. Compact and nimble, (it) is designed to offer a fun-to-drive experience, performance and fuel economy unexpected in the highly-competitive compact SUV segment.'
The Compass goes on sale next spring, along with the more rugged Patriot, and its sister Dodge model, the Nitro. Both Compass and Nitro feature the same 2.0/2.4-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines as the Caliber.
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