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Jeep’s been on a tear lately, with the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee arguably the two models keeping all the lights on at FCA. Even the regular, not-so-grand Cherokee has been doing well in dealers. Now, the muddy brand that’s driving the company is turning its attention to its littlest machine – the Renegade.
In Europe at least, there will be a bevy of new engines, including a 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-three. Limited and Trailhawk trims promise to increase the trucklet’s average transaction price.
The Euro arm of the company has dropped details on what to expect from next year’s Renegade in that market. That Jeep chose to release details of an upcoming product in Europe first before its American home market could be a glimpse into their newfound push to widen the brand overseas. Or, I could be reading too much into the whole thing.
It’s unclear which of the engines – a brace of gasoline units and two diesel motors – will make their way to the United States. Jeep is saying that 1.0L turbo three-pot makes 120 horsepower, while a 1.3L turbo four will be available in two states of tune: 150 or 180 horses. That’s as powerful as the naturally-aspirated 2.4L TigerShark engine that’s currently found between the Renegade’s fenders. Both engines are all-aluminium and have four valves per cylinder.
It would be extremely surprising, given the recent diesel flaps at FCA and other manufacturers, if either of the diesels – a 1.6L and 2.0L – make their way to our shores.
Styling has been tweaked, with a slightly revised front fascia for the Limited and Trailhawk models. In particular, the available LED headlamps are said to follow the styling language set out by the new Wrangler JL when equipped with optional LEDs. Swapping out last year’s wheels for snazzier units is a sure-fire way for any company to update its line, and Jeep does that here as well.
Off-roaders will note the Trailhawk-branded trim, which will afford wheel articulation of eight inches and ground clearance of about eight-and-a-half inches. That’s about the same ground clearance as a Cherokee, except for the TrailHawk, which enjoys 8.8 inches of ability to run over stuff. Renegade Trailhawks earn a “Rock” setting that will either give drivers the People’s Elbow or finesse the throttle for surmounting a stony trail.
New interior treatments are largely limited to updated versions of FCA’s excellent UConnect, especially the 8.4-inch unit that now supports Apple CarPlay. USB ports have been moved around for better access, and colors get new names.
According to the company, the Renegade was the best-selling Jeep SUV in Europe last year, with 73,200 new registrations. With growth like that, maybe it’s not so surprising they chose to launch the thing in Europe after all. Expect American news later this summer.
[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
Same dorky looks.
Same dorky article as from two days ago, near enough.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2018/06/smallest-jeep-appears-ready-embrace-itty-bitty-gas-engines/
Better car than you think it is.
If I had a really, really big box of cereal, I wouldn’t be surprised to find one of these Renegades in it. Collect ‘em all!
Turn this thing into an extended cab Comanche and you’ve got my interest.
http://i.wheelsage.org/image/format/picture/picture-gallery/j/jeep/mopar/comanche_concept/jeep_comanche_concept_7.jpg
I can dig it.
I rented one in DTW.
Liked it.
Was surprised.
I’m confused, what is the “hawkish new trims”? I can walk into a Jeep dealer today and buy a Renegade Trailhawk, it has been a trim since launch. It also already has a “Rock” mode, that is not new.
Jeep is planning on a DesertHawk model.
I hope when the refresh comes for these they do something about the unbearable amount of “twee” in this car. Maybe it’s the Italian blood in it but seemed like everywhere you look there’s a cute jeep easter egg. Clearly I’m not the target market.
Those “Easter Eggs” are part of what makes owning a new Jeep more fun. It may be cutesy but it also helps remind owners of the brand’s history.
@Vulpine It’s a storied heritage but this car tries way too hard, especially given the questionable lineage. The fake-stencil “SINCE 1941” above the infotainment system made my SO groan audibly when we rented one of these.
Checking to make this reply to your post, I was surprised to learn that Fiat produced its first car in 1899. Still not a “real” Jeep.
Fiat also produced one of the biggest four-cylinder gasoline engines ever made, IIRC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlPbhGeMu4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As_63QMoCig
You know, “scarey”, even Jeep produced some non-‘real’ Jeeps. The Jeepsters were typically 2WD vehicles that only carried the looks, not the capabilities. They sure didn’t hurt the brand any for that, and neither will these new Jeeps. Go watch a few episodes of that ’60s TV series, The Prisoner.
Jeep has been alive for all that time, even if not always under the same parent OEM. Interestingly enough, the modern Mahindra is much closer to the original military and CJ-1 series jeeps than any now carrying the Jeep brand. Now I have to wonder if that new ATV running around as a virtual clone of the CJ will face flack from Mahindra or FCA, considering its size and specs are very similar to that original. Yes, the original also topped out at 45mph and only had somewhere from 40-60 horses under the hood.
Makes owning a Jeep so fun that they actually toned down how they were implemented in the new JL Wrangler.
Yeah, those are there to convince you that you’re not actually driving a re-bodied Fiat 500x.
@maui_zaui: “Yeah, those are there to convince you that you’re not actually driving a re-bodied Fiat 500x.”
— Who cares? The Renegade is a surprisingly good car, as was the other Fiat I owned, a ’14 500Pop.
People nowadays don’t seem willing to try Fiats because of their 50-year-old reputation. The cars are nowhere near as bad as you may want to believe.
And yes, until I drove that ’14, I believed as most of you do.
The GSE 1.3T makes 199 lb/ft of torque at 1,850 RPM, as compared to the 2.4 with 175 @ 3,900 it should make better around town.
@SC5door: Will do a lot better on the highway too. Since the 9-speed’s programming is designed to keep revs low, having more low-end torque means fewer gearshifts and better economy.
What!!! No Hellcat version?
Still working on the rubber-band that can take the extra Horsepower.
Makes the Aztek look like a styling landmark. Today’s jeep is tomorrow’s PT Cruiser.
“a 1.0-liter turbocharged inline-three”
Isn’t inline a given on a 3 cylinder? Is there any other to configure an odd number of cylinders?
http://www.feulingw3.com/#engine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szekely_SR-3
W-3 and Radial 3 are out there, but not in cars as far as I know. Packaging for a W-3 in a longitudinal configuration would be pretty good.
Sure! It could be a radial, Clutch.
So the murmurs of a pickup are still nothing more ?
Oh, the pickup is real, zipper. We’re just not going to see it til sometime next year. Supposedly in the spring.
Is the manual gong to be confined to the lower-powered engine?