CAUGHT: 2023 Jeep® “Junior”/”Jeepster” (JJ) ICE Model!

During the company’s Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan presentation, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares showed the public two teaser images of the first-ever 100% battery-electric (BEV) Jeep® vehicle. Internally called “Project 516” or (JJ) the newest and smallest Jeep is scheduled for launch early next year. Although it has been called “Junior”, our sources have indicated that the vehicle could feature the iconic “Jeepster” nameplate and it could make its official unveiling at the Paris Motor Show from October 17th to 23rd in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. 

Due to the Stellantis timeline, the new mini-compact SUV will not be based on the all-new STLA Small architecture, instead will be built upon the second-generation eCMP/CMP platform. This is due to the fact that Stellantis has already announced that the STLA Small architecture won’t debut until the 2026 model year.

And while the BEV model has been making all of the headlines, outside of Europe, the new JJ will feature an internal combustion engine (ICE) variant as well. That model will be powered by a turbocharged 1.0-liter inline-three-cylinder engine from the Stellantis Global Small Engine (GSE) family, according to our sources. That engine is currently available in several models and should give the JJ around 118 horsepower (88 kW) and 190 N⋅m (140 lb.-ft.) of torque.

The JJ should also be equipped with an electronic all-wheel-drive (eAWD) system, giving the vehicle Jeep 4×4 capability. We also expect it to carry other basic technology items we have come to expect from other Jeep vehicles. Things like the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, digital gauge cluster, and Selec-Terrain modes in a small B-SUV package. 

The all-new JJ will be smaller than the current Renegade (BU). We expect the JJ should be slightly narrower and shorter than the beloved Renegade, but at the present moment, we aren’t sure of an official size number yet. However, these newest spy photos from our friend Walter Vayr of GabetzSPYUnit, show us a JJ ICE model parked next to an Alfa Romeo Tonale prototype giving us an idea of the newest Jeep’s size. The Tonale is categorized in the C-SUV segment, while the JJ will be a B-SUV as we stated before.

Although Jeep is an American brand, the new JJ won’t make it to the Canadian or American markets according to our sources. But, it should be a globally available product in most other markets. So, unfortunately, the North American market is left out once again, as we tend to like bigger vehicles. 

We are told that production of the JJ could start as early as December at the Tychy Assembly Plant in Poland, according to some Polish websites. The new JJ will be joined by two new platform siblings, one for the Alfa Romeo brand and the other for FIAT.

2023 Jeep® JJ ICE Prototype Image Gallery:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.