CAUGHT: New 2024 Jeep® Jeepster BEV Spotted On Set In Portugal!

During Stellantis’ 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”, the so-called “Jeep Junior” is scheduled for launch early next year.

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Our sources have indicated that the vehicle could feature the iconic “Jeepster” nameplate when it makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show from October 17th to 23rd in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. 

The new Jeep BEV was spotted on set in Portugal, during a promo shoot. Looking just like its teaser images, sans the hood graphics, the newest electrified model wears a license plate saying “JJ” for its Jeep designation code and “516” for its project name.

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.

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While the BEV model has been making all of the headlines, outside of Europe, the new Jeepster 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 Jeepster around 118 horsepower (88 kW) and 190 N⋅m (140 lb-ft) of torque.

The Jeepster 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. 

Several overseas websites have the new Jeepster measuring less than 162 inches in length. For reference, the current Renegade (BU) measures 166.6 inches long. The Jeepster also should be slightly narrow and shorter than the Renegade as well. However, at this present moment, those numbers are still unknown.

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Although the Jeep brand is American through and through, don’t expect this vehicle to be arriving in either the United States or Canada. The new Jeepster should be marketed and launched in all other markets though. So Americans and Canadians will be left out of the fold once again, as we tend to like bigger vehicles. That could change later on, depending on sales and demand.

The new Jeepster will start production in late December at the Tychy Assembly Plant in Poland. It will be joined by two new platform siblings, one for Alfa Romeo and the other a FIAT product.