Jeep® Europe Unveils Its New Renegade & Compass e-Hybrid Models!

The Jeep® brand has moved forward towards offering an all-electric portfolio of its SUVs in the European countries of Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, and Nordic region with its newest hybrid versions of the Compass and Renegade by the end of the model year. Over the past several months, we have talked in-depth about an all-new turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four-cylinder hybrid engine and now Jeep has pulled the covers off its newest powertrain.

The new Renegade and Compass e-Hybrid models offer a new alternative in the two-wheel-drive segment. Customers can keep their driving habits intact and enjoy an authentic hybrid driving experience, with full-electric propulsion available at start-up when traveling at low speeds, cruising, and in parking maneuvers.

New Turbocharged 1.5-liter Hybrid Powertrain – 

The new e-Hybrid models feature the new turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine (which is part of the Stellantis Global Small Engine or “GSE” family). The engine delivers 130 horsepower and 176 ft.-lbs. (240 Nm) of torque, mated to a new 7-speed 7HDT300 dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The new propulsion system includes a built-in 48-volt 15 kW (20 horsepower) electric motor delivering 41 ft.-lbs. (55 Nm) of torque – equalizing to 99 ft.-lbs. (135 Nm) of torque at gearbox input level – which can propel the wheels even when the internal combustion engine (ICE) is turned off. The new e-Hybrid models offer up to 15% lower consumption and CO₂ emissions than the previous gasoline models.

The new turbocharged 1.5-liter engine has been designed to be the best fit for hybrid usage, to optimize thermodynamics, and therefore to save on fuel consumption. It operates on the Miller cycle which improves thermal efficiency and offers a high compression ratio (12.5:1), a new cylinder head with the compact combustion chamber, dual variable valve timing, and special ‘high-tumble’ intake ducts. Also new is the high-pressure direct injection system, operating at up to 350 bar. The gasoline engine delivers an output of 130 horsepower, while peak torque reaches 176 ft.-lbs. (240 Nm). A Belt-Starter Generator (BSG) is also installed in the gasoline engine, to guarantee fast and silent transitions when restarting.

The braking system of the new e-Hybrid models includes the Intelligent Brake System which includes an ‘auto-charge’ feature using mixed regenerative braking to maximize the recovery of kinetic energy and improve efficiency.

New “EV” Engine Features – 

Courtesy of the new propulsion system, the hybrid models deliver a versatile and relaxing driving experience, with various features allowing the vehicle to move in electric mode (“EV features”). These include:

• Silent Start: starts the vehicle with no need to turn on the gasoline engine, by using an “EV” pure-electric, silent driving mode
• Energy Recovery: recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when the vehicle decelerates (e-Coasting) and during braking (Regenerative Braking);
• Boost & Load Point Shift: ‘e-Boosting’ allows an increase in torque to the wheels thanks to the electric motor that supports the gasoline engine; moreover, by taking advantage of the (drive or braking) torque delivered by the electric motor, it is possible to optimize the operating point of the gasoline engine;
• Electric Drive: the vehicle can travel in silence and with zero emissions using only the electric motor, while the gasoline engine is turned off.

The new Jeep Renegade and Compass e-Hybrid can run in various driving scenarios using only the electric motor (and with the gasoline engine turned off). This is made possible courtesy of an array of electric operating modes known as “EV capabilities”, which include:

• e-Launch: starts the vehicle using only the electric motor, when starting up or restarting at traffic lights
• e-Creeping: the electric motor provides the start-up normally seen in automatic vehicles, at a speed that can vary from 0 km/h to the equivalent of the gasoline engine idling in first gear, or in reverse (for example when maneuvering)
• e-Queueing: the vehicle can keep going in a traffic jam, following a ‘stop & go’ pattern in full-electric mode
• e-Parking: simplifies parking maneuvers, which can be carried out using electric propulsion only, to ensure a practical and quiet experience.

EV capabilities are available depending on battery charge status and the power output required.

Renegade & Compass e-Hybrid “Upland” Special-Edition – 

A new “Upland” special-edition model has been created to emphasize the Jeep brand’s attention to the environment and its commitment to sustainability. Featuring unique aesthetic details and the use of sustainable materials and eco-friendly paints and finishes, this new special-edition model will also be available on Renegade and Compass 4xe Plug-in-Hybrid models.

The “Upland” new model is immediately recognizable for its new and exclusive “Matter Azur” exterior color and features a two-tone black roof (also sporting a new, more visible, and extensive design specific to the Renegade), Gloss Black 17-Inch (on Renegade) and 18-Inch (on Compass) Aluminum Wheels, for an even more distinctive look. Completing the unique style of the exterior are the new MetaKrome bronze finishes on the front grille rings and on the rear skid plate as well as a dedicated sticker on the hood.

Inside, the “Upland” special-edition features extensive use of recycled materials, which characterize the headliner, the floor mats with a new, dedicated design and the exclusive SEAQUAL_® seats made of recycled plastic removed from the ocean, and sporting distinctive contrast stitching, Jeep logo on the front backrests and an organic vinyl insert on the upper part.

The effect is contemporary and distinctive, courtesy of the weave interlaced with the classic chevron motif on a black base. Plastics collected from the Mediterranean with the help of fishers are transformed by SEAQUAL_® into a polyester fiber that can be used as a genuine fabric. In the weaving phase, the SEAQUAL_® yarn is mixed with other eco-friendly fibers, all of which are natural, recycled, or recovered.

On Renegade, some of the black plastic panels and components used in the interior are also derived from recycled materials, specifically from plastics previously used in a vehicle’s headlamps. The cabin also features bronze MetaKrome painted finishes on several bezels. On Compass, both the door panels and dashboard are wrapped in the same material derived from recycled plastics, while a bronze MetaKrome finish, made with eco-friendly paints, enhances the entire profile of the dashboard.

A Well Rounded Lineup – 

The new e-Hybrid lineup consists of four trim models (Longitude, Night Eagle, Limited, and S), these are on top of the new special-edition Upland trim. All models are equipped with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and the new e-Hybrid turbo 1.5-liter GSE-T4 engine and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. A wide range of customization options is available, with the contrasting black roof option and up to eight different exterior paint colors for the Renegade and seven for the Compass including the new Matter Azur, specific to the “Upland”. A wide range of alloy wheel designs specific to the Renegade and Compass is also available.

State-Of-The-Art Connectivity & Safety Features –

The Renegade and Compass technology offers various operating modes to provide drivers with a complete hybrid driving experience. The hybrid system can also be managed from the Hybrid Pages, which allow the driver to monitor the distribution between thermal and electric propulsion, as well as the driving history on gasoline or electric. Adaptations to the instrument panel enable drivers to monitor all the hybrid system parameters and grant complete control over the driving experience.

The system includes an up to 8.4-Inch and a 10.1-Inch (for Compass only) Uconnect NAV system with touchscreen, as well as comprehensive onboard and remote connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

The new Renegade and Compass hybrid models will come with connected services such as the pre-installed Uconnect™ Box providing access to Uconnect™ Services and a range of features that can be accessed via various touchpoints such as the My Uconnect mobile app, a smartwatch, the website, buttons on the vehicle’s ceiling lights, and voice assistants (Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant).

Using the “My Uconnect” app, customers can access an array of connected services for quick and easy management of the vehicle’s status and maintenance, for remote control of location, to lock and unlock the doors, to turn the lights on, to receive support if needed and lots more.

Uconnect™ Services include:

• My Assistant: to request geo-localized assistance in an emergency or if needed
• My Remote: allows customers to control their vehicle remotely, anywhere, and at any time
• My Car: to monitor and take care of the vehicle’s status and health
• My Navigation: allows owners to send their destination to the vehicle’s navigation system directly from the My Uconnect mobile app, receive real-time updates on traffic, weather and speed cams, viewpoints of interest and update the maps over-the-air (on Compass only)
• The Optional My Wi-Fi: provides an in-car hotspot that simultaneously connects up to eight electronic devices and activates the “Alexa Voice Service” (Compass only)
• The optional My Alert service: customers will receive alerts, support, and immediate assistance in the event of theft

Moreover, as soon as they purchase a Jeep vehicle, customers can immediately create an account by downloading the “My Uconnect” mobile app, and discover many technological and connected advantages, even before their new vehicle is delivered.

In terms of safety, the advanced standard equipment includes Traffic Sign Recognition, which reads and interprets road signs; Intelligent Speed Assist, which automatically keeps the vehicle within the speed limit advertised; Drowsy Driver Alert, which alerts drivers when their attention falters if they drop off for a moment; and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Recognition (Compass only), which slows the vehicle down to a complete stop, to avoid (or mitigate) accidents that could occur. In addition, a new Highway Assist is also available on the Jeep Compass. For the first time in a Jeep model sold in Europe, this driver assistance system offers Level 2 (L2) autonomous driving, which uses a combination of Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Centering to automatically adjust speed and trajectory when driving on motorways.

The introduction of these new hybrid versions offers customers a new point of entry into the electrified Jeep range when they arrive on the market in March. These new models join the successful plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) 4xe versions, which currently account for more than 25% of the brand’s total sales in Europe. In markets such as France, Jeep 4xe models reached more than 50% of total sales while in Italy, the largest Jeep brand market in Europe, Jeep was the leading brand in the Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) market, including Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and PHEVs.

“Today’s announcement builds upon the success of our current 4xe plug-in-hybrid portfolio, and is another step towards the comprehensive electrification of our full product line-up in Europe,” said Antonella Bruno – Head of Jeep Brand Europe. “The Jeep Compass and Renegade e-Hybrid offer a new entry point into our electrified portfolio expanding our sales momentum by offering more hybrid options to more European customers. This product expansion will continue in the summer of this year with the introduction of the 4xe version of the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee.”

2022 Jeep® Renegade e-Hybrid and Compass e-Hybrid Upland Special Edition Image Gallery:

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