For the past several years, there have been rumors about a new subcompact Jeep® in the works to slot beneath the globally popular Renegade. In March, that vehicle was officially announced during Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan presentation as the American adventure brand’s first-ever 100% battery-electric vehicle (BEV).
Internally called “Project 516” or “Jeep Junior”, the new B-segment SUV will be slightly smaller than the Renegade. Built on the Common Modular Platform (CMP) and its electrified alternative eCMP, the new Jeep B-SUV will be the first Jeep vehicle built upon an architecture from the PSA side of Stellantis. It is also believed that the new Jeep B-SUV could wear the historic Jeepster nameplate.
The new Jeep B-SUV is scheduled to begin production at the Tychy Assembly Plant in Poland, in December.
Available at launch, the new Jeep will be available with an internal combustion engine (ICE). According to our sources, the engine will be more than likely the same turbocharged 1.0-liter Multiair III inline-three-cylinder gasoline engine found in the new Fiat Pulse. The engine is part of the FCA Global Small Engine (GSE) family, also known as the “Firefly”. In the Pulse, it delivers 123 horsepower (92kW) and 200 N⋅m (148 lb.-ft.) of torque.
We believe that the gasoline engine will be offered with optional all-wheel-drive (AWD). It is expected that the new off-roader could get an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) and Jeep’s own Selec-Terrain terrain management system. While we doubt there will be a Trailhawk model, don’t doubt that the new B-SUV will be great on backroads and in all-weather conditions.
For those who wish to go electric, the “e” variant should be available a few months later. Sources have stated that the vehicle will have at least a single e-motor capable of producing around 100kW (136 horsepower) with a 50 kWh capacity battery pack.
As Stellantis shifts away from diesel powertrains, we aren’t sure just yet if there will be a diesel option for markets like LATAM or India.
The new Jeep will launch in Europe first, before being rolled out on a global scale. It should be released in almost every market that the Jeep brand is in, with the exception of the United States and Canada. That’s right, like the Commander (H1) and Grand Commander (K8), this Jeep will not be available in the major North American market. It should make it to Mexico, however.
Stay tuned as we will continue to break down more details about the all-new Jeep B-SUV as more information comes to light.
