The FCA-owned Jeep brand, mainly known for the tough utility vehicles had recently made its official entry in India with the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler SUVs. And since, company’s much anticipated 4*4, Jeep Renegade has been spied testing several times on the Indian roads. However, this muscular crossover will not go on sale in the country, because it is being considered too small yet too expensive car for the Indian market.
You must be wondering, then what is this camouflaged test mule doing here. Actually, it is the platform which is being tested under the Indian road conditions, not the Renegade itself. Although, the small Renegade is based on the same FCA’s Small Wide platform which further will also underpin the brand’s bigger SUVs in the near future like Jeep 551 and Jeep 556 (Codenamed), also unofficially named C Jeep and B Jeep respectively. And both the cars are expected to be launched in India.
The yet-to-be-named Jeep 551 and 556 are currently being developed in Brazil and the US, and will be manufactured in India and Brazil. The Jeep 551 or C Jeep is a mid-size crossover and will be slotted between the Renegade and the Cherokee. It will enter production in India by the end of next year or in early 2018, the reports suggest. While the Jeep 551 will be pitched against the bigger SUVs likes of Honda CR-V, the Jeep 556 which will be launched on a later date will lock the horns with the compact SUVs like of Ford EcoSport and the Hyundai Creta.
Last year, the FCA India announced an investment of USD 280 million in the brand’s Ranjangaon facility Pune, Maharashtra in order to expand the portfolio for the new Jeeps. India is being considered the manufacturing hub for the upcoming Jeeps. The launch of Jeep 551 and 556 will enhance the options for the off-road enthusiast drivers in the country.
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Spied Images Source: RUSHLANE