Jeep Compass 2007 News

Jeep reveals more details and powertrain offerings of the new Compass at its Los Angeles motor show public debut.

Jeep has finally revealed its compact SUV replacement, unveiling the all-new Compass at its new assembly plant in Brazil.

New Honda Jazz sets new benchmark for rear view cameras: $14,990.

Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced overnight that the Jeep Compass and the Chrysler Town & Country – known here as the Grand Voyager -- would be dead in two years.The decision is part of a series of money-saving moves to remove product overlaps and give brand clearer identity, differentiating more between Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge, plus the new separated Ram and SRT sub-brands spun off in the US.The Jeep Compass is virtually a Jeep Patriot under its skin, while the Grand Voyager is an up-specced version of the Dodge Grand Caravan sold in overseas markets.The Grand Voyager minivan – a category Chrysler claims to have started -- will eventually be replaced by a smaller crossover-type vehicle, possibly keeping the Town & Country nameplate in the US at least.However in the interim the Dodge version will be the only minivan/peoplemover in the Chrysler line-up around the world.And that could mean a gap for Australia, where Chrysler is also considering dropping the Dodge brand – currently represented here only by the Dodge Journey SUV-styled peoplemover.Chrysler Australia spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says the death of the Compass and Grand Voyager would be a “natural” one. “In talking about the Compass, that would be part of the natural turnover cycle – the product life cycle,” she says.However Fletcher could not confirm whether Australia would be on the map for the dying models’ replacements. “Obviously that section of the market is in a very healthy state, and we’re keen to remain in it,” she says.“Naturally we’ll be looking at whatever products become available and evaluating their suitability to the Australian market. I don’t think we’re going to be without product.“We are really at the moment looking at the Chrysler and Jeep line-ups – we’re just about to launch the Chrysler 300 -- and we’re very positive about our volume expectations in the next 12 months.” 

Great names often don't translate into great vehicles and such was the case with the Jeep Compass. Great name, average vehicle. But there's a revised model in the offing featuring two petrol engines and a new corporate face derived from the handsome Jeep Grand Cherokee. Is it enough to lift Compass to a more respectable position in the compact SUV pecking order? Maybe. There are about a dozen choices or more in the segment but Jeep thinks the new Compass has what it takes, especially with the weight of the Jeep name behind it. Compass sells from an extremely accessible $26,500 for the base model. THE RANGE We get Sport 2.0-litre, 4x2, five-speed manual (optional CVT auto), Sport 2.4-litre, 4x4 with the same transmission choices as well as Limited 4x4 with the 2.4 engine and CVT only. Both engines are petrol. TECHNOLOGY Chrysler/Jeep has been a leader in automotive media connectivity and such is the case here if you go for the Limited model. Sport scores U-Connect multi media and also what's called EVIC - Electronic Vehicle Information Centre which is essentially a trip computer with additonal features. Cabin air quality is aided by a replaceable filter and remote keyless entry is included. ENGINES The four cylinder engines are not from the latest and greatest Fiat inventory (Fiat owns Jeep). There's a carry over 2.4 litre petrol and a newly added  2.0-litre petrol four. Neither is turbo boosted. They feature variable valve timing but not direct fuel injection. The 2.0-litre is good for 115kW/190Nm while the 2.4 is good for 125kW/220Nm. A 2.0-litre turbodiesel previously available has been dropped but another diesel is under consideration. Fuel economy for the two petrol units varies between 7.6-litres/100km for the manual 2.0 up to 8.6 for the 2.4 CVT. UNDERNEATH Compass rides on a passenger car chassis and has strut front suspension, multi-link rear and rack and pinion steering with a decent 10.8 metre turning circle. Brakes are discs all round and the suspension features stabiliser bars for better handling and drive feel. Towing capacity with a braked trailer is between 1200-1500kg. Wheels are 17- 18inch alloys with a full size spare (Sport). OFF ROAD Obviously, the front wheel drive isn't for off road driving but the 4x4 should be quite adept having 205mm ground clearance and a clever, on-demand all wheel drive system with a lock-up function. The 4x4 system is called Freedon Drive and puts power mainly to the front axle with the rear engaged as needed. SAFETY Compass' crash rating is four stars in the US. To get six air bags, you'll need to tick the options box - four bags are standard. It gets electronic stability control and a range of other systems including roll-over mitigation and hill start assist. INSIDE The Limited gets all the fruit including leather, premium Boston Acoustics audio and a power adjust drivers seat but standard kit is generous. Satnav is optional in both grades and Bluetooth phone is optional in the Sport. A range of options is available particularly audio choices. VERDICT New Compass is a much better looker than the previous model and more relevant with the 4x2 targeting city buyers. Pity the diesel has gone. Should have six air bags as standard, rake and reach steering adjust and Bluetooth. NEED TO KNOW Revamp of previous model Adds 2.0-litre engine variant Front wheel drive availability Turbodiesel under consideration Adopts new corporate "mask." JEEP COMPASS Price: from $26,500 Engine: Sport 2.0-litre, Sport 2.4-litre, Limited 4x4 2.4-litre Transmission: five-speed manual (optional CVT auto) Outputs: 2.0-litre 115kW/190Nm, 2.4-litre 125kW/220Nm Thirst: 7.6-litres/100km for the manual 2.0 up to 8.6 for the 2.4 CVT

The new Jeep Compass features a stronger, more masculine look, with cues from the Grand Cherokee. The new model boasts a host of interior refinements, with soft touch points and high quality materials along with improved ride and handling characteristics courtesy of upgraded steering and suspension systems. While the details are yet to be confirmed, it will have more than 30 safety and security features, including standard electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation, Hill-start Assist and side-curtain air bags that cover all rows. Expected to arrive later in the year the new Compass will continue to sell alongside its cousin the Patriot with which it shares the same platform and drive trains. Along with the Cherokee, Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee, the pair will complete the freshest and most impressive Jeep range to ever be offered in Australia It's the perfect way to wrap up the brand's 70th anniversary.

Unveiled in Detroit, the Compass has been given a new look and new fuel-focused power plant, a 2.0-litre ‘World Engine’ which Jeep says will give it 10.2 L/100km in the city

The wagon - Jeep's first production attempt at an SUV - has been revealed wearing new clothes that overcome the bland appearance of its predecessor.

Chrysler will axe four models next year in a global cost-cutting plan.The vehicles to go include the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible, Chrysler Crossfire sportscar, Chrysler Pacifica SUV and the Dodge Magnum (a wagon version of the 300C sedan).Australia only imports the PT Cruiser convertible and Crossfire.DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific PR manager Jerry Stamoulis emphasised that the PT Cruiser sedan would remain and that the cabrio was “only low volume; about 10 a month”.However, he admitted the loss of the Crossfire would be a blow.“Crossfire is the biggest blow for us because it's a very attractive car, drives well and had a positive response from media and public,” he said. “But as yet we have received no date as such for these to be cut.”While cutting its cloth to fit a suspected worsening in the US economic climate, Chrysler will next year add four models.There will be two new Dodges — the Journey minivan and Challenger large-medium sedan — plus two new hybrid SUV models — the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango.Stamoulis said the Challenger was in left-hand drive only.“So that is not a plan at all at this stage,” he said.“It is early days for discussing the hybrids. They are developing the hybrids for the US, but there are no specific dates for us as yet.“The Dodge Journey we are working on bringing to Australia in 2008, but they have not officially said whether it will be released here.“At this stage it is looking likely for later in 2008.”Stamoulis said Chrysler's Australian portfolio would not suffer from the loss of two models.“It's not as if we don't have a decent portfolio,” he said.“We've had five new models this year — the Sebring, Avenger, Compass, Patriot and Nitro — and the sixth will be Sebring Cabrio in December, so essentially we've brought in six new cars this year and are losing two in the next 18 months.”Chrysler Australia will also re-introduce the new Voyager and launch the Jeep Cherokee in February.Global Chrysler chairman and CEO Robert Nardelli said the impending model cuts reflected an expected reduction in sales next year.The new round of cutbacks follows an earlier announcement that Chrysler planned to chop 85,000 units from its fourth-quarter production plans.“These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products,” he said.The cuts will lead to a loss of 12,000 jobs in American factories.Nardelli said their plans were in addition to cutting 13,000 jobs by the three-year Recovery and Transformation Plan announced in February.

There have been rumours for more than a year about something new from the British brand, and the confirmation came with the single press picture released at the Frankfurt Motor Show.The shot asks more questions than it answers. Still, it is obvious the car in the picture is a big departure from the chunky off-roaders that fill out the Land Rover line-up from the flagship Range Rover down to the near-new Freelander II.It is lower, much smoother and appears to have only two doors. And it has a swoopy roofline which is more like the new BMW X6 crossover coupe (also revealed at Frankfurt) than a traditional off-roader.It also promises much lower fuel economy, up to 10per cent better than the Freelander II, as well as luring younger buyers to the brand.The newcomer could be displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, instead of fighting for space at Frankfurt in a Ford family group, which included the all-new Jaguar XF, Mazda6 and facelifted Ford Focus, but there is no firm timing for showrooms.“Next year would probably be too early. But we are not talking about the timing,” says Land Rover's Natasha Waddington. “We are just showing this picture for the moment.”The Land Rover teaser comes as another luxury brand, Mercedes-Benz, gets ready to downsize on the four-wheel-drive front.It has a GLK soft-roader ready for next year that will slide in below its existing ML and GL four-wheel-drives as a rival to the Freelander II and BMW's X3. But the GLK, which is based on the mechanical package used for the C-Class sedan, is not coming to Australia.“The GLK is not going to be made in right-hand-drive. We could not make a business case,” Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy says. “There is not enough volume. We would have liked it, but on the right-hand-drive side there is only Australia, the UK, South Africa and Japan. Not enough to make the numbers work.”The sneak peek of the new Land Rover comes at a good time for the company, which is on the auction block together with Jaguar and, most likely, Volvo as Ford looks to cut costs and complications to get it back into the black.It also shows Land Rover wants to follow Jeep into a more-youthful area of the four-wheel-drive business.The American company has been very successful in the US in turning Jeep into more than just a heavyweight off-road company, although its soft-shaped Compass has not done well in Australia. The Patriot, which is even newer, promises better results.Land Rover has its own model to copy, though, as it has done very good business with the city-focused Range Rover Sport. It is much more like a car to drive, even with its boxy body.The other Land Rover news from the Frankfurt show is a stop-start engine system that will be fitted to its vehicles from 2009. It is claimed to improve fuel economy by up to 10 per cent by killing the motor when the car is stopped in traffic, but it is only promised for manual transmission vehicles with more work needed on an adaptation for automatics.