Jeep Renegade News

Jeep has created five custom Wrangler vehicles as well as one-off Renegade and Wagoneer concepts ahead of the annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari later this month.

Citroen C4 Cactus petrol with auto transmission is set for Australia.

Fuel consumption claims aren't worth the label they're printed on.

Jeep says it will reverse the sales slide next year, may source cars from India.

Jeep has revealed seven new off-road concept vehicles ahead of their debuts at the Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Utah later this month.Four out of the seven concepts are based on the highly customisable Wrangler, while the Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and new baby Renegade models have also been modified for the Safari. Every year Jeep wheels out a range of concepts for the safari to showcase its production and prototype Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts accessories to give owners an idea of how they can modify their own vehicles.Jeep Wrangler AfricaThe Wrangler Africa is designed for long-range off-roading with extra cargo space and room for auxiliary fuel tanks.Based on the four-door Wrangler Unlimited, it is powered by a 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine and fitted with a two-inch lift kit, sway bar links and front and rear Dana 44 axles from Jeep Performance Parts.Inside it’s designed to be tough and durable, and the floor, roof and cargo area are finished in spray-on truck bed coating.Jeep Grand Cherokee OverlanderThe Grand Cherokee Overlander is designed for off-road enthusiasts who like to camp out in their vehicles overnight.It features a two-person rooftop tent, integrated front winch, tow hooks, off-road rock rails, front and rear skid plates and 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tyres.The Grand Cherokee-based concept is powered by a 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder This Wrangler-based concept is a purpose-built support vehicle  designed for emergency off-road situations. It’s filled with spare parts and tools, while also equipped with the off-road hardware needed to conquer the toughest terrain.It features 37-inch mud terrain tyres, four-inch Jeep Performance Parts lift kit, Fox shocks, Dana 60 axles and prototype rock rails.Power comes from a 3.6-litre petrol V6, fitted with a cold air intake to help air flow.Jeep Cherokee Canyon Trail The off-road capability of the Cherokee is increased further with the Canyon Trail concept, which adds rock rails, two-piece fuel tank skid plate, two-piece underbody skid plate and all terrain tyres that give 1.5-inches of extra lift.The Cherokee is powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox.Jeep Renegade Desert HawkEven Jeep’s baby Renegade SUV has been toughened up for the Safari, with both styling and mechanical tweaks. It features desert tan exterior paint, a bonnet decal which depicts the ‘Fins and Things’ Moab trail and unique seat covers.Underneath the Renegade gets rock rails and a skid plate for improved off-road ability.Jeep Staff CarThis Wrangler-based concept was inspired by the military Jeeps used in the Second World War.It does without doors, a fixed roof and interior luxuries, but features a roll cage, Sandstorm exterior paint, military-style wheels and tyres, and 3.6-litre V6 engine with a manual gearbox.The Staff Car concept is fitted with a Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift kit, Fox shocks and Dana 44 axles.Jeep ChiefThis Wrangler is a throwback to the 1970s Jeep Cherokee, designed to excite hipsters, surfers and fans of 70s retro styling.It features a unique two-tone ocean blue and white color scheme, unique chrome grille and bumpers and 17-inch ‘mag’ wheels.Inside it boasts a Hawaiian themed interior with seats trimmed in floral leather and cloth material, Rosewood grab handle plus a modern 8.4-inch touchscreen multimedia system.Eagle-eyed viewers will notice the doors and windshield have been chopped down two-inches compared to a standard Wrangler and it features a two-inch lift kit.This author's instinct suggests that if Jeep were to put this concept into production right now, they wouldn’t be able to build enough of them. It’s the right car for the moment – everything old is new again, right?

Jeep international product planner Adrian van Campenhout says a strong reception for the small Renegade crossover and a volume-boosting "Com-patriot" replacement will be needed if the company is to comply with global boss Sergio Marchionne's demand to lift sales from 1 million last year to 1.9 million by 2018.We need to extend the line-up with new models, add variants to existing models and continue to lead our segments"Obviously he (Marchionne) has a vision for where the brand needs to go. And that's where we're going," van Campenhout says."To do that we need to extend the line-up with new models, add variants to existing models and continue to lead our segments."The Renegade is in play in the fastest-growing global segment. We have a new (compact) SUV in the pipeline and our new seven-seater (Grand Wagoneer)."We've got an all-new Grand Cherokee and Wrangler in 2017...with the vehicles we have now and the models we'll have soon...if you look at our growth over the last few years, we can meet the number."A Trail-Rated vehicle will always be the most capable off-roader in its segment with genuine four-by-four abilityVan Campenhout cites the Renegade as an example of how Jeep can adjust its "Trail-Rated" badging depending on the segment is selling in."Will the Renegade Trailhawk do the Rubicon Trail? No, it won't," he says, "That's what the Wrangler is for.""Will it go places most owners won't ever consider taking it? Yes it will. A Trail-Rated vehicle will always be the most capable off-roader in its segment with genuine four-by-four ability."Jeep is considering a vehicle smaller than the Renegade to cater to emerging marketsHe also says Jeep is considering a vehicle smaller than the Renegade to cater to emerging markets in Latin America and the Asia Pacific.He won't be drawn on whether that vehicle will be a rumoured three-door Renegade or a completely new model."The emerging economies represent a big part of our future growth and there's an argument the Renegade is too expensive for those markets," he says."We'll need a vehicle to (sell there). The brand is capturing a lot of market share everywhere around the world. We sell in 100-plus countries (so it could work).India would be an ideal market for developing a small vehicle with the usual Jeep attributes. "It would work in your neck of the woods (Australia), too, I would imagine."

Jeep has announced new details for the Australian version of the new Jeep Renegade, with the small SUV to joining the new car market’s fastest growing segment that includes Honda's new HR-V, Renault Captur, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, Suzuki S-Cross, Nissan Juke and upcoming Mazda CX-3.Pricing and a local showroom arrival date are yet to be confirmed, however Jeep has detailed the Renegade's engine and trim levels, as well as the capabilities of the trail-rated Trailhawk version of the soft-roader.Three petrol-powered engine options will be available for the Renegade. At the lower-end will be a 81kW/152Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine while the upper end features a 103kW/230Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder powerplant.The Trailhawk tops the lot with a 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.Each will be paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and deliver power to all four wheels. While all-wheel drive is available on both the S-Cross and Juke, and will be available in the CX-3 when it arrives locally, most other small-SUVs stick to the front-wheel drive of their hatchback origins.Externally, the Renegade features Jeep's "My Sky" open roof system. Available in either manual or powered form, the roof panels - made of fibreglass and polyurethane honeycomb - fold behind the rear seats and are stored in the cargo area.The cabin of the all-new Renegade will feature Jeep's new "Tek-Tonic" design language, which borrows design elements from the Wrangler and combines them with the aesthetics of sporting equipment.The Renegade also features Jeep's Uconnect multimedia system. It will come with either a five-inch or 6.5-inch touchscreen, the usual suite of connectivity options as well as digital radio.A seven-inch display screen replaces the traditional instrument cluster above the steering wheel, similar to Audi's 'Virtual Cockpit'.Flexibility in storage spaces is provided by a front passenger seat that folds forward and a cargo floor panel that can be removed, reversed and raised or lowered.Safety features on the Renegade range will include seven airbags, reversing camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-path detection, blind spot monitoring and electronic stability control.Jeep will also produce a Trailhawk version of the Renegade, with the idea being it can actually be taken off road.The Renegade Trailhawk will feature a 130kW/230Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, low-range 4x4 system, disconnecting rear axle, five drive modes (auto, snow, sand, mud and rock) and hill descent control.Ground clearance on the Renegade Trailhawk is 220mm, an increase of 20mm over the other Renegade models, and it is capable of handling 30.5 degree approach and 34.3 degree departure angles.Other features of the Renegade Trailhawk include the ability to cross water up to 480mm deep, 900kg towing capacity (with tow package), front and rear tow hooks, skid plates and unique 17-inch alloys.

But the start of 2015 is gearing up for more hot deals than usual because new car sales stalled last year for the first time since the Global Financial Crisis.It means dealers are overstocked and they're even more eager to make way for fresh metal.Adding to the pressure - and putting buyers in the driver's seat - is the uncertainty around Australia's currency, which has taken a hit in recent months. Buying a new car now could mean a double-saving; get the discount on end-of-year bargains and beat possible price rises.Record low interest rates and favourable exchange rates saw new car prices fall to 20-year lows in 2014 as affordability hit a 38-year high in 2014.But once the cars imported at last year's exchange rates are cleared, the chances are new models won't be discounted as heavily, or prices may even rise.Most cars sold in Australia are sourced from Japan (30 per cent), Thailand (20 per cent) and South Korea (12 per cent) - rather than the US (5 per cent) - but most car companies buy in US dollars as it has historically been more stable.The prices of Japanese branded cars are likely to remain steady because the Japanese Government artificially devalues the yen to boost exports. But the value of the Australian dollar against the currencies of Thailand, South Korea and the US is less stable.It means price rises are likely on almost every ute sold in Australia because most are made in Thailand, including the top-selling Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton and Holden Colorado, among others.South Korean brands Hyundai and Kia, two of the industry's biggest discounters, may also lose some of their bargaining power if the Australian dollar continues to head south.But one brand you may not be expecting to go backwards due to a shift in currency is Holden, which sources eight of its 12 models from South Korea and two from Thailand.With that in mind we have assembled the 10 cars we reckon are worth waiting for. Remember to always judge a car by its build date (the day it went down the production line and how its age will be measured when it comes time to sell), rather than the compliance plate (in effect, when the car cleared Australian customs).Be warned: there are still some 2013-built cars out there (Nissan, we're looking at you), so be sure to haggle hard and make sure the factory warranty starts the day you take delivery.Sometimes it's worth waiting for an all-new model, or at least knowing if you have more bargaining power if the dealer is trying to clear not only last year's model but one that is about to be superseded.The successor to Australia's cheapest car from a mainstream brand is just around the corner with a new look and a new name. The Suzuki Celerio is bigger than the Alto and the 1.0-litre three-cylinder has been tuned to run on regular unleaded (rather than premium like its predecessor), making it one of the cheapest cars to own and operate. Expect a super-sharp $13,990 drive-away starting price when it goes on sale in February.Australia is going to be crawling with pint-sized SUVs next year but the Mazda CX-3 is likely to take most of the spotlight. Available with a 1.5-litre turbo diesel or a 2.0-litre petrol engine it is expected to start between $20,000 and $25,000 when it goes on sale in March. It will join the Honda HR-V (February), Renault Captur (February), the next generation Suzuki Vitara (June), the unusually named Citroen Cactus (June), and the cutesy Fiat 500X (November).The city-sized soft-roader market is so huge globally even off-road brand Jeep has joined the fray. The Jeep Renegade may look like a scaled-down Tonka Truck but it is based on the same underbody as the Fiat Punto, Alfa Romeo Mito and the Fiat 500X. Powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel matched to a segment-leading nine-speed automatic transmission, the Renegade is due in showrooms in October priced between $20,000 and $30,000.The first new Nissan Navara in 10 years arrives in showrooms in April with two new 2.3-litre turbo diesel engines (one with a single turbo, the other with twin turbos). The outputs are almost the same as the previous 2.5-litre turbo diesel, despite being smaller in capacity (a 118kW/403Nm version and a 140kW/450Nm version). Payload and towing capacity are yet to be confirmed but bank on a one-tonne cargo rating and a 3500kg towing limit (bringing the Navara into line with class leaders). The 550Nm Navara with the Renault 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 has been dropped. It will be a big year for utes, with a rebodied Mitsubishi Triton due in May, significant updates due for the Ford Ranger and Mazda BT50 in July, an all-new Toyota HiLux in October.Take a close look at the new Ford Mondeo due on sale in April. This is a pointer to the vehicle that will eventually replace the Falcon. Available in sedan and wagon body styles, likely with a choice of 2.0-litre turbo petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines, prices are expected to range from $30,000 to $50,000. It will also be loaded with technology including LED headlights, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and industry-leading rear seatbelt airbags. A hybrid version will join the Mondeo line-up later in the year.Jaguar is making a second attempt at the lucrative mid-size luxury sedan market dominated by the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C Class. After learning from the ill-conceived 2002 X-Type based on the Ford Mondeo, Jaguar has started with a cleansheet design and aluminium construction. It will be available with a 2.0-litre petrol engine, and a 2.0-litre turbo diesel said to sip 4.0L/100km, less than the Audi A4 (4.8L/100km) and BMW 320d (4.5L/100km) aided by an eight-speed auto. At the other end of the scale: a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with a 0 to 100km/h time of 5.1 seconds. Due on sale in September, it's likely to start about $60,000.The first new Volvo XC90 in 12 years is also the first all-new model developed since Volvo was bought by China's Geely motor company in 2010. Promising to the world's safest SUV it will automatically slam on the brakes if you're about to turn in front of an oncoming car, and can also spot cyclists and pedestrians at night. It even has eyes in the back of its head: a radar system can detect if you're about to be hit from behind, and will prepare the seatbelts and headrests for the sudden impact. It will be available with a choice of four-cylinder petrol or diesel power, and a plug-in hybrid that can travel up to 40km on battery power alone (before switching to petrol power), the first seven-seater of its type in the world. Due in showrooms in July priced about $90,000.Mazda has gone back to basics – in every sense of the word – and wound back the clock with the new MX-5 sports-car. The first all-new MX-5 since the original was launched 25 years ago goes back to its lightweight, low cost roots (each wheel only has four locating nuts instead of five, for example) and promises a soft-top roof and a sub-1000kg mass for the first time since last century. Since 2006 the Mazda MX-5 has had a folding metal roof to help it weather storms and thwart thieves, but this has added weight, complexity and cost. The new model is expected to be available with a choice of two engines – a 1.5- and a 2.0-litre – when it goes on sale in September priced below $40,000.The Ford Mustang returns to Australia in October for the first time since 2003, but it will be the first time in the nameplate's 50-year history that it will be made in right-hand-drive on a Ford production line (Flat Rock, Michigan). All models before this one were converted to right-hand-drive locally. It will be available with a choice of 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo or 5.0-litre V8 power in coupe and convertible body styles. Prices will range from $50,000 to $70,000.Mercedes-Benz's answer to the Porsche 911 arrives in July priced about $270,000. Powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that will also power the upcoming AMG C63 sedan, it can complete the 0 to 100km/h dash in just 3.8 seconds. Fun fact for the tech heads: it has a better weight distribution (47/53 front to rear) than either the Porsche 911 (39/61) or Cayman (46/54). Game on.

Are you tired of getting stuck behind an SUV? If you can’t see through them, you may want to join them.Australia is going to be crawling with a new type of SUV from next year: city-sized soft-roaders. Or as we like to call them, faux-wheel drives.They have the same tall driving position as a full-size SUV (to better navigate the traffic rather than the great outdoors) and yet have the economy of a small car because often they don’t even have all-wheel drive. Handily, they also fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.The Suzuki SX4 (now known as the S-Cross) in many ways pioneered this segment; Holden and Nissan followed with pocket-sized high-riding hatchbacks with unusual designs.But Mazda’s CX-3 is the first one that appears to look just right. Due in March, it will soon be joined by the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Renault Captur and the reborn Suzuki Vitara (a sign of the times, now with car-like underpinnings rather than a 4WD chassis).Most of these vehicles will be priced between $20,000 and $30,000, the heart of the new-car market — and put SUVs in the driveways of those who want one but, until now, couldn’t afford it.If you thought it was already difficult to choose a new car in the world’s most competitive market, it’s about to get even tougher.

We don't currently have a Renegade here but that could change if the local Jeep importer can justify a place for it in the local line-up. The Renegade is a small SUV that according to the Jeep blurb, "stays true to the adventurous lifestyle Jeep is known for".Renegade delivers a combination of off-road capability, open-air freedom and convenience and in a segment first, a nine-speed automatic transmission that is said to contribute to outstanding driving dynamics and fuel efficiency from a range of new engines. It sounds like overkill to us.Renegade has a selection of innovative safety and advanced technology features. Sounds good yes? They are targeting a youthful and adventurous buyer (whatever that means). Renegade expands the brand's product portfolio and targets the rapidly expanding small SUV segment around the globe.Though it's on a Fiat/Alfa platform with engines from those vehicles, Jeep says Renegade symbolises the brand's renowned American design, ingenuity and innovation, marking the Jeep brand's first entry into the small SUV segment in more than 100 markets around the globe.It leverages 4x4 technology from the new Jeep Cherokee which can provide up to 100 per cent of the engine's available torque to the ground, through any wheel, for optimal grip. Jeep Active Drive features a "crawl" function. Renegade has a disconnecting rear axle and power take-off unit (PTU) to provide the 4x4 models with enhanced fuel economy.Five mode Jeep Selec-Terrain is provided on 4x4 models offering Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud modes, plus Rock mode on the Trailhawk model. The latter is for customers who demand the most off-road capability from their Jeep. Engine availability is wide including four MultiAir gasoline units and two MultiJet II diesels. The petrols are flex fuel capable and some models get engine stop/start. All engines and powertrains are out of the Fiat/Alfa inventory.Transmissions include the already mentioned nine speed auto, two manuals and one dual dry clutch manumatic. Possibly here 2015.