Back in March this year we were given an idea as to what the new baby Jeep EV would look like, and thanks to these new images, it’s clear Jeep has pretty much finalised the compact SUV’s design. We’ve seen it testing in camouflage before, but this is our first undisguised look at Jeep’s first EV.
The junior Jeep is still yet to be named officially, but we know it’ll sit below the Renegade crossover in the brand’s lineup. Judging from previous spy shots, the new car won’t just be offered with an electric powertrain as internal combustion engined variants have been spotted testing, too.
Auto Express understands that these images were taken in Portugal during an advertising shoot, and the car looks almost identical to the images revealed earlier this year when the car was announced.
The front end shows a closed-off upper grille for better aerodynamic efficiency, while the lower two grilles are visible. We can also see a shallower windscreen than the retro-styled Renegade, while the headlight design and front bumper also look unchanged from the original images.
The junior Jeep’s flanks sport typically chunky wheel arches with plastic cladding, the window line is broken up by a shark fin-style rear pillar, plus there’s a contrasting black roof. The rear light clusters and lighting signature are also unchanged from the original images of the concept, and there’s no single exhaust tip protruding from the bumper, showing this is the pure-electric model.
No announcements have been made on the new Jeep’s underpinnings and powertrain but it’s likely it’ll use the Stellantis e-CMP platform – as used in similarly sized cars such as the Peugeot 208, e-208, 2008 and e-2008, as well as Vauxhall’s Corsa and Corsa e, plus Mokka and Mokka e models. This would allow for internal combustion and pure-electric powertrains, although it’s not yet known if the platform will be adapted to accommodate Jeep’s traditional four-wheel drive set-up.
With the launch of the new baby Jeep due at the end of the year it’s too early to suggest that the new model will make use of Stellantis’s new electric technology, announced at the company’s EV day last year.
The all-electric STLA Small platform isn’t due until 2026 but could well accommodate four-wheel drive with electric motors on both axles. With batteries ranging from 37kWh Stellantis is also targeting a range of up to 300 miles from its new models – around 100 miles more than is available from cars on the existing e-CMP platform.
Last year, Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares spoke on Jeep’s EV future, “Electrification will amplify Jeep’s core attributes. This new model will launch during the first half of next year and is the first of a comprehensive fully-electric Jeep line-up that will cover every SUV segment by 2025”, he added.
As part of Jeep’s celebrations for its 80th anniversary last year, brand boss Christian Meunier announced that there would be a “fully emissions-free Jeep in every segment by 2025”. However, Jeep’s head of exterior design, Mark Allen, hinted to Auto Express of a possible range expansion to tie in with the electrification: “We’re looking at every segment possible”, he said.
When asked if Jeep’s line-up could extend beyond the Wagoneer at the top end and Renegade at the bottom, Allen said, “Absolutely – we’re looking beyond those projects.
“Renegade is a B-segment so obviously there’s room below that and that’s something we’re looking at. But we’re probably not looking at something larger than Wagoneer – it’s a beast!”
Allen also hinted that other new Jeep models are being considered in addition to the smaller model. “There are a couple of other forks in the road that we’re looking to cover”, he said. “But I’ve got to point out that just a few years ago we had three vehicles and we’re up to this line-up that we have now – we’ve been extremely busy, and it’s really been pushed by market demand and worldwide coverage.
“There’s been tremendous growth to the brand in a short amount of time.”
Although Jeep is committed to electrification, Meunier did admit that Jeep was looking at hydrogen power, too. “It’s very exciting,” he said. “We have some ideas of what we can do with it.”
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