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Jeep's new Patriot crossover will be another departure from the brand's off-road heritage when it bows in the fourth quarter.
The first will be the Jeep Compass, which was unveiled in January. The Patriot will be sold in base and Limited models. The two models are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 172 hp. A five-speed manual transmission is standard. A continuously variable transmission is optional. The Patriot shares a vehicle platform with the Compass and Dodge Caliber. The Patriot will be sold in global markets in left-hand drive and right-hand-drive versions in the first half of 2007. A 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine mated with a six-speed manual transmission will be sold outside North America. Side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are standard. The Patriot will be offered with three drive configurations: front-wheel-drive and two all-wheel-drive systems. Jeep's "Freedom Drive I" is a full-time awd system; Freedom Drive II is an optional awd off-road package. Jeep expects the compact SUV segment to nearly double to 568,000 units by 2010 and triple to 814,000 units by 2016. The Patriot's target audience is professionals in their early 20s to early 40s who earn a median income of $65,000. |
