- Grand Cherokee sports concept with a diesel powerplant
- Blacked-out Compass concept intended for production
- Limited-edition Wrangler Mountain with unique styling and equipment
With the Geneva Auto Show right around the corner, Jeep provides a glimpse of three vehicles that will be the highlight of their exhibit. Each of a pair of design studies are intended for production and feature all-black styling details. The Grand Cherokee sports concept gets streamlined styling and a diesel engine. The focus of a Compass concept is a more distinctive look and up-market appointments. The limited-edition Wrangler Mountain is certain to reach European customers later this year and includes extra off-road goodies and stand-out styling.
The Grand Cherokee concept looks sportier thanks to blacked-out trim that includes the headlamp bezels, grille surround and dual exhaust tips. Twenty-inch aluminum wheels are also finished in gloss black while the grille mesh and lower fascia get a unique platinum chrome finish. The roof rails are replaced with low-profile covers.
Inside, the Grand Cherokee concept is upgraded with Nappa leather and suede seats and carbon fiber trim. A host of high-tech safety and convenience equipment like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise are included.
Under the hood lies a 241-horsepower 3-liter turbodiesel that produces 406 lb-ft of torque. The diesel is likely to be available in the US soon and may provide a more economical and robust alternative to the Grand Cherokee's gasoline engines.
The Compass concept features similar all-black details to the larger Grand Cherokee. It has gloss black roof rails, step pads and 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Compass has leather seats, bright door sills and a 368-watt Boston Acoustics 9-speaker audio system.
Jeep says both concepts point to the automaker's design direction for 2012.
Lastly, the Wrangler Mountain, a limited edition available in Europe in the coming months, will be on display. The show vehicle is finished in eye-catching "Gecko" green with a black hood decal and mineral gray grille and wheel finishes. One in a long line of special edition Wranglers, the Mountain features Dana front and rear axles for improved off-road capabilities and an options package that include the Uconnect infotainment system. heated seats and six-speaker Infinity sound.
Jeep's Geneva concepts may not be of the wild and futuristic sort, but for a company like Jeep, this comes as no disappointment. The automaker has maintained an extremely loyal and enthusiastic following thanks to a deliberate evolution of vehicles that keeps the past in mind while pushing into the future. The trio at Geneva may not show the distant future of Jeep, but it provides a look at the improvements we can expect in the near term.
What it means to you: Jeep's Geneva Auto Show exhibit will include a Grand Cherokee concept with a diesel powerplant that could be available soon in the US.
