FCA India launches BS VI diesel automatic variants of Jeep

FCA India has expanded the  Jeep Compass Range by introducing two turbo-diesel variants with 9-speed automatic transmission powered by the locally-manufactured BS VI-compliant 2-litre 173 hp, 350 Nm engine. The two variants – Longitude and Limited Plus – will be offered to customers in the All-wheel Drive (AWD / 4x4) configuration.

 The Jeep Compass 4x4 Longitude 9AT will be available to customers at Rs 2,196,000 and the Limited Plus for Rs 2,499,000 (ex-showroom, pan-India). Bookings and test drives are open at all 80 FCA authorised dealer showrooms across 68 Indian cities.

 Commenting on the range expansion, Dr Partha Datta, President and Managing Director, FCA India said, “We are strengthening and expanding the Jeep Compass range with the introduction of four diesel automatic variants, of which, the base and top-end variant will available to consumers right away. Both variants offer more equipment, boosting the value-for-money proposition for the customer which we believe will increase our share in the segment. This roll out has also given us the opportunity to offer our locally-made BS VI-compliant 2.0-litre turbo-diesel powertrain to consumers much before the statutory deadline.”

The diesel automatic strategy

The roll out of the Jeep Compass 9-speed automatic range signifies the fact that the BS VI-compliant version of the 2.0-litre 173 HP 350 Nm turbo-diesel powertrain is now in mainstream production. This powertrain has been locally-produced in FCA’s JV manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon.

A large part of the Jeep Compass customer base has been gravitating towards the higher end of the range, hence adding more equipment to the Longitude may entice interested customers. The gap in pricing and equipment levels between the Longitude and Limited Plus are consciously significant in order to do justice to customers interested in either variant.

The Longitude is now packed with more standard equipment such as Cruise Control (introduced for the first time in this trim), a larger 7-inch UConnect screen with reverse camera and dynamic grid lines functionality, dual-zone air conditioning and two-tone interiors, passive entry to vehicle and push button start. Like all other Compass variants, Longitude already comes with standard features such as 17-inch alloys shod with all-season tyres, safety aids such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA), disc brakes on all four wheels, Electric Parking Brake (EPB) and the delightful Frequency Damped Suspension (FSD).

The Limited Plus remains the top-of-the-line amongst the non-trail Rated variants in the Jeep Compass portfolio and comes with all the equipment and features that are offered in the base and mid variants, as well as additional features that befit the most premium offering in the line-up.

Dr Datta added, “Whilst the Jeep Compass is equipped with every necessary electronic convenience feature that customers nowadays expect in a vehicle, we have always retained our fundamentals of solid engineering, uncompromised safety and unmatched 4x4 capability, all of these true to the 80-year strong Jeep pedigree.”