Jeep Enthusiast Shows Us Just How Easily Fiat Can Breathe Life Into Chrysler

Between this and the Compass, Jeep seems to have lost its way.

A Jeep with 1.3L??? BS! Give me 3.7 or 4 or 5 in a V8.

I know Jeep was unsuccessul in getting into the small market, the Compass has been so-so, and the boxier Patriot was a flop. If they offered the V6 3.7L in the Compass or Patriot as an option with a hefty 4WD, granted it would add weight, but hey, you could then have an SRT version to go with the Grand Cherokee (drool).

But for small cars, this would be funny, a Jeep (known for they gas hungry powertrains) that gets better mpg than a Insight, LOL.

The Patriot is outselling the Compass over 2 to 1 this year. The Patriot is offered as Trail rated. These vehicles were designed to compete with vehicles like the RAV4, CRV, Sportage, and Escape and not meant as hard core offroaders. They were also designed to bring customers that would not consider a Jeep normally. If you need a V6 they make the Liberty. There are alot of people that are buying Car based SUVs and in this market you need a wide variety of vehicles.

Although I don't think a 1.3 liter engine will work here. I don't want to try merging on the highway behind one.

The Caliber is built in the same factory on the same platform as The Compass and Patriot and offered in SRT-4 trim.

This is not a bad idea, but this would not be a huge seller simply because of the lack of an auto tranny. The issues after that would probably stem from lack of range once the car is loaded, and the fact that you'll have frequent fillups due to the tiny fuel tank.

It would need a slushbox option.

Wow, its a trail-rated Smart car. But why?

This article continues the false argument that the only reason US automakers are failing is because they aren't making enough tiny cars with high gas mileage. That is a load of crap.

Toyota already makes a similar 4x4. It's called Dhaitsu Terios and for 2008 they added a seven seat option in it too.

Pre-2008 all Terios were 1.3, now Toyota gave it the new improved 1.5 VVT-i engine. It gets very good mileage and is respectable offroader too. Suzuki also makes similar 4x4 like Jimny, Vitara...etc.

JUGNU

I didn't know Micro-machines were making a comeback...so detailed for a little toy.

Where to start?

Disgrace to call it a Jeep. Yep. This brilliant little car is a Fiat. How dare they try to suggest Jeep thought of it.

1.3 litres. Yes. 4 cylinder, 16 valve, multijet diesel engine. It's a damn fine offroader.

It's not a Suzuki.. Suzuki don't know how to make a diesel engine.

35mpg.. hahahaha these things get around 60mpg real world.

What's so difficult about a real gearbox?

Hellcat
c/o fiatforum.com

This is nothing more than another version of the Suzuki Samarai. Its about the same size, weight, engine, and power.

Would someone just put Jeep out of their misery?

I was giving my .02 on the sales figures, cause around here I never see Patriots on the road, it is all Compi.

Jeep out of their misery thstone??? You apparently follow sales even worse than I do. But I can tell you that Jeeps do pretty well in their segments. Not everyone wants a cutesy little small girly SUV, CUV or whatever else is offered (see Rav 4, CRV). My past and current gf both have Liberty's and love them. I had 3 Jeeps in my family (2 Cherokees and one Grand). I want a new Liberty personally (Limited, white, skyslider roof).

They are pretty popular and won't be going anywhere soon.

April Fools was last month. This can't even climb over the curb :)

This vehicle would be a disgrace to the Jeep name. 1.3 liters - c'mon! How could they call this 'trail rated?' By the way, the side and back look horrible!

i think what you'll find is puting the jeep logo on a small, yet perfectly formed well executed design is the "disgrace"...americans, stilll thinking that sticking huge stone age tech engine in a fat overblown, badly built, poorly designed body is the way forward.....one look around any american car showroom, reveals levels of poor quality not seen since the days of......well atually let's face it, no one builds a crappy interior like the americans.....

grow up, the homegrown talent "dropped the ball", to fail on teh international scene is one thing, but the fact is, the brand is week on domestic turf, poor poor effort, take the hit, cause what else do you have? full on shut down?

actually that may not be a bad idea, considering the dearth of original thinking the eigners their have.