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Contact: Ariel  Gavilan

Michele  Callender



Redesigned Jeep® Compass for 2011 Showcases Brand Family Styling and Even More Value for European Customers

  • Sophisticated new design reflects styling cues of the all-new Jeep® Grand Cherokee
  • Upgraded interior features soft touch points and high-quality materials
  • Fuel economy, off-road capability and upgraded steering and suspension systems improve overall value
  • Now available for Europe with three powertrain options
  • Front-wheel-drive configuration standard with 2.0-liter petrol engine, optional with 2.2-liter turbo diesel
February 20, 2011,  Auburn Hills, Mich. -

Offering 4x4 fuel economy and off-road capability in the compact SUV segment, the Jeep® Compass for 2011 features a new, sophisticated design with cues coming directly from the brand’s premium icon, the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Coupled with a host of interior refinements, improved ride and handling characteristics and new powertrain and drivetrain options for Europe, the newest Jeep Compass offers a unique blend of premium styling, capability, efficiency and value that is better than ever.

“Compact SUVs are the most popular sport-utility segment in Europe, and the new Jeep Compass has what it takes to be a strong contender,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand and Lead Executive for International Operations, Chrysler Group LLC. “We have applied the premium design cues of our award-winning new Grand Cherokee, expanded our powertrain range for Europe, and we have upgraded the interiors and ride and handling to provide European consumers a sporty, value-packed option.”

Delivering the packaging and interior flexibility of an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car, Jeep Compass now also boasts more than 30 safety and security features.

Exterior Redesign
The new Jeep Compass for 2011 has a distinct family resemblance to the all-new, premium Jeep Grand Cherokee.

With a new hood, new front fenders, new fascia, new headlamps and a new grille, the face of the Jeep Compass now features a more serious yet sophisticated appearance. The grille has been detailed with a small dose of chrome surrounding the traditional seven slots found on all Jeep vehicles. Forward lighting performance is improved with the use of quad reflector headlamps, and the fog lamps are now high-output projector lamps. Adding an element of muscle, the hood has been enhanced with a subtle power bulge. The result is a vehicle that projects an attitude that is much more serious and conveys the Compass’ capability in all weather and driving conditions.

New brightwork throughout the exterior lends an upscale touch. A band of protective cladding has been added for 2011, serving to fend off debris when driving in challenging weather conditions or off-road and providing a new appearance.

This trend continues with enhancements to the rear of the Jeep Compass: a new rear fascia, new body-color rear spoiler and subtle, upscale touches including new LED taillamps – and on the Limited model, bright trim on the step pad and a chrome exhaust tip. Topping it off, a new set of roof rails were designed with a slimmed-down appearance and a small amount of brightwork. The Compass sports new, standard 17-inch aluminum wheels, and 18-inch aluminum wheels are available on Limited models.

Further Interior Improvements
Interior upgrades for the Jeep Compass in 2011 include new soft-touch front-door trim panels with a padded upper surface; a new, padded center armrest; new Jeep steering wheel with integrated controls that allow the driver to operate the radio, cruise control, available handsfree phone and other vehicle functions while keeping their hands on the wheel; new cloth interior with premium cloth bucket seats in the front; and new backlighting of door-mounted controls for power windows, locks and mirrors.

The new Jeep Compass offers an array of clever features consumers will appreciate whether commuting to work, driving in challenging weather conditions, exploring new trails or out-of-the-way places. A power sun roof or premium audio system with nine Boston Acoustic speakers are just two of the available features that add convenience.

Standard features providing additional value include air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power/heated exterior mirrors, illuminated cup holders, remote keyless entry, fog lamps, speed control and sunscreen glass.

All-road Capability with Choice of Drivetrains
Jeep Compass offers customers confident 4x4 capability as well as a retuned suspension.

Jeep Compass will be available in Europe in two drivetrain configurations. In addition to the Freedom Drive I™ four-wheel-drive system, Compass is now also available in a front-wheel-drive configuration. Front-wheel drive is the sole configuration for vehicles with the 2.0-liter petrol World Engine and is a new option for vehicles with the 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine.

Freedom Drive I is a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with Lock mode, designed to give drivers year-round assurance with the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions as well as slick roads that come with rain and light snow. Freedom Drive I features a lockable center coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Compass in four-wheel-drive Lock mode to handle deep snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces. Freedom Drive I is the standard configuration for vehicles with the 2.4-liter petrol World Engine and is available for vehicles with the 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine.

Jeep Compass incorporates a retuned suspension for 2011, with higher spring and damping rates and an increased diameter of the rear sway bar.

Broadened Powertrain Lineup
Jeep Compass’ powertrain is designed to deliver high levels of performance, fuel economy and refinement at a solid value for money.

The first of two petrol engines is the 2.4-liter World Engine that produces power of 125 kW (170 hp DIN) and torque of 220 N•m (162 lb-ft). This 2.4-liter World Engine has dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts, which helps optimize the torque curve at all speeds and produces more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without dual VVT. Jeep Compass’ 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual transaxle delivers fuel economy of 8.1 L/100 km (combined cycle) and a range of 631 km (392 mi) on one tank of fuel.

The 2.4-liter World Engine is available with either the standard five-speed manual transaxle or an available Continuously Variable Transaxle (CVT). Jeep Compass’ CVT2 is a second-generation CVT that Chrysler Group engineers calibrated for pleasing engine response and precise ratio control. CVT2 contributes to a fuel economy improvement of six to eight percent compared with a traditional four-speed automatic. Compass’ CVT2 also improves vehicle performance compared with a traditional automatic transaxle because of optimized gear ratios, especially during overtaking maneuvers in the 50 to 100 km/h (30-60 mph) range. This transmission features Auto Stick, which allows for manual control with the simulation of six stepped gears.

Newly available for Jeep Compass in Europe is a 2.0-liter petrol World Engine with dual VVT, which provides power of 115 kW (156 hp DIN) and torque of 190 N•m (140 lb-ft). This engine, which is coupled with a five-speed manual transaxle and the front-wheel-drive configuration only, provides fuel economy of 7.6 L/100 km (combined cycle) and CO2 emissions of just 175 g/km.

Jeep Compass also features a 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine with better overall performance than the 2.0-liter diesel engine it replaces. The 2.2-liter diesel engine, which is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, produces power of 120 kW (163 hp DIN) and torque of 320 N•m (236 lb-ft). These equate to a 16-percent increase in power and a 3-percent increase in torque over the prior 2.0-liter diesel engine. With the 2.2-liter diesel engine, Compass also improves its overall performance with 12-percent quicker acceleration and increased 4x4 towing capacity of 2,000 kg (4,409 lbs). With this Euro V diesel engine, Compass delivers fuel consumption of 6.6 L/100 km (combined cycle) and, in the front-wheel-drive configuration, can travel 844 km (524 mi) between fuel stops.

The 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine will also be offered in European markets as a low-output version, with 100 kW (136 hp DIN) of power at 3,600-4,200 rpm and 320 N•m (236 lb-ft) of torque across 1,400-2,800 rpm. This will allow Jeep Compass to meet a wider potential market in Europe.

Safety and Security
Jeep Compass includes more than 30 standard safety and security features such as:

  • Advanced multi-stage front air bags
  • Side-curtain front and rear air bags
  • Seat-mounted (thorax) side air bags
  • Electronic Stability Control with Brake Assist
  • Hill Start Assist (with manual transmission)
  • Electronic Roll Mitigation
  • ABS with rough-road detection
  • Brake Traction Control System
  • Driver and front-passenger active head restraints
  • Security alarm
  • Sentry Key theft-deterrent system
  • Tire-pressure monitoring
  • EVIC

Jeep Compass Model Lineup
Jeep Compass in Europe is available in two models: Sport and Limited. Both are available with either front-wheel drive or the Freedom Drive I full-time, active 4x4 system plus the available engine options according to the selected drivetrain.

Built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, USA, the newest Compass models will arrive in European showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.

Jeep Brand
Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2011, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass and Patriot. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with petrol and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

For the year 2010, Jeep sales globally were up 24 percent versus 2009. Jeep was the top-selling brand and currently comprises 50 percent of Chrysler Group’s international sales.

For more information about the Jeep brand, please visit the European media site at www.jeeppress-europe.com or the Chrysler Group media site at www.media.chrysler.com.


 

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