Fabio Catone, Jeep’s European boss, explained the main benefits of moving to this more advanced architecture: “In STLA One, we have very strong technologies. The STLA brain, the STLA smart cockpit, the steer-by-wire; we’re expecting to take all of those.”
But when pushed about how distinct this new generation of Jeep might be from its closely related cousins from companies such as Peugeot, he said: “There is scale, there is simplification, but where the customer cares, there are specific investments. When we produce a top hat, we require specific technical angles, specific technology. We require the specific materials [for Jeep’s] 360 degree protection. And, we require 4×4 for each model.”
The newcomer will sit above the existing Avenger in Jeep’s current range, giving the company a cutting-edge model to rival crossovers and SUVs such as VW’s forthcoming ID.Cross, the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke EV and Skoda Epiq. And it’ll do so with a level of off-roading capability beyond all these key rivals that’s core to the Jeep brand.
As our exclusive images show, the new Jeep might harbour a revolutionary chassis underneath, but its design will feature all the classic design cues associated with Jeep. As such, elements including wrap-around protection with tough, uncoloured bumpers, big wheels, the use of bright colours and a typical seven-slot grille, will mark this out as something different from its Stellantis sibling cars.
