Jeep Meridian: The 7-Seater SUV For India

[Nairrk]

In a bid to sustain the interest in the brand, the Italian-American auto major, Fiat Chrysler Automobile has approved a top of the line SUV - under its Jeep brand for the Indian market for 2020-2021.

The new seven-seater SUV will be placed above the Compass SUV and take on the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra Alturas and Honda CRV, when launched.

To be locally manufactured at the Ranjangaon plant on the outskirts of Pune, the seven-seater SUV based on Compass is likely to hit the market in the second half of 2020 or first half of 2021, according to people in the know.

"The project has been approved and it will be an offspring of the all new Compass planned for 2020. With the launches of vehicles like Trailhawk, Compass and now the Grand Compass or Compass long, the company wants to reinforce Jeep's premium positioning in the market, before more accessible compact Jeep hits the market in the subsequent years," said one of the several people in the know of the company's plan.

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[Nairrk]

Jeep Compass Based Seven-Seater SUV Planned For Launch In India

Interestingly, Jeep's plans to produce a seven-seater SUV for India aren't new. However, the report states that the project was given the green light only now. The Jeep Grand Compass, as it is touted to be called, will get a proper 4x4 drivetrain and will be based on the all-new Compass that is in the works for 2020. The model will be produced at the automaker's facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune and is likely to hit the market by the second half of next year or by early 2021.

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[Nairrk]

New Jeep 7 seater SUV spied on test – Launch in 2021

Initial reports also state that the New Jeep 7 seater SUV has a wheelbase of 2800mm (the Compass has 2630mm). Anything between 2700mm and 2900mm is an average wheelbase of 3-row 7-seater vehicles across the world. Jeep already sells the 7-seater Grand Commander SUV, based on the CUSW (Compact U.S. Wide) platform of the Jeep Cherokee (not to be mistaken for the Grand Cherokee sold in India).

As mentioned before, the Jeep 598 is surrounded by a lot of speculations and rumours. This revolves around the internal specifications as well. If rumours are to be believed, the New Jeep 7 seater SUV will get two engine choices: 1.3-litre FireFly turbo petrol and 2.0-litre MultiJet II diesel.

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[Nairrk]

Jeep Compass 7-seater Model Spotted Testing Alongside A Fiat SUV

(image for reference only)

The Jeep Compass-based 7-seater model is likely to debut with an all-new 1.3-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged MultiAir 16V engine that will benefit from electrically controllable valve opening. The Euro-spec model will offer a maximum power of 180 bhp and a peak torque of 245 Nm. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual and a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic unit from the Compass.

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[Nairrk]

Jeep Grand Compass 7-seater: New details out

The 7-seater Jeep Compass will be based on the facelifted version of the vehicle. It is known as the Jeep Grand Compass and a similar nomenclature is expected to be adopted in the Indian market. Apart from the cosmetic updates, the Jeep Grand Compass will look similar to the regular 5-seater version of the Compass. However, there will be a few changes. The Jeep Grand Compass will look different starting from the B-Pillar. It will get an additional window that will be helpful on the last row passengers.

The rear design of the Grand Compass will remain identical to the regular version of the car. It is also likely to be slightly longer than the regular Jeep Compass. With the seats folded down, the car will offer a massive boot capacity of 700 litres while with the all seats in the raised position, the capacity will come down to 110 litres.

The cabin will also receive a slew of changes. Jeep will offer the latest and the all-new U-Connect infotainment system that is filled up with new features like Internet-connected features that can be used to track the vehicle too. The new Jeep Compass will go against the likes of Hyundai Tucson and higher-end variants of the Tata Harrier, MG Hector and the likes.

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[Nairrk]

Jeep officially announces Meridian 7-seater SUV for India

Jeep has been working on a new 7-seater SUV for the Indian market for quite some time now, Jeep says that they have tested the SUV for more than 5,000 km. It will be called Meridian and will sit above the Compass. The manufacturer has released a camouflaged image and a teaser video of the upcoming SUV. Jeep will be launching the Meridian in the mid of 2022.

Jeep says that Meridian is made in India and 70 different names were studied before they settled on the Meridian nameplate. The name is inspired by the which passes through the length of India connecting some of the most beautiful states and cultures.

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[350Z]

Thanks @Nairrk for the update. The name “Meridian” is picked from a list of 70 shortlisted names. The SUV is scheduled to debut in mid-2022.

The camouflage is designed such that it captures some of the most recognizable icons and cultures of the states which lie on the Meridian-77 passing through the length of India.

Jeep Meridian has traversed from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) taking the route through the Meridian 77-degree East, covering a distance of over 5,000 Kms.



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Press Release:

Jeep® India today announced the name of their most anticipated offering for the Indian market, a 7-seater SUV - the Jeep Meridian. The name has been carefully chosen for the customer’s sensibilities, keeping in mind the relevance and importance of this model for the Indian market. The Jeep Meridian encapsulates the core DNA of the Jeep brand, an innate need to travel and make new adventures possible.

For Jeep, the name of the vehicle was the first step. A list of 70 different names were studied including a few global Jeep names. However, for an SUV that is completely ‘Made in India’ - a name with strong relevance and resonance to the market was required. The name is inspired by the line which passes through the length of India connecting some of the most beautiful states and cultures.

The ‘Made in India’ Jeep Meridian will be the first 7-seater SUV for Indian customers and fulfils an important commitment to the Indian market. The Jeep Meridian will be a combination of refinement, sophistication, class-leading performance, and unmatched capability.

Roland Bouchara, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said on the occasion, "Jeep is an iconic brand, globally recognized for its capable SUVs. The Jeep brand’s journey in India has been legendary and we hope to build on this, with another equally legendary SUV - the Jeep Meridian. Developed specifically for the Indian customer, we have delivered a sophisticated and capable SUV ready to harness a unique segment opportunity.

Our product offensive for 2022 and beyond will continue to illustrate our commitment to India as we work towards strengthening our market presence. The Jeep Meridian will further push the brand's attractiveness and transform the product portfolio for the Indian market.”

Sharing his excitement on the announcement, Mr. Nipun J Mahajan, Head of Jeep India said, “The Jeep Meridian is our latest offering for the Indian market as part of our 2022 product strategy. We wanted to announce the name with an innovative activation and the K2K drive through the length of India is in line with the name of our new model. We tested the SUV on every kind of terrain India has to offer – by taking it on a challenging journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.”

“We are proud to say, the Jeep Meridian performed flawlessly. We are delighted to deliver today, a car that is both Made-in-India and Made-for-India for our customers anticipating the Meridian. From performance to looks and comfort to off-roading prowess, the Jeep Meridian is truly unmatched in its category” he added.

Staying true to its name, the Jeep Meridian was camouflaged in a unique and innovative design, capturing some of the most recognizable icons and cultures of the states which lie on the Meridian-77 passing through the length of India. These include the famous India Gate from Delhi, the camel of Rajasthan, the tiger of Madhya Pradesh, the flag of Maharashtra, the elephant of Karnataka, the coconut tree of Kerala, among others.

The exceptionally camouflaged Jeep Meridian traversed across Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, New Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, elegantly navigating the most arduous topographical challenges. The Jeep Meridian covered a distance of more than 5,000 kms through India testing its performance, on various parameters of build quality, engineering, and capability.

The Jeep Meridian is truly an SUV that consumers can now look forward to drive with a lot of passion, excitement, and confidence. The Jeep Meridian will deliver on everything that is truly Jeep, emblematic of its DNA and a product delivering sophistication with the heart of an adventure-seeking persona. Jeep Meridian launches in India mid-2022, with local specifications and pricing being announced closer to launch.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[350Z]

Jeep has released the exterior and interior images of the Meridian.



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350Z

 

[Nairrk]

Jeep Meridian unofficial bookings open ahead of its launch in May

Ahead of its India debut on March 29, Jeep dealerships have unofficially opened bookings for upcoming Meridian SUV. The booking amount has been pegged at Rs 50,000 at some locations and deliveries are being promised by late May 2022, according to a few dealers that we spoke to. The Meridian is a very important product for Jeep in India, as it’s their first all-new model in several years. It is scheduled to go on sale in May.

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[350Z]

Jeep will reveal the Meridian through a virtual event on 29th March. Those who’re interested can register at this link.

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Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[350Z]

Jeep has officially revealed the Meridian. The 7-Seater SUV will arrive at dealerships by mid-May while deliveries commence from June 2022 onward.

Jeep Meridian will be offered with a 2.0L Turbo-Diesel with a choice of 9-Speed Automatic or 6-Speed Manual Transmission. There will be both, 4x4 as well as 4x2 variants.

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Press Release:

Jeep® India promises to revolutionise the premium SUV segment with its latest model, the Jeep Meridian, a three-row SUV that is "Made in India" and "Made for India." The Jeep Meridian is the most sophisticated and capable offering in the segment, introduces a premium dimension to the brand in the country and enhances the Jeep’s brand portfolio even further. The Jeep Meridian is engineered to deliver a sophisticated experience while also delivering exhilaration and enthusiasm, comes loaded with innovative architecture, design, and technical specifications that are ideal for the Indian market and its automotive aficionados.

The Jeep Meridian has been designed and engineered to deliver more of what has made the Jeep brand a truly global icon in the premium SUV segment. The terrain proven unibody architecture for the Meridian was developed with global and local experts for India, with a focus on reflecting the Jeep brand's DNA while also addressing the expectations of the customers in the segment to combine sophistication with capability.

The first-ever three-row Jeep in India accommodates up to seven passengers — theatre-style "stadium" seating with a panoramic sunroof. The Jeep Meridian offers Best-in-class off-road capabilities with precise and responsive on-road dynamics through a 2.0L Turbo Diesel 9 speed automatic/6 speed manual powertrain. The Meridian will be available in 4X4 all-wheel drive as well as a 4X2 variant.

Deliveries of the all-new Jeep Meridian will start by June 2022 and will arrive in Jeep brand dealerships across India by mid-May.

Introducing the Jeep Meridian, Roland Bouchara, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India said, “The Indian market has unique demands. With the Meridian, our engineering and design teams have delivered a striking product; with three rows while retaining the authentic Jeep DNA of adventure and capability. We are delighted with the outcome and firmly believe that the Jeep Meridian will set new benchmarks for the segment.”

Emphasizing the inspiration behind the design of the Jeep Meridian, Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer and Member of the Executive Board, Stellantis N.V. said, “The Jeep brand has been an icon for decades because it pushes the boundaries of capability, comfort and design. The Meridian with its distinctive demeanour, features a fresh yet iconic design, with thoroughly crafted details inside and out. A brand new member of the Jeep lineage that is emboldened by its confident stance and timeless road presence, the Jeep Meridian heralds an era of functional elegancy.”

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[Nairrk]

All-new Jeep Meridian India bookings to commence on 3 May

The American SUV major Jeep is set to commence bookings for the Meridian in India on 3 May, 2022, while the deliveries will begin sometime in the third week of June 2022. Also, Jeep will start the production of the Meridian in May at the Ranjangaon plant in Maharashtra.
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[Nairrk]

Jeep Meridian local production commences; Bookings open

Jeep has commenced local production of the new Meridian SUV along with officially opening bookings. Some dealers had started accepting bookings for the upcoming three-row Jeep SUV against a down payment of Rs 50,000. The official booking amount too is set at the same. Jeep says that the Meridian display and test drive cars will start reaching dealerships by mid-May with customer deliveries planned to begin from June. The SUV's prices are also expected to be announced next month.

Speaking at the start of production of the Jeep Meridian, Roland Bouchara, CEO and Managing Director, Stellantis India said, “The Jeep Meridian is the third new model manufactured in India since 2021 as part of Jeep's product offensive. A demonstration of the company's commitment to the domestic market, the Jeep Meridian will feature up to 82% localisation and has been specially designed, engineered, and tuned for Indian road conditions keeping in mind the refinement expected by customers in the segment.”

Jeep has also made changes to the interior. It gets an all-brown theme for the cabin that does look premium and up-market when compared to Compass. The dashboard design is the same but it gets a brown leather insert with stitching. The 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and there is also a digital instrument cluster. Jeep is also offering an electric tailgate, 60:40 split middle seats, rear AC vents and much more.
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[350Z]

Jeep Meridian price will be revealed on 19th May. This is the link to live webcast.

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Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[Akash1886]

Buddies,

I attended the "launch" of Jeep Meridian at their dealership in Delhi. Honestly, considering the weather here in Delhi-NCR, the arrangements were below-par and I mean who in their right senses would give an event time of 01:30PM? Moreover, the electricity cut-offs and their showroom's cooling system & housekeeping was all messed up and to top it all, journos did not even turn up. It was just me and 1 more gentleman. The lunch arrangement & quality of food is altogether another story. Absolutely unorganized and half hearted approach of organizing an event. They have planned an influencers get-together too today evening. And honestly, by the time I reached back home, I had a headache in the car reason being the heat. I never ever would like to visit such an unorganized event. I have been to dealership launches for many cars and never ever have come across such a mess. Totally disappointing!

Akash