Jeep continues testing the Renegade in India as a camouflaged unit taking rounds was snapped recently by our reader Parminder. This is despite no plans of launching it in India yet, and also having a locally made Jeep by 2017.
So what is it doing in India? Well, Jeep is testing the car's small-wide platform which is expected to underpin the upcoming made-in-India Jeep. The Renegade is a subcompact crossover that will be manufactured in India from 2017 at the Ranjangaon plant at good localisation levels, and exported to other RHD markets. Currently, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has introduced only the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee and SRT Cherokee in the Indian line-up. So the probabilities of the Renegade being the American manufacturer's entry-level offering in India also cannot be ruled out.
According to import data, two models of the Renegade have been imported to our country. Both are powered by the 2.0-litre MultiJet II diesel engine, but one comes mated to a six-speed manual while the other to a nine-speed automatic.
Given the soaring demand for compact SUVs in India, especially ones priced between Rs 10–20 lakh, FCA could price the made-in-India Jeep in this bracket. It could then be the American manufacturer’s entry-level offering in India.
