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Michael Wong Cambridge PR Group 617-500-2302 |
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Compact SUV Gains Popularity as Chrysler Engineers Design Mini Utility Vehicle
Online PR News – 11-August-2011 –NATICK, Mass. – Jeep is seeing remarkable sales increases for its redesigned Compass small utility vehicle, as fuel prices force consumers to look for more economic means of getting their off-road kicks. July sales of the 2011 Jeep Compass were up 240 percent compared with July 2010 and year-to-date sales rose 123 percent over the same period last year.
The success of the Compass has Jeep looking to add an even smaller vehicle to its arsenal of off-roaders. According to Car and Driver, Chrysler engineers are designing a vehicle similar to the MINI Countryman, only with more trail-ready technology. Referred to internally at Chrysler as the SS, meaning “super small” or “super sport,” the mini utility is predicted to take on a compact platform from Fiat, feature higher ground clearance than the Countryman’s 5.9 inches, and arrive at U.S. Jeep dealerships around the second half of 2013.
“Not everybody needs a Wrangler or a Grand Cherokee,” said Richard Gill, owner of Brigham-Gill Chrysler Jeep Dodge, a Natick, Massachusetts Jeep dealer. “For those looking for Jeep capability in a smaller form, we have the Compass, the Patriot, and soon an even smaller SUV that can provide the ultimate mix of fuel economy and all-terrain capability.”
With its powerplant technology expected to come from Fiat as well, the SS could feature a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine producing anywhere between 130 and 170 horsepower. It could also share the new nine-speed automatic gearbox destined for Chrysler’s next-generation compact cars. Like the Compass, Jeep’s new compact SUV will be available with either front- or all-wheel drive, which would make it a useful winter ride for Massachusetts drivers.
As for Jeeps that are currently on the road, rising fuel prices have helped nudge consumers toward the smaller 29-mpg-highway Jeep Compass and equally fuel-efficient Jeep Patriot, which has enjoyed a rise of 63 percent in sales year-over-year through July. Meanwhile, a redesign for the 2011 Compass gave the small SUV the chiseled looks of the larger Grand Cherokee, resulting in sales through the first seven months of 2011 that have easily surpassed sales from all of 2010 and have nearly matched the last two years combined.
Under its sculpted hood, the Jeep Compass features either a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower or a 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit producing 172 horsepower. There are three transmission choices, ranging from a five-speed manual to the option of two continuously variable units, one featuring an off-road-capable gearing. A ground clearance of 8.4 inches, along with available drive technology like hill descent control and hill start assist, add to the off-road resume of the Compass.
“Greater Boston Jeep drivers already love the Compass for its versatility and easy-to-live-with dimensions,” Gill noted. “A new, even more fuel- efficient Jeep would fit the bill for our customers who want an affordable, rugged vehicle that is equally at home on the highway and the wooded trail.”
About Brigham-Gill Chrysler Jeep Dodge:
Family-owned Brigham-Gill Chrysler Jeep Dodge has been providing Metro West shoppers with new and used Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge vehicles for the past 45 years. Whether you’re seeking your dream car, expert auto service or OEM Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge parts, stop by their Greater Boston dealership and their friendly staff will assist you. Check out their online showroom at www.brighamgillmotorcars.com to see their wide selection of new and pre-owned cars, trucks and SUVs, or stop by their dealership, located at 817 Worcester Road (Route 9) in Natick, MA. You can reach them by phone at 877-881-6196 or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brighamgill to get the latest Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge news.
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