Jeep, the iconic American SUV manufacturer, has unveiled the China-only 2018 Grand Commander SUV on its website. Jeep is likely to launch it at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show in April this year. Here’s what it has to offer.
Judging from the images, we have to say it shares a lot of design cues with the Jeep Yuntu Concept that was displayed last year. However, the fancy plug-in hybrid kit, the suicide doors and the drone tech seen in the concept have been given a miss. The Grand Commander has a long wheelbase and looks sharp with its clean lines, slim LED headlamps and taillights along with the chrome-finished 7-slat grille. It also features a panoramic sunroof and long roof rails. In short, it looks like an extended version of the Grand Cherokee, albeit with a tighter and more youthful skin.
Jeep’s Chinese website states that the Grand Commander will be powered by a potent 2.0-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The carmaker claims this engine is capable of churning out 237PS or 269PS depending on the trim level. Now, a 2.0-litre unit may seem like a small engine for such a big vehicle, but considering how China imposes heavy taxes on cars with bigger engines, this move makes sense.
Although Jeep has only revealed sketches of the SUV, it has said that the Grand Commander will cost upwards of $38,000 (Rs 24 lakh) in the Chinese market. This could mean that the production version is not so far away. However, whether it will be sold in other markets such as the US, the UK and India still remains a mystery. But considering the success of the Compass in our market, we will keep our fingers crossed and hope for some good news from Jeep.
Source: ZigWheels.com
