Prior to the merger of FCA and PSA: Facelift for the Jeep Compass - view

Jeep is the American four-wheel drive and off - road brand? True. But not only: Long ago, the Jeep deserves to be in Europe to be money. Not only with the Klettermaxen Wrangler and the XL-SUV Grand Cherokee, but also with small and compact models such as the Renegade, Compass, and Cherokee – and even without all-wheel drive.

The front-wheel-drive Jeeps are selling so well that the brand has long been the money-maker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA): Maserati does not manage, in spite of the Levante SUV, the hoped-for sales, Alfa Romeo is with 95'000 cars in 2019, far behind by the deceased CEO Sergio Marchionne (1952-2018) required 400'000 cars per year and the core Fiat brand? Launched with the 500-e this year, finally, once again, a new model, instead of as in the last few years, well-Known only by the piece to develop. Or remove former success models such as the Punto.

Only Jeep pulls confidently on course. Around 1.48 million Jeeps rolled in the last year, on the roads, of which 1.2 million small SUVs. Sold in Europe is 220'000 Times, while the classic big Jeeps only 8,000 copies have been delivered. Good, should think PSA boss Carlos Tavares (61): His group is likely to close, probably this year, definitely with FCA, after the decision in principle for the merger in 2019, had fallen. And the Portuguese, at the head of Citroën, DS, Opel and Peugeot is a Fan of smaller, more economical cars that do not lead to the ruin of his group the good CO2 balance. And less of a luxury, all-Wheel drive.

But Tavares needs a Jeep. A possible Yield decline after the Fusion as small as possible to keep up with the good Jeep-the Numbers. The PSA brands via a Jeep dealer network in the USA. And because the Jeep platforms and powertrains to provide at Alfa Romeo as the Basis for new models such as the tonal.

Before but seriously with the merger, the Jeep is now a little more European: The model of the Compact SUV Compass in the middle of June there is a new turbo diesel. The 1.3-Liter four-cylinder to afford 130 or 150 HP, come with a manual gearbox or a new dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive for less fuel consumption. In addition, the Infotainment office WiFi will be upgraded in the car and steering, springs and dampers are finely honed for the European taste. In addition, the Compass is built in Mexico, but in the Italian Fiat plant in Melfi.

all-wheel drive available in the Compass for the future: two-liter, Turbodiesel, and Plug-in hybrids. The also come with the 1.3-litre turbo petrol engines, with 130 and 180 HP, and a 60-HP electric motor for performance of 190 and 240 HP. About charging times and range in purely electric mode, nothing is known. Also, the small Renegade, and the off-roader Wrangler to get these drives; up to 2022, there should be for all the models in an electrified Version.

The prices for the revised Jeep Compass drop for the entry-level version of Night of the Eagle 24'500 Swiss francs; the Limited coming from 34'900 CHF 400 Swiss francs more expensive than in the past.