Jeep’s upcoming small SUV is likely to make a global debut sometime this year. This all-new model was previewed in full-EV concept form a few months ago, and will most probably be called the Jeep Jeepster — this sub-Renegade SUV will go on sale overseas sometime next year.
With its smallest contender in the SUV space, Jeep will further ramp up the electrification of its global line-up. This new model, as we reported earlier, will get a mild-hybrid petrol powertrain and will also be offered as a pure EV — the latter was shown earlier this year in concept form — as part of a wide-reaching electrification strategy presentation given by Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares.
Jeep’s new small SUV will come with front-wheel-drive (FWD) as standard on both, the full-EV and mild-hybrid powertrain versions, while higher variants will get an optional electronic all-wheel-drive (eAWD). In an eAWD system, an electric motor powers the rear axle, allowing Jeep to offer an affordable four-wheel-drive (4WD) solution on two-wheel-drive (2WD) platforms. Compared to the regular all-wheel-drive (AWD), there is no physical connection between the fore and aft driven wheels in an eAWD.
