Jeep to launch in India by end of August, 2016

After multiple delays, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has finally announced that the official launch of the Jeep brand in India will take place by the end of August, 2016. Initially, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Jeep Grand Cherokee will be put on sale in India, while other products will flow in at a later date.

The Jeep Wrangler will be sold in India in its long wheelbase 'Unlimited' guise. It is be powered by a 2.8-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which churns out 197 BHP and 460 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox and a Command-Trac four-wheel drive system.

The other model that Jeep will sell in India is the Grand Cherokee. The automaker has revealed the specifications and features of the Grand Cherokee on its Indian website. It will be available in three trim levels - Limited, Summit and SRT. The Limited and Summit variants are powered by a 3.0-litre, V6 turbocharged diesel (EcoDiesel) engine that develops 240 BHP and 570 Nm of torque. This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. On the other hand, the Grand Cherokee SRT gets a 6.4-litre, V8 Hemi petrol engine that is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and develops 475 BHP.

Both these vehicles will be brought into India as Completely Built-Up units (CBU). Jeep is also reportedly planning to use Fiat's production facility in Ranjangaon, near Pune, to locally assemble future models.