Fiat begins shipping out Jeep Trailhawk: made in India, but not for India yet

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India announced that it has begun shipping right-hand drive units of the made-in-India Jeep Compass as part of its export strategy articulated during the SUV's market launch in India in June.

The automobile manufacturer has shipped its first batch of 600 units of the Jeep Compass Trailhawk from the Bombay Port Trust facility to Australia and Japan. The Ranjangaon-produced SUV with over 65 per cent local content will go to more international markets through the ongoing quarter of 2017.

Although the company had begun building the SUV for the Indian market in June, the rugged Trailhawk variant of the Compass wasn't part of the plant until now.

Being developed only for the export market at the moment, the Trailhawk will be positioned as the top-spec trim internationally. It comes with Jeep's Active Drive Low-Range 4WD tech for serious off-road driving and a new 'Rock mode' for its Selec-Terrain 4WD system.

The right-hand-drive Trailhawk gets a 2.0-litre diesel engine mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. It also sits 20mm higher than the standard variant and gets unique front and rear bumpers.  This facilitates better approach and departure angles that stand at 30 degree (approach), 24.4 degree (breakover) and 33.6 degrees (departure) respectively. The Jeep Compass Trailhawk also gets hill descent control as standard.

Compared to the standard variant, the Compass Trailhawk gets different alloy wheels, dual-tone black and silver shade, red recovery hooks, a black painted anti-glare bonnet decal, underbody skid plates and all weather floor mats.

There is no news on whether Jeep will bring this variant to India. However, there are talks of the Compass diesel automatic heading to showrooms in the coming months.

Kevin Flynn, president and managing director, FCA India said, ''The Jeep Compass has gained impressive traction in India since the price announcement and we are enjoying continued momentum with growing interest as the Compass is now being regularly seen on Indian roads. We have added five more sales and service outlets since July taking our distribution reach now up to 55; closing this year with 60, as committed.''

The Ranjangaon manufacturing facility featured on FCA's global manufacturing map as $280 million was committed towards the localisation of the Jeep Compass. Soon after the India price announcement FCA had rolled out the 2.0-litre, 173 PS, 350 Nm Diesel 4x2 and 4x4 versions of the Jeep Compass noting a higher demand.

Jeep has now begun deliveries of the Petrol DDCT (Dry Dual Clutch Technology), the 7-speed automatic transmission mated to the 1.4-litre, 162 PS, 250 Nm Multi-Air Turbo Petrol powertrain. This transmission option is available only with the Multi-Air (Turbo Petrol) powertrain and is available in two trims – Limited 4x2 and Limited (O) 4x2.

Gurpratap Boparai, chief executive officer, Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited, said, ''We had planned to start shipping the India-made Jeep Compass in the fourth quarter of this calendar year and we are on track. Soon, our made-in-India Jeep Compass will be seen on the roads in Australia and Japan, our first two right-hand drive export destinations. This is indeed a historic milestone for all of us at FIAPL.''