After years of ‘coming soon’, ‘it’s almost here’, and ‘it’s most definitely coming now’, the grand beast is finally here. For real.
Jeep in India Image courtesy: @JeepIndia
Visitors to the auto expo at Delhi were treated to the first glimpses of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler on Indian soil. While the term ‘jeep’ is not unfamiliar to the Indian audience, the introduction of this iconic brand in India will vastly redefine what the term stands for. A favourite among off-roaders and people in hilly regions, the ‘jeep’ association in India has largely been with the models on offer from the Mahindra stable until now. From the Mahindra Jeep classic to the MM 540 and the newer Thar, all models have gained good traction among consumers, finding a variety of uses from carting produce from farms to ferrying people across hill stations and navigating the urban concrete jungles. The Jeep however, is all set to usher in a new era of muscle, opening up this segment to premium audiences across the country.
Grand Cherokee Image courtesy: @JeepIndia
The Cherokee and Wrangler are path breakers in their own rights, and the demand for these is going to be far from utility-driven. These will be used to make a statement, arrive in style, lord over the roads (quite literally), and in some instances – for some serious off-roading too. Indian’s seem to be unable to get their fill of SUVs, and the demand for bigger and better has been seeing a steep rise over the last few years. In this regard, Jeep is the best it can get to. There will be three models on offer currently – The Grand Cherokee, Wrangler Unlimited and Grand Cherokee SRT.
Jeep Wrangler Image courtesy: @JeepIndia
Fiat Chrysler will bring in both petrol and diesel variants, thanks to recent regulations that have been enforced. The company will take the CBU route this year, and plans to start manufacturing locally soon after. The dealer network is expected to start with the metros, and expand slowly in phases. With eye-popping features that weave in luxury with brawn, power ranging from between 200 to 400 horses underneath the hood, 4X4 drives and burly bouncer looks, these cars will undoubtedly be the choice of a lot of folks who like to flaunt thier wheels, and can afford it too. Jeep will be available at Fiat dealerships in a few months time. It won’t be long before you see these behemoths chewing up Indian roads effortlessly.
