Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has unveiled the brand’s first electrified powertrains in the form of a new plug-in hybrid engine available on the new Jeep Renegade 4XE and the Jeep Compass 4XE in the European market. The new Jeep 4XE models can now be ordered in Italy and France and will be available in other European regions in the coming weeks.
Both the SUVs are positioned as the ‘Go Anywhere, Do Anything’ cars from the brand and now with a 100% full-electric range of 50 km the Jeep Renegade 4XE and the Compass 4XE have become ideal cars for everyday driving in the city, with zero-emission thus helping reduce air pollution, improving the city’s air quality index and decreasing the personal carbon footprint.
Both models are powered by a 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor located between the rear wheels, which is powered by an 11.4 kWh battery that can be recharged either at home with a domestic plug by using an external power outlet with the option of easyWallbox or the more advanced Connected Wallbox or a public charging point, the battery is also recharged while driving.
The 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine comes in two states of tune – the Limited trim producing 130 Hp of power and the Trailhawk and S trim producing 180 Hp of power. The electric motor produces an additional 60 Hp of power making the total output of the Limited model to 190 Hp and the Trailhawk & S models producing a total of 240 Hp of power. The petrol engine in itself produces 270 Nm of torque while the electric motor can generate 250 Nm.
The combination of the IC engine and the electric engine can help the SUV accelerate from 0-100 kmph in 7.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 130 kmph in full-electric mode and 200 kmph in hybrid mode. Both Jeep 4xe models also feature three driving modes, which result from the synergy between the electric motor and the conventional engine – ‘Electric’, ‘Hybrid’ and ’E-Save’.
The Jeep 4XE PHEV models are distinguished from its conventional pure ICE variants by having blue highlights, blue badging and an extra charging port door. On the interior, the PHEV variants get an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with UV connect integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto DAB Radio and 7.0-inch multi-information display on the instrumentation which displays battery charge level, range in electric, combustion engine or combined modes, power percentage and recharge levels.
The Jeep 4XE models also come with a wide range of customization options, available with up to 18 different colour configurations for the Renegade and 22 for the Compass.