Press Kit: 2008 Paris Motor Show

With New Redesigned Interiors, Jeep® Compass and Jeep Patriot Steer Brand in New Direction

  • Jeep® Compass and Patriot interiors feature all-new redesigned instrument panel, center console and door trim panels 
  • Quieter, smoother ride for Jeep Compass and Patriot 
  • Jeep Compass Overland prototype illustrates an even higher level of possible refinement 
  • Jeep Compass and Patriot examples of Chrysler LLC’s new Advance Interior Design Studio 
  • More than 35 premium features added to Jeep interiors across line-up
Auburn Hills, Mich. September 24, 2008 - The Jeep® brand continues to move in new directions with the latest Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot compact sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). The Compass and Patriot, two of the most fuel-efficient SUVs in their segment, deliver fun, freedom, utility and Jeep 4x4 capability at a terrific value.

Making their European debut at the 2008 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris, the newest Jeep Compass and Patriot feature all-new redesigned instrument panels, center consoles and door trim panels. The all-new instrument panel features a smoother look, while chrome accents brighten the new round articulating heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) vents, shift bezel, door spears and cluster rings.

The all-new center console now includes a split lid for added storage. Both the center console and door trim panels feature padded armrests for added comfort, while new LED-illuminated cup holders (late availability) make it easier to place beverages in the right spot at night. A carpeted load floor replaces the vinyl load floor, and large front and rear floor mats help keep the foot wells clean. The all-new interiors are available in monotone Dark Slate or two-tone Dark Slate/Medium Pebble Beige.

To reduce noise and give the newest Jeep Compass and Patriot a quieter ride, engine compartment and interior floor insulation has been added. In addition, tuning improvements to the engine exhaust further reduce noise in the interior.

Jeep Compass Overland Debuts in Paris
The Jeep brand has responded to compact SUV customers outside North America looking for more premium features and materials with the Overland for Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The Overland model, with its premium interior and exterior, would take the Compass and Patriot to new heights.

The Jeep Compass Overland prototype, making its debut in Paris, includes the Jeep Compass’ all-new redesigned interior with the addition of up-scale ambience and enhanced trim materials. Interior features include Mopar® bright sill plates incised with the “Compass” vehicle name and premium leather seats with an embroidered Overland logo on the front seatbacks. Fuller, new front head restraints complement the new seats and provide additional comfort.

Other Jeep Compass Overland features include a Safety and Comfort Group, which includes seat-mounted side air bags and Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM), uconnect phone, a Boston Acoustics Speaker Group and Mopar Park Assist.

The stylish exterior of the Jeep Compass Overland prototype follows in the footsteps of the Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. Silver body side moldings, a Mopar mesh grille insert, body-color front and rear bumpers, door handles and license plate bar all add up to make the Compass Overland the ultimate expression of classic Jeep design. The Compass Overland rides on painted Tech Silver 18-inch Rallye wheels.

The Jeep Compass Overland would be available with the same 2.4-liter petrol or 2.0-liter turbo diesel engines and Freedom Drive I™ four-wheel-drive system as the Jeep Compass Limited model.

Advanced Interior Design Studio
The Advance Interior Design Studio was created to improve the quality, fit and finish and craftsmanship on all future Chrysler LLC vehicles. The latest Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot were among the first vehicles to benefit from this new approach to interior execution.

Utilizing state-of-the-art design software and computer modeling processes, Chrysler interior designers are able to achieve quality, fit and finish objectives faster than ever before.

Implementation of the Advance Interior Design Studio has enabled Chrysler to engage suppliers, in some cases, up to a year earlier allowing for more time allocated toward customer research, feature offerings and material selection.

The Advance Interior Design Studio staffs a team of dedicated, customer-focused, interior-centric designers and engineers who encompass a wide array of skills and look to outside sources such as architecture, furniture, industrial and fashion design and nature for inspiration.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited ventures more upscale with the additional option of a Luxury Leather Package. Available on the Sahara model, the Luxury Leather Package includes Katzkin leather seat surfaces, a silver-colored center stack bezel, a grab handle and coat hooks that attach to the sport bar, bright door-sill moldings, plus a silver appliqué on the glove box handle. In addition, the package includes the following exterior features: chrome fuel-door cover, chrome exhaust tip and 18-inch aluminum wheels with on/off-road tires.

This interior fulfills requests from customers and dealers in a way that is consistent with the Jeep Wrangler lifestyle. The Luxury Leather Package for Wrangler Unlimited is available now in most major markets outside North America.

Jeep Commander
The Luxury Leather Package for the Jeep Commander is unique and focuses on the most common touch and visual points inside the vehicle. The vehicle’s instrument panel features bright accents and a soft-touch top surface. The Luxury Leather Package includes leather seating surfaces with leather-wrapped bolsters and distinctive stitching along the top edge. The package adds a leather wrap with finishing stitching along the front edge of the instrument panel for a premium look. The front door trim panels have leather-wrapped armrests. The center console lid, the upper door bolsters on all four doors, and the hand brake handle are also leather-wrapped.

The Luxury Leather Package is standard on Jeep Commander Overland and optional on Commander Limited. This package will be available in most major markets outside North America beginning in October of 2008.

Jeep Grand Cherokee
The interior of the Jeep Grand Cherokee received numerous updates for the model currently available. The vehicle’s two-tone instrument panel features a new level of refinement with bright accents and a soft-touch surface. The front door trim panels have leather-wrapped armrests for improved ergonomics and comfort.

Additional refinements available later this year consist of new soft-touch surfaces including a leather-wrapped center-console lid, front and rear door upper bolsters, hand brake handle, gearshift handle and instrument cluster brow. These upgrades will be available on Limited models as part of the Executive Group and standard on Overland models.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee with these additional interior refinements will be available in most major markets outside North America beginning in October of 2008.

Jeep Cherokee
The all-new Jeep Cherokee, which launched this year, included more premium content than any Cherokee in the past. It was also the first Jeep vehicle to offer a Luxury Leather Package. Changes for this year will see an additional color option for the interior and even more soft-touch components.

A monotone Dark Slate option is now available with both cloth and leather seating. In addition, all Jeep Cherokee Limited models will include the components introduced this year as the Luxury Leather Package as standard equipment: single-color leather seating with French-seam stitching on the seats, leather-wrapped grab handle, front door trim-panel armrests and center console lid. The hand brake boot, gearshift knob for automatic transmission models and gearshift boot for manual transmission models are all leather-covered as well. The vehicle receives Mopar premium floor mats and Mopar stainless-steel sill moldings with the Jeep logo. Leather front seats will be embossed with the Jeep logo while stain-resistant cloth seats will be embroidered with the logo.

The Jeep Cherokee with additional interior refinements will available in most major markets outside North America beginning in October of 2008.

Jeep Brand
The Jeep brand led Chrysler LLC sales outside North America in 2007, accounting for 41 percent of total sales. Jeep sales grew 13 percent for the year, fueled by strong demand for new models such as the extremely capable Jeep Wrangler and fuel-efficient Compass. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the sales leader for the brand. It is also the second-highest volume vehicle outside North America for Chrysler LLC.

The Jeep portfolio includes seven model lines outside North America, all of which offer right-hand drive and petrol and diesel powertrain options. Jeep models available are: the new Cherokee, Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. Jeep also offers the high-performance Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.


Contact Information

Ariel Gavilan
Office: (248) 512-3404
Cell: (248) 495-4645
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