After almost two years of being in the news that a 7-seater based on the Compass is coming has finally ready for launch! Jeep® India today revealed their most anticipated offering for the Indian market, a 7-seater SUV – the Jeep Meridian. The name has been carefully chosen for the customer’s sensibilities, keeping in mind the relevance and importance of this model for the Indian market. The Jeep Meridian encapsulates the core DNA of the Jeep brand, an innate need to travel and make new adventures possible.
For Jeep, the name of the vehicle was the first step. A list of 70 different names were studied including a few global Jeep names. However, for an SUV that is completely ‘Made in India’ – a name with strong relevance and resonance to the market was required. The name is inspired by the line which passes through the length of India connecting some of the most beautiful states and cultures.
Meridian will deliver legendary Jeep off-road capability, superior on-road driving dynamics, premium interiors and a full array of connected features. Apple car play and Android Auto along with the 10-inch screen from the Compass will continue. Manufactured in India, with over 82 percent local componentry, this vehicle will compete with the likes of Skoda Kodiaq, Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 700 and Toyota Fortuner.
The first-ever three-row Jeep in India accommodates up to seven passengers — theatre-style “stadium” seating with a panoramic sunroof. The Jeep Meridian offers Best-in-class off-road capabilities with precise and responsive on-road dynamics through a 2.0L Turbo Diesel 9 speed automatic/6 speed manual powertrain. The Meridian will be available in 4X4 all-wheel drive as well as a 4X2 variant.
Introducing the Jeep Meridian, Roland Bouchara, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India said, “The Indian market has unique demands. With the Meridian, our engineering and design teams have delivered a striking product; with three rows while retaining the authentic Jeep DNA of adventure and capability. We are delighted with the outcome and firmly believe that the Jeep Meridian will set new benchmarks for the segment.”
Emphasizing the inspiration behind the design of the Jeep Meridian, Ralph Gilles, Chief Design Officer and Member of the Executive Board, Stellantis N.V. said, “The Jeep brand has been an icon for decades because it pushes the boundaries of capability, comfort and design. The Meridian with its distinctive demeanour, features a fresh yet iconic design, with thoroughly crafted details inside and out. A brand new member of the Jeep lineage that is emboldened by its confident stance and timeless road presence, the Jeep Meridian heralds an era of functional elegancy.”
A nod to the importance of the market, the Meridian nameplate was thoughtfully chosen for India and recently announced through the bold marketing campaign: Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Through this campaign, the unique Meridian name is explained as a result of a legendary journey down the length of India, crossing each state that falls on the Meridian77o east.
The ‘Made in India’ Jeep Meridian will be the first 7-seater SUV for Indian customers and fulfill an important commitment to the Indian market. The Jeep Meridian will be a combination of refinement, sophistication, class-leading performance, and unmatched capability.
It will also be the first in its segment to have independent front and rear suspension and best-in-class acceleration due to superior engineering that optimizes its power-to-weight ratio. The Jeep Meridian will be offered in three powertrains and two trims offered in diesel only.
Staying true to its name, the Jeep Meridian was camouflaged in a unique and innovative design, capturing some of the most recognizable icons and cultures of the states which lie on the Meridian-77 passing through the length of India. These include the famous India Gate from Delhi, the camel of Rajasthan, the tiger of Madhya Pradesh, the flag of Maharashtra, the elephant of Karnataka, the coconut tree of Kerala, among others.
The exceptionally camouflaged Jeep Meridian traversed across Ladakh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, New Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, elegantly navigating the most arduous topographical challenges. The Jeep Meridian covered a distance of more than 5,000 kms through India testing its performance on various parameters of build quality, engineering, and capability. Production of the Meridian will commence in May at the Ranjangaon joint venture manufacturing facility in Pune.
Deliveries of the all-new Jeep Meridian will start by June 2022 and will arrive in Jeep brand dealerships across India by mid-May.
