- Built in Italy for the European markets, the Jeep® Compass offers, among other things, new, efficient, 1.3 liter turbo petrol engines.
- Two power levels with 96 kW (130 hp) and 110 kW (150 hp)
- Jeep Compass for the first time with the combination of petrol engine, front-wheel drive and automatic transmission (DDCT) and with sport mode
- New Uconnect ® services for even more connectivity
- Shorter delivery times and more flexible equipment options for customers and dealers in Europe
Freedom has always been a core value of the Jeep® brand – particularly valued in a time of lockdown to protect the common good. The connectivity thanks to new technologies enables an authentic jeep experience even before getting into a jeep. The launch of the new Jeep Compass, built in Europe in Melfi in the Italian region Basilicata, also contributes to this. As an expression of the “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” spirit of the Jeep brand, the Jeep Compass now offers new technologies for infotainment and drive.
With the start of production in Italy especially for the European market, Jeep can not only react faster to the growing demand for its successful model in Europe, but also better respond to specific needs of European customers. The delivery times ex works are significantly reduced thanks to the European production location.
The relocation of production for Europe from the Toluca plant in Mexico to Melfi is a result of the growing success of the Jeep Compass and also makes it possible to build the Compass 4xe plug-in hybrid version directly in Italy. This is another step in the implementation of a five billion euro FCA investment plan.
Produced in Mexico, Brazil, China, India and now also in Italy, the Jeep Compass is a truly international model. It was the best-selling jeep in 2019 and accounts for 40 percent of jeep sales in Europe.
The Jeep Compass produced at the FCA plant in Melfi is for the first time with a new 1.3-liter four-cylinder turbo petrol engine in the two output levels 96 kW (130 hp) and 110 kW (150 hp) in combination with a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic dual clutch transmission DDCT available. The further improved version of the well-known 1.6 liter MultiJet II turbo diesel engine with 88 kW (120 hp) is also available for some markets in Europe. All new petrol drive versions of the Compass comply with the Euro 6 / D Final standard. The new 1.3 turbo gasoline engine can CO2 Reduce emissions by up to 27 percent (WLTP cycle), by up to 30 percent compared to previous 4×4 petrol models with automatic transmissions. Other Compass product highlights include the new Uconnect ® services for enhanced connectivity.
As part of the continuous product improvement of all Jeep models, the FCA engineers have further refined the dynamic properties of the Compass “made in Europe” in order to better meet the expectations of European customers. The handling and responsiveness of the Compass benefit from the new set-up for the steering system and suspension / damping. New shock absorbers with FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) valves limit body movements, but without compromising comfort on uneven road surfaces. The Compass now offers more precision when cornering at high speed with fewer rolling and pitching movements and more braking stability.
New 1.3 turbo petrol engine
FCA developed the Global Small Engine (GSE) family as a new gasoline engine option with good fuel efficiency and performance. The basic structure of the GSE motors guarantees production economy with its modularity and a considerable degree of standardization in terms of components and manufacturing processes, flexibility and future development potential. For weight reasons, the engines are made entirely of aluminum and, as four-cylinder units, only weigh 110 kilograms. The crankcase, which was developed in collaboration with Teksid, is made of a high-pressure cast aluminum alloy. Cast iron liners increase structural stability. They form a 1.8 millimeter thick layer and are provided with an aluminum film from the outside to create a metallurgical bond between the liner and engine block. After the engineers had carried out tests with different crankcase layouts, an architecture with an engine base plate prevailed. It guarantees a balanced balance between noise, weight, structural rigidity and vibration behavior.
In order to optimize fuel efficiency, performance and efficiency, the new units have a bore of 70 millimeters with a stroke / bore ratio of 1.24 and a crank offset of ten millimeters. This leads to extremely compact combustion chambers of just 0.33 liters, which benefits thermal efficiency. A connecting rod crankshaft architecture with improved mechanical efficiency leads to less friction.
Four-valve technology with an overhead camshaft is housed in the cylinder head. The compact combustion chamber layout and the intake ducts with high swirl ensure good air swirling and short combustion times with regular flame propagation, which ensures high thermal efficiency and knock control. Many innovative technical features underpin the high developer standards of the new engine generation. For example, direct injection to improve volumetric efficiency and a fast-responding turbocharger, whose bypass valve controls an electrical actuator. There is also a water-cooled turbine module in the intake manifold to accelerate the response of the charger at short notice.
All GSE engines are equipped with the third generation of MultiAir technology, which, with the further development of its independent intake valve control, always achieves the optimal opening profile for the intake valves for all load and operating conditions. Intake and exhaust cam profiles increase efficiency at low loads by recirculating the exhaust gas by opening the intake valves prematurely, while delayed closing of the intake valve supports performance at high loads. In other words, MultiAir III technology can reduce the actual compression ratio, control knock, and significantly improve fuel efficiency even with high engine performance.
The new 1.3 GSE turbo gasoline engine is designed for excellent performance both on the road and off-road, while offering excellent driving comfort. For use in the Jeep Compass, the engine has been updated with a turbocharger control system that is matched to the Compass, which improves the response behavior of the engine at low speed and the CO2 – can reduce emissions by up to 27 percent. This engine is based on a modular structure and will be available for the Jeep Compass as a four-cylinder in two performance versions: 96 kW (130 hp) in conjunction with a six-speed manual transmission and 110 kW (150 hp) in conjunction with a six-speed dual clutch transmission (DDCT) – both with front wheel drive. This is the first time that the Compass model range has been given the combination of automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Currently, 28 percent of all buyers in Europe choose a 4×2 with automatic. The new 1.3 petrol engine complies with the Euro 6D Final standard and has a GPF filter (petrol particle filter).
In the 1.3 GSE engine and DDCT automatic transmission combination, the Jeep Compass also has a sport driving mode for the first time, which can be selected at the push of a button. This dynamic driving mode ensures even more fun by streamlining the steering, sharpening the throttle response and adjusting the gearshift characteristics of the transmission for as much power and torque as possible. In addition, the sail function is blocked in sports mode and the “Fast off” mode is activated: When the accelerator pedal is released, the automatic does not shift into a higher gear and thus fully utilizes the braking effect of the engine while at the same time providing the best acceleration when accelerating again is guaranteed.
In Germany, the Compass 1.3 T-GDi with 96 kW (130 PS) and manual gearbox will be available in the Sport, Longitude and Limited versions, while the 110 kW (150 PS) version with DDCT will also be available for the Compass S – always with front wheel drive. The maximum torque is 270 Newton meters (up to 40 Newton meters more than the previous 1.4 liter petrol engine). Four-wheel drive versions will be available in the second half of this year in combination with the new plug-in hybrid models and 4xe technology.
A 96 kW (130 hp) and a 132 kW (180 hp) version of the same GSE engines will later be available for the new Compass 4xe models in combination with all-wheel drive, which then together with the 44 kW (60 hp) Electric motor will have a system output of 140 kW (190 hp) or 177 kW (240 hp).
New Uconnect TM services for updated onboard connectivity and data traffic
The Jeep Compass produced in Melfi will be equipped with the latest connectivity to meet the needs of its increasingly demanding customers. The new Uconnect TM services, which are already offered in the Jeep Renegade, have a number of functions that are accessible via various touchpoints, including the My Uconnect mobile app, the smartwatch, the website, the buttons on the ceiling light and that Radio. The new Uconnect services are available as standard for the 7- and 8.4-inch infotainment systems of the Compass from the Longitude equipment version and offer advanced connectivity on board, with useful services for more safety and comfort.
These services are divided into different packages. The My Assistant, which is available as a basic service, is activated as standard from the factory and offers emergency services in the event of an accident or breakdown, including support in recovering the vehicle and reports on the vehicle’s condition. The My Car, My Remote, My Navigation packages (only for the Uconnect 8.4 “navigation) are offered as standard services that are included in the vehicle price and must be activated by the customer.
My Car enables the driver to keep an eye on the condition and parameters of the vehicle. My Remote offers the possibility of locking and unlocking doors from a distance, activating turn signals, finding the vehicle, setting parameters such as speed and driving area and being notified when they are exceeded. My Navigation (only with Uconnect 8.4 “NAV) includes Send & Go services, which offer customers the option of sending a destination directly from the browser of the smartphone or the web portal to the navigation system, to receive real-time warnings about traffic and weather and an application for searching points of interest (POS).
The Uconnect services offer complements an optional service package that can be purchased on the Connectivity website. It includes the packages ‘MyWi-Fi’, ‘My Theft Assistance’ and ‘My Fleet Manager’. Some of the new Uconnect services will be available for the Jeep Compass built in Melfi at launch, while others will be integrated later this year.
Safety equipment
Safety was the top priority in the development of the Jeep Compass. It therefore offers a whole range of active and passive safety features, including the standard collision warning and LaneSense Departure Warning as well as electronic stability control (ESC) with electronic rollover prevention (ERM) and front, side and curtain airbags. The available safety functions include Blind Spot Assist and rear transverse motion detection, adaptive cruise control, the ParkView reversing camera with dynamic guidance lines and the automatic parking assistant for parallel and right-angled parking.
