NEW 2011 JEEP® PATRIOT: NEW STYLING AND SEGMENT-LEADING CAPABILITY

* Rugged styling is enhanced for 2011 with new front and rear, grille and cladding
* Updated interior features upgraded materials and soft touch points
* Standard equipment Cruise Control on all models

The new 2011 Jeep® Patriot, the affordable compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV), offers customers segment-leading capability along with new rugged exterior styling and new interior features.

Jeep Patriot's classic exterior styling is enhanced for 2011 with new front and rear, and a body-colour grille. Interior enhancements round out the new-for-2011 features, and include significantly upgraded touch points.

"Patriot boasts class-leading 4x4 capability and a host of safety features in a fun and affordable package - a combination that only Jeep can offer," says Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "For 2011, Jeep Patriot is even more appealing to consumers, thanks to rugged new exterior styling, interior enhancements and refinements."

Jeep Patriot combines the packaging and interior flexibility of an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car. Many standard safety features, such as side-curtain air bags and electronic stability control (ESC), add to Jeep Patriot's tremendous value.

Design
The Jeep Patriot is unmistakably a Jeep, designed to appeal to compact SUV buyers who want traditional Jeep styling with best-in-class off-road capability at an affordable price.

"Simple yet distinctive geometric forms, timeless proportions and exterior design enhancements for 2011 complement Jeep Patriot's rugged off-road capabilities," says Mark Allen, Head of Jeep Design - Chrysler Group LLC.

Jeep Patriot is built for maximum cargo volume, rugged driving conditions and excellent utility.

Patriot's face is classic Jeep, featuring an updated, modern version of the brand's signature seven-slot grille with a new rugged mesh texture, a robust bumper and round headlamps. New front and rear designs enhance the classic Jeep trapezoidal wheel arches. The new front features a body-colour grille as well as new fog lamps. The new rear extends lower than on previous models.

Classic Jeep design cues include new 17-inch aluminium wheels housed inside signature Jeep trapezoidal wheel arches. Jeep Patriot's high beltline completes the vehicle's protective side profile.

Four doors and a rear liftgate provide easy access to Jeep Patriot's spacious and functional interior.

Upgrades for the 2011 Jeep Patriot include new soft touch front-door trim panels with a padded upper surface; new centre armrest; a new Jeep steering wheel with integrated controls that allow drivers to operate the radio, Cruise Control, handsfree phone and other vehicle functions while keeping their hands on the wheel; new cloth interior with premium cloth bucket seats in the front; new backlighting of door switches, door locks, windows and power mirror controls and standard automatic temperature control on the Sport Plus model. The interior colour for the 2011 Jeep Patriot is Dark Slate Grey.

The 2011 Jeep Patriot is available in the following exterior colours: Blackberry Pearl Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat.

In 2011, Jeep Patriot will be available in two drivetrain configurations. In addition to the standard Freedom Drive 1 4WD system, Jeep Patriot will also be available with a new 2WD configuration.

Freedom Drive I is a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with lock mode designed to give drivers year-round assurance with the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions. This active four-wheel-drive system is recommended for daily use, including slick conditions that come with rain and light snow. Freedom Drive I also features a lockable centre coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Patriot in four-wheel-drive lock mode to handle deep snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces.

Jeep Patriot's powertrain is designed to deliver world-class performance, fuel economy and refinement, all at an affordable, entry-level price.

Patriot features a 2.4-litre petrol World Engine that produces 172-horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine has dual variable valve timing (VVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts, which helps optimise the torque curve at all speeds and produces more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without dual VVT. Jeep Patriot's 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual transaxle in 4x4 configuration, delivers an official combined figure of 33.2mpg.

Also available from June on the 2011 Jeep Patriot Sport two-wheel-drive model is a 2.0-litre petrol World Engine that provides 158 horsepower (117 kW) and 141 lb.-ft. (191 Nm) of torque coupled with a five speed manual transmission.

In addition, there's the current 2.2 litre Mercedes-Benz diesel engine which produces 163bhp and offers 320Nm of torque, available from just 1400rpm.

This engine boasts advanced common-rail technology with a turbocharged inline-4 configuration, leading to significant improvements in power output (+23bhp) and torque (+10Nm) combined over the previous 2.0 diesel engine, with an increase in fuel efficiency to 42.8 mpg (combined).

As well as the fuel efficiency increase CO2 emissions are further reduced. This leads to a lower tax band (H) which in turn reduces both showroom tax and the annual tax burden.

The more powerful engine increases the vehicle's maximum speed to 125mph and reduces the 0-62mph acceleration time to 10.7 seconds, but it also cements Jeep Patriot's position as a serious towing vehicle, elevating its maximum towing weight to 2,000 kg (braked trailer).

Jeep Patriot features a standard five-speed and six-speed manual transmission, and an available CVT. The Patriot's CVT2 is a second-generation CVT that Chrysler Group engineers have calibrated for pleasing engine response and precise ratio control. CVT2 contributes to a fuel economy improvement of 6-8 percent compared with a traditional four-speed automatic. Patriot's CVT2 also improves vehicle performance compared with a traditional automatic transmission because of optimised gear ratios, especially in the 30-60 mph range during overtaking manoeuvres.

Jeep Patriot Model Line-up
The 2011 Jeep Patriot is available in three versions: Sport, Sport Plus and Limited. All are available with the Freedom Drive I full-time, active 4x4 system.

Built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, the new 2011 Jeep Patriot models arrive in UK Jeep showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.

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For further information please contact:
Peter Newton, Public Relations Director
Tom Johnston, Press Relations Manager

Chrysler UK
Part of Fiat Group Automobiles UK Ltd
Tel: 01753 511431
Fax: 01753 516871

E-mail addresses: peter.newton@fiat.com / tom.johnston@fiat.com
This press pack and images are available on http://media.chrysler.co.uk

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