Jeep, the Fiat Chrysler brand known for its off-roaders, has been traditionally utilitarian and an unabashed gasoline guzzler. Jeep stuck to its American roots of excess all this time, but it seems the electrification of automobiles has got to them too. Jeep has unveiled their first ever hybrid concept, the Jeep Yuntu, in Shanghai and it seems that they have got it quite right.
The Yuntu Concept looks like what a big-burly Jeep should look like. It is tall and largely square. The seven vertical slat grille sits up top on the fascia and the chunky bumper is shielded by a heavy bash-plate from underneath. The large wheels fill up the square arches and kind of hide the high ground clearance the Yuntu gets.
The Jeep Yuntu has been planned for China only as it is one of FCA’s biggest car markets outside USA for Jeep. No technical details have been revealed about the powertrain except that it is a plug-in hybrid and we think it is the same mill that is expected to debut on the Wrangler in 2018. Owing to its all-road-no-road character, Jeep might not want to go full electric especially in case you wander into the wild a bit too far from electricity.
The Jeep Yuntu Concept shows the American car maker’s intent to modernise with times. While this car is not meant for anywhere other than China, we are sure Jeep will have a few more concepts in the making for the American and the European markets. The Indian market is still too nascent for electric vehicles, but we certainly would not mind the hybrids coming in, only if they get the pricing right.
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