With the start of this year's Paris Motor Show on Monday, Jeep has also paved the way in a new direction. The US car brand from the Stellantis Group has presented its first electric car for the European market: the Avenger. With this, Jeep enters the age of electromobility.
"The new Jeep Avenger is an important milestone for the brand as it marks the first of a portfolio of all-new Jeep BEVs [battery powered cars] to be launched in Europe," said Christian Meunier, CEO of the Jeep brand in a press release.
The Avenger has a 400-volt electric motor, 156 hp and a maximum torque of 260 Newton meters. According to WLTP, its 54 kWh battery should be able to deliver a range of around 400 kilometers, which is comparatively low. In the city, however, the SUV model should cover 550 kilometers with one battery charge.
At a fast charging station with 100 kW charging capacity, it should be able to charge electricity for a range of 30 kilometers in three minutes, and the battery level should be able to be brought from 20 to 80 percent in 24 minutes. When charging with direct current, for example at a wall box, the battery should be charged in 5.5 hours.
Jeep advertises a "particularly powerful model" and promises an "excellent approach angle" of 20 degrees at the front and 32 degrees at the rear - the maximum incline that the vehicle can drive. In addition, the Avenger has a ground clearance (distance to the ground) of 20 centimeters.
The first front-wheel drive Jeep features a "Selec Terrain" driving system with six modes - including "Sport", "Snow" (snow) and "Mud" (mud) - and a standard Hill Descent Assist. Using a special app, the battery status can be viewed remotely using a smartphone, a voice assistant can be used to interact with the vehicle and the air conditioning can be adjusted. Smartphones can also be connected to the car's infotainment system via an interface using Android Auto and Car Play.
The interior is characterized by a central 10.25 inch screen and is said to be robust. An underrun protection, a 360-degree fairing and protected headlights should also contribute to safety. Multicolored ambient lighting is designed to relieve the eyes when driving in the dark. In addition, the SUV has side lights that remain visible when the trunk is opened. Level 2 autonomous driving should be possible, which has driving assistants for automatic control of speed, distance and lane keeping as well as driving in traffic jams. The Avenger should also be able to recognize traffic signs and initiate emergency braking in the event of a possible collision with pedestrians and cyclists. Also on board is a parking assistant with a 180-degree reversing camera with a bird's-eye view.
With a length of 4.08 meters, the E-model is still quite short even for a small SUV and thus falls into the B-SUV category. So it should complement the offer below the 16 centimeters longer Jeep Renegade 4xe. Nevertheless, according to the manufacturer, the Avenger has enough space. The trunk has a volume of 355 liters and is said to be one of the largest in the segment. The loading sill of the trunk can be lowered to 720 millimeters, the tailgate is widened to over a meter.
Visually, the electric vehicle is characterized by a curved seven-slot radiator grille, sweeping fenders and trapezoidal wheel arches. The taillights draw an X, as you already know from the Renegade and Wrangler. In addition, the Avenger appears with 18-inch wheels.
With its first electric model, Jeep is primarily aimed at customers "with an active lifestyle who are looking for a powerful and fresh design with compact dimensions and a spacious interior". Antonella Bruno, Head of Jeep Europe at Stellantis, expects the Avenger to become the group's "best-selling model" by 2024. Eventually, Jeep wants to become the world leader in zero-emission SUVs and launch four all-electric SUVs in Europe by 2025.
The Avenger starts here. A reservation of the special edition "1st Edition" is possible from Monday until the end of November. Only those who have reserved the vehicle during this period can buy the special model later. It is slated to roll to European dealerships early next year. The price is 39,900 euros.
Sources: Jeep
