2016 Jeep Comanche Concept at Easter Jeep Safari
The Easter Jeep Safari saw an unveiling of several Jeep concepts, but as you can see in the video below, one standout was the Jeep that bared the Comanche nameplate. Resurrecting a small truck is an excellent idea, but basing it on a car platform is a bit risky. Mark Allen, Chief Jeep Designer explains the rout they took when building this concept.
Allen correctly points out that small trucks are a generational thing — they had their highest popularity in the late ’80s, with offerings from several manufacturers at the time, both import and domestic. In the U.S., popularity dwindled as full size pickups gained favor. Jeep, saw the Renegade as a perfect fit for this segment, having already been built with toughness in mind, but being the right size for the job.
For this concept, Jeep essentially re-worked the back half of the car, adding a military style 6-foot box, and even adding the soft-top roof for a nod to the soft-top Jeeps of the past. This particular one is powered by a diesel engine, which is offered in the Renegade in other parts of the world, but I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing that power plant in the production version here.
Like Mark says though, it’s a polarizing concept, and people either love it, or hate it. What about you?
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Via [DrivingLine]
