Off road mini jeep

2022 Mini Jeep Will Be The Smallest Crossover FCA Ever Made

FCA is constantly working on the lineup expanding and when it comes to Jeep, there is a lot of interesting things that are about to happen in the near future. Of course, the electrification is one of the things that come to mind, as well as the comeback of the legendary Wagoneers, which will be the biggest vehicle in the company’s lineup. Another brand-new model that is coming is the 2022 Mini Jeep. It has been confirmed by Jeep European Head of Brand Marketing Marco Pigozzi, who said that something interesting is cooking in FCA’s kitchen for the European market.

It’s not hard to make a conclusion that this model will be designed primarily for the European market. We also know that this will be the smallest vehicle in the company’s lineup, notably smaller than Renegade. Therefore, we presume that the focus will be on building a small and efficient city crossover. However, Pigozzi also promises excellent off-road performances.

The new Mini Jeep 2022 should arrive sometime in the next year.

2022 Mini Jeep Design

Of course, the first thing that comes to our mind is what will the 2022 Mini Jeep look like? At this point, we know only basic things about the new model and the most prominent characteristics will be its small size. This will be the smallest vehicle in the company in the lineup, probably for about feet shorter compared to Renegade and two-door Wrangler. However, this also means it will be a foot longer compared to Suzuki Jimny, which is expected to the biggest competitor on the market. Although it doesn’t feature such an SUV-ish shape, Nissan Juke is also one of the potential rivals, although it’s as big as the Renegade.

When it comes to styling, we still don’t know the details. However, AutoExpress has published some rendering photos that obviously show in which direction the new model will go. If you look at these photos, the Mini Jeep 2022 looks like a mix of Renegade and Wrangler. When it comes to the overall shape, it is pretty similar to the four-door Wrangler, just in a significantly smaller size. On the other side, if you look at the front and rear ends, you can notice a lot of Renegade’s influence. The grille and headlights are pretty much identical, as well as taillights.

Still, keep in mind that these are just rendering photos and that the production model will probably come notably different. When it comes to interior design, we can only speculate at this point. One of the things that come to mind is that the new 2022 Mini Jeep would probably bring a lot of lifestyle flavor. A lot of inspiration will come from Wrangler as well.

What About the Platform?

Considering that the new model will be designed primarily for the European market, we might see some pretty interesting things in terms of the platform. As you probably know, FCA has recently started to cooperate with PSA. This means that there is a big chance that this crossover will be co-developed by two companies. One of the possibilities is to see 2022 Mini Jeep Design riding on PSA’s platform, known as the Common Modular Platform, which underprints a variety of small models, including Peugeot 208, Vauxhall Corsa etc.

2022 Mini Jeep Powertrain

Of course, this is another important aspect of the new 2022 Mini Jeep. According to most reports, the new mini SUV will definitely be available in an electrified version. Most likely, that will be the same system that powers the new Renegade plug-in hybrid version. This would mean a combination of a 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and an electric motor on the rear axle. We expect that the max output will also go around 190 horsepower, while a max all-electric range could be a little bit longer compared to current 31 miles. Of course, this means ‘e’ all-wheel-drive as a standard feature, which may be highly beneficial in terms of off-road performances, which should be on a decent level as well.

Besides the 2022 Mini Jeep PHEV, we presume that the new model would be available in a pure gasoline version, so we could see something from PSA under the hood as well.

2022 Mini Jeep Release Date

It’s still early to talk about the more precise launch date. Still, as the new 2022 Mini Jeep is almost a certain thing, it’s not hard to make a conclusion that the new model will hit the market sometime in the next year. The second half seems more likely, but we won’t make any estimations at the moment.

As we’ve just mentioned, some of the biggest rivals will be models like Suzuki Jimny and Nissan Juke. Still, there are many more small crossovers on the European market. Some of the names that come to mind are Peugeot 2008, DS 3 Crossback, Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona etc.

Timothy

Timothy has been an FCA enthusiast way before the two major companies merged. With an innate passion for muscle cars from the golden era, Ram trucks and anything that has a huge engine under the hood, it’s not hard to presume that Timothy is a true motorhead. On the other side, classic Italian sports cars have always had a special place in his heart, as a sense of style and sophistication is an integral part of his persona. For Timothy, FCA is a perfect match.

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Tiny $10K electric off-roader rambles like a mini Jeep with big bed

Leave it to the French to come up with a truly unique, adorable electric off-roader. The Kilow La Bagnole looks part mini pickup truck, part UTV and part shrunken Jeep CJ. It zips silently across rugged terrain via an exceptionally modest 16-kW powertrain that proves more than ample thanks to the skinny-wheeler’s tiny size and sub-1,000-lb weight. The lil’ La Bagnole carries two people and up to 650 L of gear or cargo on an off-road adventure of their choosing.

Measuring in at just under 111 in (2,812 mm) long, La Bagnole is more than 1.5 feet (46 cm) shorter than the original postwar-era Willys CJ, which eventually grew up into the modern-day Jeep Wrangler. The La Bagnole’s 59-in (1,495-mm) width is also comparable to early CJs and to 58-in-wide Polaris Ranger gas or electric UTVs, promising to be plenty agile and maneuverable on even the tightest forest or canyon trail. Kilow’s e-UTV stands at 57.5 inches (1,460 mm) to the top of its roof.

La Bagnole comes powered by a pair of rear-mounted brushless motors that team for up to 21 hp (16 kW). That doesn’t exactly sound like the makings of a thrill ride, but given the vessel’s sub-772-lb (350-kg) weight, it’s able to achieve speeds of roughly 50 mph (80 km/h). Kilow lists acceleration time for 0 to 40 km/h (25 mph) at four seconds, though many drivers will be best-served laying off the accelerator in order to conserve range, which maxes out between 43 and 87 miles (70 and 140 km).

We’d love to see how a four-motor La Bagnole with torque vectoring could whip its way around trees and boulders, but that might ultimately interfere too much with Kilow’s goal of no-frills simplicity. Plus, the French do pretty well with 2WD off-road setups.

La Bagnole rides on a steel chassis and galvanized steel double-wishbone suspension. The R18 wheels are fitted with skinny 130/90 R18 tires that help deliver 15-in (39-cm) of ground clearance.

As if the La Bagnole wasn’t already the cutest little four-wheeler we’ve ever seen, Kilow envisions it as a toy for grownups and has even designed a toy car-inspired box in which it can ship. The little EV is crafted with sustainability in mind, so the big box isn’t meant to be thrown away or even broken down for recycling but to be used as a storage crate. It even includes an integrated solar system for recharging the La Bagnole battery off-grid.

If Kilow could only make the box foldable or otherwise collapsible enough to fit inside La Bagnole’s tall-walled utility bed, and perhaps add an integrated battery, the storage crate could make the perfect in-field charging system for extending a day of electrifying off-road fun. Perhaps Kilow could even add a modest camper interior to extend that fun to the entire weekend.

We suppose we’re getting ahead of ourselves on all that, but Kilow has at least been playing with other bed accessories:

Kilow is a new spinoff of France’s Savoy Group and its KG Auto brand. It debuted La Bagnole at this week’s Paris Motor Show, providing an interesting diversion from the typical street-legal car and concept brigade that otherwise fills the floor of the international auto show.

Kilow is offering La Bagnole for pre-order in two variations: an L6e version with limited 28-mph (45-km/h) top speed that does not require a license and a 50-mph (80-km/h) L7e variant that will require a license to drive legally. Prices start at €9,990 (approx. US$9,975), and the company plans to begin deliveries in early 2023.

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Is the Kilow La Bagnole Mini Jeep How Electric Off-Road Will Look?

First off, for an MSRP of under $10,000, how can you go wrong? A capable electric off-roader sized just right for maneuvering cramped, rugged, narrow trails. The Kilow La Bagnole is a 16 kW mini Jeep/mini truck with its eyes on the future. At under 1,000 lbs, the eco-warriors can’t say you’re not treading lightly. And if a smaller size matters to you, the La Bagnole is almost two feet shorter than a Willys CJ.

How small is the La Bagnole?

A Kilow La Bagnole displayed at the 2022 Paris Auto Show | Richard Bord/Getty

The small SUV comes out to be 111 inches long, 59 inches wide, and 57.5 inches high. Power comes from two tiny brushless motors for a combined 21 hp. You may think that’s anemic, but the La Bagnole weighs only 772 lbs, so 50 mph is no problem. The 0 to 25 time is four seconds, and the range is between 43 and 87 miles.

The simple, no-frills design utilizes basic geometric shapes that will be easy to manufacture, but also easy to cheaply replace body parts. Those jerrycans in the bed are actually the batteries. Oh, and the name La Bagnole translates roughly to “jalopy.”

How off-road capable could the La Bagnole be?

A Kilow La Bagnole displayed at the Paris Auto Show | Richard Bord/Getty

A galvanized steel double-wishbone suspension attaches to the steel chassis. With the 130/90 R18 tires, the La Bagnole easily offers 15 inches of ground clearance. It can handle tow passengers plus 1,400 lbs of gear and cargo. That’s accommodated partially by the deep-walled pickup box.

Even the crate it comes in has an eye on sustainability. It features an integrated recharging solar system which would be perfect for off-grid travails. Unfortunately, the crate doesn’t break down to bring along.

Who makes the La Bagnole?

A Kilow La Bagnole displayed at the Paris Auto Show | Richard Bord/Getty

Two versions are offered. The L6e has a maximum speed limit of 28 mph, for those wanting to go strictly off-road without a driver’s license. For those planning on using it on city streets, the L7e version can hit 50 mph but requires a driver’s license.

A Kilow La Bagnoe | Richard Bord/Getty

The La Bagnole SUV is the product of Kilow, a division of the Savoy Group of France. Yes, it’s French. It debuted last week at the Paris Motor Show. From what little information is out there, it will have an assortment of bed features including what looks like a small slide-in camper or delivery van enclosure.

Kilow says it can be ordered with refrigeration. Waterproofing is also an option. It will also build in compartments to keep things secure. At current exchange rates, the La Bagnole starts at $9,751. It is ramping up production for deliveries to begin in January of next year, which isn’t too far off.

Keyword: Is the Kilow La Bagnole Mini Jeep How Electric Off-Road Will Look?

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