Jeep is a brand commonly associated with crossovers and SUVs, so there is nothing surprising in it working on a new premium seven-seater for the Indian market.
But let us provide a bit of context first. Not long ago, the company unveiled the Grand Commander model for China, following up with a smaller Commander variant for Brazil. The new SUV is called Meridian and is meant for India, but much of the tech is the same.
The name refers to the 77th meridian that crosses the India as it goes from the North to the South Pole. All we have right now are these photos of a camouflaged prototype and a video that suggests some design differences compared to the Brazil-spec Commander.
In its standard version, the Meridian will come equipped with a diesel engine rated at 200 PS (197 hp / 147 kW). A nine-speed automatic transmission will send the power to all four wheels. A mild-hybrid variant is possible, but hasn’t been announced yet.
Sales will start in mid-2022, Jeep says.