en.Wedoany.com Reported - Jeep has officially started production of the all-new compact SUV Avenger at its Porto Real plant in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Positioned below the Renegade, the model is expected to make its debut in August. As part of Stellantis' 3 billion reais investment in the plant (through 2030), all versions of the Avenger are equipped with a 1.0-liter turbocharged flex-fuel mild hybrid engine, previously used in the Fastback and Pulse, followed by the Peugeot 208 and 2008.
The Avenger is built on the same CMP platform as the Citroën C3, Aircross, and Basalt, with dimensions matching the European version: 4.08 meters long, 1.73 meters wide, 1.53 meters high, a wheelbase of 2.56 meters, and a trunk capacity of 380 liters, surpassing the Renegade's 320 liters. Its main competitor is the Volkswagen Tera. The model will be available in four trims: Altitude, Longitude, Sahara, and Limited, along with a limited launch edition called 85 Years, commemorating Jeep's 85-year history.
According to UOL Carros columnist Marlos Ney Vidal, all Avenger variants are hybrid, but power output may vary. The vehicle is expected to deliver 116 horsepower, rather than the usual 120 hp, with torque remaining at 20.4 kgfm, paired with a CVT automatic transmission. The reduced power aims to qualify the model under the federal government's Sustainable Car Program (Carro Sustentável), part of the Mover project, which exempts efficient, low-emission, locally produced compact cars from the Industrialized Product Tax (IPI).
The new Avenger made its Brazilian debut at the "Todo Mundo no Rio" event, featuring a performance by Colombian singer Shakira. Exterior highlights include a seven-slot grille with top lighting, roof rails, two-tone paint, 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, trapezoidal wheel arches, and a rugged bumper, with taillights arranged in an "X" pattern. Standard equipment includes six airbags, traction and stability control, hill-start assist, ABS with EBD, four-wheel disc brakes, Isofix child seat anchors, and three-point seat belts.
All versions of the Jeep Avenger come standard with a Level 2 ADAS package, including automatic headlight switching, driver fatigue detection, lane departure warning, forward collision warning (with emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection), traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The SUV will also integrate ChatGPT, in partnership with OpenAI. With the start of Avenger production, the Porto Real plant has implemented a second shift, with Stellantis reporting 800 new hires and 450 jobs created in the supplier park.
