It’s a good name, Renegade. Older dictionaries tend to have slightly negative definitions, but today a renegade is pretty much seen as a rebel, with a tendency to go against the flow. And all of that stuff pretty much goes with the Jeep ethos, that feeling of Jeepness and the obsession with a vehicle that had its roots in World War Two as a military vehicle that could pretty much go anywhere.

Renegade: Designed by Americans, built by Italians

This was crystallised for me when I first laid eyes on the new Renegade, a brand new Jeep designed by Americans, but engineered and built by Italians. And I was in Italy for the international launch of the new car, which is set to take the small SUV segment of the global market by storm.

“This is the first Jeep built exclusively outside the United States, the engineering for off-road done in the US, but the lead engineering done in Italy,” explained Chris Ellison, head of Jeep Brand in the Europe-Middle East and Africa region.

Chris was speaking to attendees of the first Camp Jeep to be held in Italy, a world-wide occurrence where owners of Jeeps gather on a mountain top or a desert – anywhere off-the-beaten track – and partake of Jeepness, in other words playing with their off-road toys, listening to good ol’ American rock music and admiring each other’s suspension high-rise kits, giant wheel tyre combos, bull bars, roof top tents, and in some cases, super-potent engines installed beneath the utilitarian bonnets of these all-American mobility-toys.

All-American until now, that is. Fiat bought a major shareholding in Chrysler, which owns the Jeep brand, a couple of years back and in January 2014took full ownership of Chrysler and the Jeep brand. And by this stage, production of the Renegade, the first tangible result of the Fiat-Chrysler marriage, was nearing production sign-off. The new small SUV began rolling off the production line in Italy in July 2015and went on sale a few days after I attended Camp Jeep in mid-September, in the hills above Parma, prior to attending the international launch an hour or so away at the Balocco Proving Grounds outside Milan.

South African arrival of 2015 Jeep Renegade

The new 2015 Jeep Renegadewill go on salein SAin April 2015, when two front-wheel-drive variants are launched. These will be in the upmarket Limited trim, and both will use six-speed manual gearboxes, powered either by the 88 kW MultiJet II diesel four-cylinder, or the 125 kW version of the Multi-Air turbo petrol engine.

Later, in September 2015, the two trail-blazing FWD versions will be joined by three new versions – a base-model 1.6-litre 81 kW petrol with a five-speed gearbox and FWD, and two 4X4 versions. These will be a 125 kW Multi-Air petrol version in Limited trim and a 2.4-litre Multi-Air petrol, good for 136 kW and 232 Nm of torque and fitted to the off-road specific Trailhawk version. Both of these will have a nine-speed automatic gearbox, a first in this small SUV segment.

The 4X4 versions will feature a single-speed power transfer unit to the rear wheels, coupled to a clutch that can disconnect the rear axle when all-wheel-drive is not necessary – according to wheel sensors that monitor wheel-slip. When power is needed to the rear wheels, the clutch is activated to provide whatever power is necessary to the rear wheels to maintain optimum traction.

The Trailhawk version is fitted with an extra 20mm of ride height by din of longer, stiffer springs. This takes overall ground clearance to 210mm. The suspension of all Renegades is by dint of MacPherson struts front and rear, utilising special Koni electronically-adjustable damping.

Launch drive experience

On the launch I drove the FWD version of the 2015 Jeep Renegadefirst and I was very impressed with the extreme rigidity of the body-shell. This is the work of the Italian engineers in Melfi, who specified the use of high-strength steel in up to 70 %of the car, as well as generous use of aluminium in the tailgate, the bonnet, and parts of the front sub-frame and cross member.

The steering is accurate, the six-speed gearshift via cable operation is one of the best I’ve experienced using this system, and there is an admirable overall air of solidity.

I also tried the nine-speed automatic Trailhawk version over Balocco’s off-road course and was impressed with the extreme wheel articulation, the ground clearance for off-road use, the very good approach, straddle and departure angles – best in class – and the serious off-road ability in ”Rock” mode, selected on the console, which enables the very low first gear ratio to kick in. Normally the car pulls off in second gear. This also has a hill descent function which is adjustable. The Trailhawk comes with under-body skid plates, a different front valance, special badges and distinct wheels. On all models there is also the option of a conventional sun roof or a My Sky roof, which allows you to remove the roof panels entirely.

The interior of the 2015 Jeep Renegadeis fully-equipped, with excellent soft-touch trimming, and includes a big touch screen in all models, varying in size according to trim.

As for the looks of the 2015 Jeep Renegade, well, to me it says “Jeepness”. And that, I believe is going to be all important for broadening Jeep’s brand appeal amongst the hip and the chic, where it is already becoming quite the style icon. Prices are likely to start at around the R340000 mark next April, depending on the exchange rate.