Jeep Patriot and First-gen Compass Are Truly Dead; 2018 Wrangler Details Leaked

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Amid all the hand wringing and social media sobbing over the celebrities we’ve lost in 2016, no one thought to mention the Jeep Compass and Patriot — strong-selling, affordable yet archaic vehicles that were loathed by the automotive press.

Well, the decade-old twins are dead. Gone. Finito. Pushing up daisies. The Toledo Blade reports that the Patriot and Compass ceased production on December 23, paving the way for a much-improved second-generation global Compass.

While the new, larger Compass prepares for its launch, the next-generation of the Jeepiest of all Jeeps — the 2018 Wrangler — remains heavily shrouded. We’ve seen details leaked about its appearance and drivetrain, but Fiat Chrysler Automobiles remains silent on a production timeline. Well, always count on a union representative to spill some beans.

According to the Blade, FCA’s Toledo assembly plant will cease production of the Jeep Cherokee in early April to make way for the next-gen Wrangler. The move is part of a larger game of production musical chairs that’s only just begun. A six-month shutdown follows the Cherokee’s Toledo exit, during which time the plant will retool for body-on-frame assembly.

Bruce Baumhower, president of United Auto Workers Local 12, told the Blade that production of the 2018 Wrangler will begin in November. Pre-productions models should appear “much earlier.”

As the plant gears up for the new Wrangler, production of the existing model should continue uninterrupted, Baumhower said. He added that the current generation should see production wrap up in March 2018. After that, the line will convert to next-gen Wrangler pickup production — a shadowy model that has played a starring role in the fevered dreams of Jeep aficionados for years.

Once out of Toledo, Cherokee production moves to the Belvidere, Illinois facility recently vacated by the Heaven-bound Patriot and Compass. Retooling is already underway at that plant, UAW officials claim.

(H/T to Tom!)

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments
Join the conversation
13 of 53 comments
  • Geozinger Geozinger on Dec 30, 2016

    I like the new Compass a great deal. It would probably keep me out of a BEV or a hybrid of some stripe. I trolled my wife with a Patriot awhile back. She's been itching for another CUV, but I can't stand most of them. I like the 80's era Cherokee vibe that the Patriot emanates, but she likes the current Grand Cherokee. We decided that the Compass would be acceptable to both of our demands. For cheap wheels, the current and now deceased Compass/Patriot would be high on my list, appropriately optioned.

  • Rday Rday on Dec 31, 2016

    Must be alot of people out there with nothing to do except mourn the passing of another FCA product. FCA is on its last leg as a result of poor.corrupt management and unions. Have one of their Fiat vans but i don't think it will stand the test of time so i am selling it soon. Poor quality and construction using dodge carvan powertrain on a vehicle that is almost twice as heavy. Love the way the van handles but hate the fact that FCA managed to cheapen it out and shorten its life, thereby ripping off the end consumer. Too bad but when you have a con man like Sergio running the show, what else can you expect. FCA's power train warranty is a joke. another ripoff of the customer.

    • See 10 previous
    • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Jan 01, 2017

      @28-Cars-Later Well it's good to see some non aggressive political discussion. Some of what I read is plausible. I see it this way. The US needs to tread carefully with the Chinese. The Chinese are using much soft power, similar to how the West (US) achieved dominance. This soft power is largely ignored by the media. The whole Pacific region has had vast amounts of "aid" and assistance fom the Chinese over the past couple of decades. Africa is also well serviced by the Chinese. The US must stop thinking it must be dominant as the rise of China is inevitable. What the West needs to do is take the Chinese on by remaining dominant in trade. This is how to keep the Chinese at bay. The US, now more than ever must strengthen its global trade, ie, Pacific Trade agreement with 13 other nations. Doing this will greatly reduce the Chinese influence (soft power) in the Pacfic region. The US is not as representative in trade as it once was globally, so it must rely on others. To achieve this the US can't set the "rules" as stringently as it was able to do after WW2. The US does not carry enough influence as it once had. Thumps ideals of making ' Murica Great Again will destroy or greatly reduce the US'es position. As a business man, why does Thump want to compete with the Chinese in manufacturing? This will only bring the US'es standard of living closer to China's. Thump is fighting the wrong "war".

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
Next