December 17, 2010 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The new 2011 Jeep® Patriot, the affordable compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV), offers consumers segment-leading capability and unsurpassed 4x4 fuel economy along with new aggressive exterior styling, new interior features and improved ride-and-handling characteristics.

Jeep Patriot's classic exterior styling and capability are enhanced for 2011 with new front and rear fascias, a body-color grille and an increased 4x4 ride height. Ride-and-handling is refined courtesy of upgraded steering and suspension systems. Interior enhancements round out the new-for-2011 features, and include significantly refined touch points.

"Patriot boasts class-leading 4x4 capability and unsurpassed fuel economy, and a host of safety features in a fun and affordable package ? a combination that only Jeep can offer," said Mike Manley, President and CEO ? Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "For 2011, Jeep Patriot is even more appealing to consumers, thanks to rugged new exterior styling, interior enhancements and refinements to the suspension and steering systems."

Jeep Patriot combines the packaging and interior flexibility of an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact car. Many standard safety features, such as side-curtain air bags and electronic stability program (ESC), add to Jeep Patriot's tremendous value.

Design
The Jeep Patriot is unmistakably a Jeep, designed to appeal to compact-SUV buyers who want traditional Jeep styling with best-in-class, off-road capability at an affordable price.

"Simple yet distinctive geometric forms, timeless proportions and exterior design enhancements for 2011 complement Jeep Patriot's rugged off-road capabilities," said Mark Allen, Head of Jeep Design.

Jeep Patriot is built for maximum cargo volume, rugged driving conditions and excellent utility.

Patriot's face is classic Jeep, featuring an updated, modern version of brand's signature seven-slot grille with a new rugged mesh texture, a robust bumper and round headlamps. New front and rear fascia designs enhance the classic Jeep trapezoidal wheel arches. The new aggressive front fascia features a body-color grille as well as a skid plate that surrounds the new, inboard-mounted fog lamps. The new rear fascia extends lower than on previous models and features a chrome-tipped exhaust on the Latitude X model.

Classic Jeep design cues include new available 17-inch aluminum wheels and all-terrain tires housed inside signature Jeep trapezoidal wheel openings. Jeep Patriot's high beltline completes the vehicle's protective side profile.

The rear of the vehicle, with an upright backlight and a bold bumper, further illustrate Jeep Patriot's interior spaciousness and adds to its rugged appearance and capability. Four doors and a rear liftgate provide easy access to Jeep Patriot's spacious and functional interior.

Interior upgrades for the 2011 Jeep Patriot include new soft touch front-door trim panels with a padded upper surface; new center armrest; a new Jeep steering wheel with integrated controls that allow the driver to operate the radio, cruise control, handsfree phone and other vehicle functions while keeping their hands on the wheel; new cloth interior with premium cloth bucket seats in the front; standard speed control on all models; new backlighting of door switches, door locks, windows and power mirror controls and standard automatic temperature control on the Latitude X model. Interior color options for the 2011 Jeep Patriot are Dark Slate Gray or Dark Slate Gray with Light Pebble Beige.

New for 2011 the Jeep Patriot offers an All-weather Capability Group option which includes 17-inch aluminum wheels with Goodyear all-terrain tires, all-season floor mats, daytime running headlamps, engine block heater and tow hooks.

The 2011 Jeep Patriot is available in the following exterior colors: Natural Green Metallic Clear Coat, Dark Charcoal Pearl Coat, Blackberry Pearl Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat and Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat (late availability).

Segment-leading Capability
The 2011 Jeep Patriot offers customers segment-leading capability with features such as low-range mode which generates a best-in-class 19:1 crawl ratio, brake traction control, 19-inch water fording capability, Hill-descent Control, 4x4 Lock shift-on-the-fly which sends 50 percent of torque to front and rear wheels, and a maximum tow rating of 2,000 lbs. The Jeep Patriot also boasts an upgraded suspension for 2011, with higher spring and damping rates, added rebound springs, and an increased diameter of the rear sway bar. Despite these numerous capability features, the 2011 Jeep Patriot boasts unsurpassed 4x4 fuel economy in its segment.

Jeep Patriot is available in three drivetrain configurations. In addition to the standard front-wheel-drive system, Jeep Patriot also is available with Freedom Drive I™ and the Freedom Drive II® Off-Road Package.

Freedom Drive I is an available full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with lock mode designed to give drivers year-round assurance with the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions. This active four-wheel-drive system is recommended for daily use, including slick conditions that come with rain and light snow. Freedom Drive I also features a lockable center coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Patriot in four-wheel-drive lock mode to handle deep snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces.

The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is an available four-wheel-drive system that makes the Jeep Patriot a Trail Rated® 4x4, creating the most capable vehicle in the crowded compact SUV class. The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package includes a second-generation continuously variable transaxle with low range (CVT2L) that engages when the off-road mode is activated, 17-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and manual seat height adjuster. The available Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is recommended for moderate off-road situations that include steep grades, occasional wheel lift and rock or log climbing.

This Jeep technology includes the CVT2L's best-in-class 19:1 low ratio, which is ideal for crawling over obstacles. Off-road brake traction control maintains forward mobility during heavy articulation or on split-friction surfaces where one wheel loses traction. Hill-descent Control modulates brake hydraulic pressure without driver intervention for downhill assistance at a safe and controlled rate of speed. Three-mode ESC and off-road anti-lock brakes (ABS) also add to the Patriot's off-road capability.

The Trail Rated Jeep Patriot meets Jeep off-road capability requirements for traction, water fording, articulation, maneuverability and ground clearance, including 9 inches of ground clearance, a 29-degree approach angle, a 33-degree departure angle and a 23-degree breakover angle. This version of the Patriot also has additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents to support 19-inch water fording capability. In fact, the Jeep Patriot's body and chassis were developed and tested over numerous rugged off-road terrains to meet the requirements of the enthusiast Jeep customer.

Jeep Patriot's powertrain is designed to deliver world-class performance, fuel economy and refinement, all at an affordable, entry-level price.

Patriot 4x4 features a standard 2.4-liter World Engine that produces 172-horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. This 2.4-liter World Engine has dual variable valve timing (VVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts, which helps optimize the torque curve at all speeds and produces more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without dual VVT. Dual VVT is a technology typically not available on vehicles sold in the United States in the Jeep Patriot's price class. Jeep Patriot's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual transaxle in 4x4 configuration delivers 22 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Standard on the 2011 Jeep Patriot Sport two-wheel-drive model is a 2.0-liter World Engine that provides 158 horsepower (117 kW) and 141 lb.-ft. (191 N?m) of torque coupled with the continuously variable transmission (CVT2), and delivers 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Jeep Patriot also features a standard five-speed manual transaxle and an available CVT. The Patriot's CVT2 is a second-generation CVT that Chrysler Group engineers calibrated for pleasing engine response and precise ratio control. CVT2 contributes to a fuel economy improvement of 6?8 percent compared with a traditional four-speed automatic. Patriot's CVT2 also improves vehicle performance compared with a traditional automatic transaxle because of optimized gear ratios, especially in the 30?60 mph range during passing maneuvers.

A 2010 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick, the Jeep Patriot for 2011 is loaded with more than 30 standard safety and security features, thoughtful functionality and best-in-class off-road capability with Freedom Drive II, offering tremendous value for consumers that desire an SUV to accommodate their active lifestyle at an affordable price.

Jeep Patriot Model Lineup
The 2011 Jeep Patriot is available in three configurations: Sport, Latitude and Latitude X. All are available with front-wheel drive, the Freedom Drive I full-time, active 4x4 system and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package full-time, active 4x4 system with low-range capability.

Built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill., the new 2011 Jeep Patriot models arrived in Jeep showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2010.

About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram Truck and Mopar® vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation ? first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 ? and Fiat's complementary technology ? from a company whose heritage dates back to 1899.

Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300, Jeep Wrangler and Ram Truck. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.