Jeep True North concept vehicle

[haven]

At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, Jeep showed a concept vehicle based on the Compass SUV. Called "True North," the small SUV has a 2 inch suspension lift, larger wheels and tires, and some blacked-out trim. Take a look here:

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/08/2012-mopar-jeep-compass-true-north-chicago-2012/

 

[Septu]

God I can't stand the Compass (or the Patriot). Sure they're made by Jeep, but they're not really a jeep. They're something that has 4 wheel drive and is there only to compete with Honda/Toyota/Kia, etc (small SUV, good gas mileage, etc). It's there for the soccer moms, plain and simple.

When I think of a Jeep, I think of a Wrangler (with some modest mods), or even a GC. But I almost always cringe when I see a compass.

 

[TangoBlue]

Very pretty. I think we're missing the point though - as the article pointed out, this is a "rolling high-end sound studio." Rock on Compass!

Perhaps Haven should send this link to his colleagues at AcousticMusic.com.

 

[nwoods]

Are those 28" tires?

 

[BIGdaddy]

I like it.

 

[Frank]

Its a mall crawler, though I do have mixed feelings about it. If the free market allows it, let it be. Just my opinion. At least Jeep isn't producing battery powered vehicles, yet.

 

[TexasTJ]

I like it too. Self sustained travel is not all about 37" tires and 5" lifts. I Bet a loaded Patriot or Compass could out range an AEV Wrangler any day and would be a great SUV for a lot of expeditions to oh like Baja or most of Central America. You not going to tackle the same trails as you could in a Wrangler, but you know that not for everyone. Don't Forget Jeep makes Cars for all american not just hardcore People. We are the after thought not the other way around.
When my Wife's Liberty need replaced I'm going to get her a Patriot.

Biggs

 

[BIGdaddy]

Its a mall crawler, though I do have mixed feelings about it. If the free market allows it, let it be. Just my opinion. At least Jeep isn't producing battery powered vehicles, yet.

x2, I've always maintained that a niche company is never going to be as successful as one who provides varied products to a wide audience. It's that kind of diversification that allows a maker like Jeep to flow with the ups and downs.

As much as people don't like the patriot, liberty, compass etc, they DID help keep Jeep around to produce the LJ and JK rubicons.

 

[jeepdreamer]

uhhh.... BLECH!

 

[NOMADIC_LJ]

Put a cargo basket on top and you've got yourself a pretty nice little soft-roader. I like it. Not everything has to be hardcore.

 

[Bennyhana]

I like our little compass. We were in the market for a small crossover type for the wife and to be honest the 2011 compass didn't even cross our minds. We stopped by the Jeep dealer to just check out a Patriot when we saw them pull the new one off the trailer. After a few test drives she was hooked. It's a fun little sporty jeep and performs fairly well in light offroad situations. Did awesome on the beach! I kinda look at the compass as Jeeps hope to get in on the Subaru market. And for a "small" car it does have a lot of interior room.
Here's ours.

 

[AFSOC]

Compass and Patriot are NOT my cup of tea but they are not symbols of evil to me either. A Compass would fulfill all my travel needs. I love to travel and I love to camp but to be perfectly honest with you I rarely engage the transfer case when traveling or camping. I also like to "trail ride" with the express intent of engaging said transfer case and challenging my driving abilities. I have never been out longer than an overnighter while out slogging challenging terrain.

While the aesthetics of a Compass don't appeal to me, I need to be a realist and admit that my travel requirements can certainly be met with one of these little $h*1 boxes. While you could never garner any ExPo cred behind the wheel of a Compass, you'll have to admit visit any State or Province in North America and see what ever interesting site or monument that you want to see. Now if your thirst for travel is mainly negotiating technical trails, that seems sort of a niche in the larger travel and exploration scheme and will not be satisfactorily filled by a Compass. For the technical stuff a more suitable rig is required and maybe a more narrowly focused forum is more appropriate for discussion of technical trail running rigs.

I'd be willing to bet that if a few of us really took a good hard look at what capabilities would meet the vehicular requirements of our travel, we would realize that we're sitting behind the wheel of way more capability than we use or maybe need to get our travel fix. Trail capability brings some compromise. I'm sure these Compasses have better road manners than a lot of our "ExPo" rigs that spend their share of miles on the slab. Just something to think about...

 

[TRegasaurus]

A tad small but a nice (as NOMADIC LJ puts it) soft-roader.
It will get you out to most places.
And getting out is what it's all about.

 

[JCMatthews]

I think one of these as our second vehicle would be great. I love the extra clearance of the True North. I would not hesitate to take it on forest service type roads. It looks way cooler than an Outback, and and has a crawler gear you can't get in a Subaru.

 

[doogie]

x2, I've always maintained that a niche company is never going to be as successful as one who provides varied products to a wide audience. It's that kind of diversification that allows a maker like Jeep to flow with the ups and downs.

As much as people don't like the patriot, liberty, compass etc, they DID help keep Jeep around to produce the LJ and JK rubicons.

This is a true as it gets. If Jeep weren't cranking out some small, fuel concious suv's.....they would die, sad but true. As far as the Compass goes, while I don't like them much either, I'd drive this particular one with no shame.