First look: Renegade heads Chrysler's green trio

NEWLY formed Chrysler LLC has underlined its commitment to green technology – as well as a light-sized future model from Jeep – by announcing it will present no fewer than three enviro-concious concept cars at the Detroit motor show in January.

Headed by the diesel-powered Jeep Renegade and also including the electric-powered ecoVoyager and Dodge Zeo concepts, the three eco-friendly show cars were officially revealed in sketch form in the US today.

Of most interest is the Renegade, which Chrysler describes as “a sporty B-segment-sized two-seater ideally suited for the all-weather delights of off-roading and dune surfing”.

The light-sized minimalist bush-basher features a cut-down speedster windshield, roll bar, lower door openings and a hose-out interior, and is powered by a 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack and a small-displacement Bluetec diesel engine.

The Renegade rides on a 2580mm wheelbase and vital statistics include a total length of 3885mm, width of 1598mm and height of 1431mm.

From top: Renegade, Chrysler ecoVoyager and Dodge Zeo concept (bottom).

Meantime over at Chrysler the four-door four-seater ecoVoyager concept aims to deliver an elegant one-box design that capitalizes on the space normally occupied by a conventional powertrain.

Propelled by a lithium-ion battery pack plus a small hydrogen fuel cell that serves as a range extender, the electric MPV emits only water vapour and is claimed to travel up to 500km.

Riding on a 2946mm wheelbase, it measures 4856mm long, 1915mm wide and 1600mm high.

The third brand of the car-maker formerly known as the Chrysler Group will also be represented at Detroit, via Dodge’s 2008 Zeo concept – a four-door 2+2 “sport wagon… built for driving enthusiasts”, which looks more like a sleek coupe.

It rides on yet another wheelbase length of 2792mm and measures 4390mm long, 1743mm wide and a squat 1292mm high.

Like the ecoVoyager, the Zeo features an electric-only propulsion system, this time employing a lithium-ion battery pack capable of 400km.

“Unlike other such vehicles, the 2008 Dodge Zeo Concept is a four-door, four-passenger model that delivers function as well as environmental responsibility,” says Chrysler.