When you say the word Jeep, the first thing that comes to your mind is a basic 4×4 machine with go anywhere capability. But infact, Jeep is an iconic American brand known for its capability in making some of the finest off-roaders in the world. The Jeep brand launched in India last year and brought the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee to our shores. These two are legends in their own right. Jeep is holding the Camp Jeep initiative across Indian cities to let people experience the Jeep models in their natural habitat. Throttle Blips got a chance to attend the Camp Jeep Mumbai Edition and while I have driven the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee before, I relished the idea of kicking up some dirt with these legends. Just what I needed on a sunny Saturday morning.
The morning began with registrations and other formalities before heading off to the off-road track. Having signed a few forms, I jumped into the Wrangler along with my instructor who drove me to the trail that I was going to tackle. We started off with a steep downhill slope where the hill descent control and 4wd low range comes into play. Having done advanced off-roading before, I already knew how the Wrangler would behave. Feet off the pedals and we went down at crawling speeds. 
Later we put the Wrangler through a set of axle twisters that showed the wheel articulation of the Wrangler. It’s amazing the way this machine just sails through. So much so that you wouldn’t have a clue that the wheels are in the air. We then went through a rock patch followed by some more inclines and declines. The final obstacle that comprised of going up and down a set of stairs was done by the instructor. The good thing about the whole trail was that it showcased each and every capability of the Jeep models. We headed back to the event reception area after the drive. After some refreshments, I went for another go at the trail, this time in the Grand Cherokee. And what do you know, I was reunited with the same red example that we reviewed last year. The Grand Cherokee does impress and how. It does everything the Wrangler does but with more pampering and luxury. 
I later got a chance to catch a chat with FCA India Managing Director Mr. Kevin Flynn who gave an insight on Jeep’s future plans for India. India is one of the four countries globally that will make the Jeep Compass. He also mentioned that a lot of local content will help the Compass achieve a competitive price tag. India will export the Compass to right hand drive markets across the globe. The India spec Jeep Compass will come with a petrol and diesel mated to both, a manual and automatic gearbox. It will come in front wheel drive and four wheel drive versions.
To sum it up, the Camp Jeep Mumbai was an enjoyable experience, one reason being that the trail was more of a a natural one than a custom built track. These exercises will surely go a long way in spreading the Jeep brand in India.
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