After seeing all of the sweet rigs on this site’s forum, I’ve concluded that the only unmodified Jeep is one that hasn’t been sold yet. However, Mopar has proved me wrong. Its display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit is proof of that.
Mopar’s exhibiting a couple of Renegades there – one for challenging outdoor applications and one for city settings – that show how customizable the little trail-tackler is.
The off-road Mopar-equipped Jeep Renegade is based on a Trailhawk model and decked out with X-shaped body-side graphics (which coordinate with the tail lamps’ design elements) and a Mopar Topographical Hood decal map of “Motor City.” Colorado red accents, such as the front and rear tow hooks, contrast with the Renegade’s Commando Green paint. Up top, there are satin black cross rails and a Mopar roof storage basket.
“A concept skid plate, prototype rock rails, rear valance and production roof rails equip the Jeep brand’s new small SUV to handle off-road obstacles, and are neatly tied together by a matching neutral grey satin color.” Underneath, there’s a Mopar skid plate kit. The interior features Katzkin leather seat covers and Commando Green on the HVAC bezels, speaker mesh, and the center console.
Jeep’s urban Mopar-equipped Renegade is intended for “youthful city and suburban dwellers who also desire 4 x 4 capability,” which comes in handy when plans change from a night on the town to an evening in the woods around a campfire. An Anvil-grey Renegade Limited was transformed into this showcase, which wears Omaha orange accents on its satin black wheels, mirror caps, grille, tail lamp surrounds, and roof rails. It even has a Mopar hitch-mounted bike carrier.
Omaha orange has also been applied to the HVAC bezels, speaker covers, and the center console. Katzkin leather covers the seats. “Personalization inside is completed with Jeep Authentic Accessories — a premium carpet mat, carpet cargo mat and Jeep logo-decorated door sills.”
You can see both of these dressed-up Renegades in the gallery below – and at the NAIAS between now and Jan. 25.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
