Jeep Grand Cherokee, Compass and Patriot ‘Altitude’ editions debut

Back in January, Jeep boasted off a fully blacked-out, stealthy version of the new Grand Cherokee at the 2012 Houston Auto Show, which they said was intended for production. Following that, the company set up a ‘Name My Ride’ contest in the States to find the perfect name for their latest creation.

Jeep claim to have received over 100,000 entries before settling for the ‘Altitude’ tag. And banking on the success, they also decided to expand the range with similar editions of the Compass and Patriot.

Just like the showcased concepts, the ‘Altitude’ special editions will be characterised by their blacked-out, menacing features. For the Grand Cherokee, that means black interiors, glossy black grilles, black headlamps and a black liftgate light bar. Also on the cards are a platinum-chrome lower fascia, and a mesh grille, which will be complemented by black 20-inch alloys.

For the Compass, the Altitude edition blacks out the interior, grilles, headlamp bezels, roof rails, step pad and the 18-inch alloys. The Patriot will get black 17-inch alloys and cabin, but trades in most of the rest for chrome and polished steel.

But despite the theme, each model is available in a host of other colours for the bodywork, in which case the black trim provides the contrast, to distinguish it from other variants.

The ‘Altitude’ lineup will be added as a limited edition option along with the outgoing models, and is expected to make it to U.S. showrooms by May. It may also be available to customers in the GCC by the end of the year if Jeep chooses to market it here.