Silver Lake, Michigan - Despite its no-nonsense styling and sophisticated all-wheel drive, the Renegade compact SUV seems to suffer from a popular perception that it's not a 'real' Jeep.
We suspect that's mostly because it is, by American standards, very compact indeed and because it has a Fiat-sourced 119kW/250Nm, 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo engine, shares a platform with the Fiat 500L and will be built in Malfi, Italy.
So Chrysler has fired back with the Renegade Trailhawk, which has either the MultiAir or a 2.4-litre Tigershark petrol four rated at 137kW and 236Nm, the latter available exclusively with a nine-speed auto transmission.
The Trailhawk also boasts a low-range transfer case, increased ride height, gnarly tyres on special 17" alloys, bash plates and special bumpers that give it impressive approach and departure ankles.
And here we see Jeep vehicle integration engineer Heather Scott showing off with it, sandsurfing on the Silver Lake dunes in Michigan.
Our contact at Chrysler SA says the Renegade is 'under consideration' for SA release, depending mostly on just how outrageously expensive it works out in out Michael Rodent currency.