New Jeep has retro name, look

Jeep Cherokee. Photo / Supplied

You'll recognise the face. You might remember the name, too

Jeep is reviving the Cherokee nameplate for the first model to emerge from the alliance between Fiat and Chrysler.

The new car - pictured - will be displayed to the public for the first time at the New York Motor Show at the end of this month.

The name marks the return of the Cherokee badge to the Jeep model range for the first time since 2001. It replaces the Liberty.

The car with Jeep's trademark seven-bar front grille will rival the BMW X3, the Land Rover Freelander and the Toyota RAV4.

Jeep expects to launch it in the second half of this year.

Photographs show a completely new look for the Cherokee with design cues taken over from the recently revamped Grand Cherokee model.

The front end features headlights which have been slimmed down almost to slits.

There is no official word on engines but US media expect the Cherokee to be powered by a new V6 motor which has been trimmed from 3.6 to 3.2 litres in capacity.

European markets are set to get a 2.0 diesel unit sourced from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The Cherokee will be one of the first Fiat-Chrysler cars to be offered with a new nine-speed automatic gearbox manufactured by German specialists ZF.

-AAP