Jeep is going on a major sales attack in the coming months, and one of its most important models will be the Compass. Not only is the Compass available as a plug-in hybrid, but it's also sold as a front-wheel-drive model.
Spray-on mud
So, how do you keep up the image of a rugged, rough-and-tough Jeep with a front-wheel-drive Compass? Simple - you get official, Jeep-brand spray-on mud.
Set to be offered to customers from April 1 as a no-cost option, the spray-on mud will come in three flavours, according to Jeep. "Customers will be able to select one of three new mud finishes - Clay, Soil and Silt - each developed over the last 12 months by a specialist in-house team of soil scientists," said a Jeep spokesperson.
Three different appearances
"The Clay finish recreates the sticky, smooth, dense look of a Jeep that has just effortlessly traversed a riverbed. The Soil mud finish is reminiscent of a deep forest, rich with colour and moisture. Lastly, Silt is sprinkled with granular rock, fashioning the post-Moab desert drive appearance."
Jeep has spent millions of dollars developing new spray booths for their mud applique to get the right effect, ensuring: "the entirety of the vehicle is covered with an even spread of mud." Jeep refers to the process as 'mudification.'
This spray-tan mud includes a resin that sets hard and stays on the car, but if you want to smarten things up a bit, you can have your Compass put through the 'de-mudification' process.
Chief mud officer
Jeep's CMO (Chief Mud Officer) Dr Terry Firma, who led the development programme, said: "We've always known that a Jeep looks best when it's muddy, so now our future customers can have the 'been exploring' look from the start. There are few vehicles that can pull off the mud look, but the Jeep Compass is certainly one of them. The Compass looks just as good covered entirely in mud as it does sparkling clean."
The brand has developed the "Mud-On" aftermarket package for existing Jeep owners. The Mud-On package includes a 15-litre container of Clay, Soil and Silt alongside a mud trowel so customers can apply the classic Jeep off-road look at home. The pack, priced at £36 in the UK and which doesn't have an Irish price yet, will ensure total coverage for up to six months and are available to order online or via Jeep dealerships.
(Best to check the date of this article before you do that...)