These new SUVs, which feature three rows of seats and plenty of leather and wood trim, will be available in a variety of styles and with prices ranging from $ 68,000 for the Wagoneer to over $ 100,000 for the most expensive and opulent version of the Grand. Wagoneer.
After nearly 30 years out of production, these new models mark a long-awaited return for the Wagoneer brand. They put Jeep, a brand built on its relationship with the famous World War II all-terrain vehicle, in direct competition with Cadillac, among others, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. All of those recognized luxury brands make full-size SUVs in roughly the same price range, although the cheapest Wagoneer models will be a little more affordable.
The Grand Wagoneer will best compete with US rivals, the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade, said Akshay Anand, an auto industry analyst at Kelley Blue Book. It could also attract customers from the British Range Rover, another brand known for its off-road prowess.
It will be more difficult to compete with luxury SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, he said, because buyers of those SUVs appreciate things like the prestige of the brand that go beyond the robustness embodied in the Wagoneer. .
The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will also offer Amazon Fire TV Auto, a version of the Amazon Fire TV software adapted for use in a vehicle. Passengers can stream or watch movies that have been previously downloaded.
The most fully featured Grand Wagoneer, the Series III Premium version, comes with 22-inch wheels, a McIntosh stereo system with 23 speakers, 10-inch screens for the rear passengers and a cooling console in the front center.
The Wagoneer is powered by a 392 horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine with a fuel-saving mild hybrid system. A small electric motor assists the petrol engine during acceleration and when restarting after a stop. Batteries for the electric motor are charged during braking and by the engine.
However, the appearance of the Wagoneer is very similar to the concept version.
Interiors shown by Stellantis designers feature a lot of wood finish, for example. During a video presentation to journalists, Jeep executives bragged about the amount of wood and real metal used in the Grand Wagoneer as opposed to metal-clad plastic. However, unlike the classic Grand Wagoneer, the new version has no wood on the outside of the vehicle.
Front seat controls are located on the door so that the sides of the seat can display the Grand Wagoneer name. Vehicle names are often embossed on what is called a kick plate on the floor at the bottom of the doorway. But designers were concerned that the name would get dirty and muddy if it were there.
The SUVs will be available with air suspension that can raise them up to 25 cm above the ground for off-road driving. They will be able to drive through as much as two feet of water, Stellantis said.
The first SUVs from Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will arrive at dealers in the second half of this year, according to Stellantis.
The original Wagoneer was introduced in 1962. Although based on a truck frame, the Wagoneer was much more stylish and car-like than other early SUVs, such as the Bronco and the International Harvester Scout. It was also the first four-wheel drive vehicle to be available with an automatic transmission. Rather, it introduced the modern concept of an SUV as a family car then something only for farmers and hunters. The Grand Wagoneer became a separate model line in 1984. Production ended in 1991 in the face of rising gas prices.