These new SUVs, equipped with three rows of seats and many leather and wood upholstery, will come in a variety of styles and with prices ranging from $ 68,000 for the Wagoneer to more than $ 100,000 for the more expensive and opulent version. of the Grand Wagoner.
After being out of production for almost 30 years, these new models signal a long-awaited return for the Wagoneer brand. They put Jeep, a brand based on its relationship with the famous World War II SUV, in direct competition with Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW. All of these recognized luxury brands manufacture full-size SUVs in roughly the same price range, though lower-priced Wagoneer models will be a little more affordable.
The Grand Wagoneer will compete better against American rivals, the Lincoln Navigator and the Cadillac Escalade, said Akshay Anand, a car industry analyst at Kelley Blue Book. It could also attract customers to Britain’s Range Rover, another brand known for its off-road skills.
He had more difficulty competing with luxury SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, he said, because buyers of these SUVs value things like brand prestige beyond the robustness of the Wagoneer.
Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will also offer Amazon Fire TV Auto, a version of Amazon Fire TV software customized for use in a vehicle. Passengers will be able to stream or watch previously downloaded movies.
The most fully equipped Grand Wagoneer, the Premium III Series version, it will come with 22-inch wheels, a 23-speaker McIntosh stereo system, 10-inch screens for rear passengers, and a center storage center console at the front, among other features.
The Wagoneer will feature a 392-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine with a smooth, fuel-saving hybrid system. A small electric motor will help the gasoline engine to accelerate and restart after a stop. Electric motor batteries are recharged during braking and by the motor.
The look of the Wagoneer, however, is very similar to the conceptual version.
The interiors shown by Stellantis designers feature many wood paneling, for example. During a video presentation to reporters, Jeep executives boasted of the amount of real wood and metal – instead of the metal-coated plastic – used in the Grand Wagoner. Unlike the classic Grand Wagoner, however, the new version will have no wood on the outside of the vehicle.
The front seat controls are on the door, so the sides of the seat can show the name Grand Wagoner. The names of the vehicles are usually engraved on the so-called floor plate on the bottom of the door opening. But the designers were concerned that if it was located there, the name would get dirty and muddy.
SUVs will be available with air suspension that can lift them up to 10 inches off the ground for off-road driving. They will be able to drive up to two feet of water, Stellantis said.
The first Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs will hit dealerships in the second half of this year, according to Stellantis.
The original Wagoneer was introduced in 1962. Although based on a truck chassis, the Wagoneer was much more sleek 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 available with automatic transmission. Rather, he introduced the modern concept of an SUV as a family vehicle what something just for farmers and hunters. The Grand Wagoner became a different line of models in 1984. Production ended in 1991 in the face of rising gas prices.