Jeep has bolstered its lineup with a pickup truck and more crossover
offerings, but one product that has been sorely missing from the range
is a three-row SUV. Soon, FCA will remedy that by bringing back the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
nameplates for two SUVs slotting above the Grand Cherokee. Jeep has
kept details on the upcoming large SUVs close to the chest, including
what they will look like—but we can guess. These renderings are intended
to provide an idea what the real-deal Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer may
look like when they arrive in two years.
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| © Automobile Magazine Staff |
Though the SUV's overall shape is reminiscent of the Grand Cherokee,
the Wagoneer is expected to be body-on-frame, sharing components with
the Ram 1500.
We've spied unusual Ram prototypes testing nearby that we believe to be
mules for the Wagoneer. In some photos of those vehicles you can barely
make out the truck's rear independent suspension. Swapping the Ram's
rear live axle out for an independent setup should grant more passenger
space in the third row as well as a more luxury-oriented ride. The
Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be built at FCA's Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, alongside the new Ram HD.
Our rendering draws heavily from the Jeep Yuntu concept, which was shown a couple years back at the Shanghai auto show. That concept eventually became the Grand Commander,
a seven-seat crossover only sold in China. Still, many of the Yuntu's
styling elements could influence the design of the truck-based Jeep
Wagoneer. One thing we know the two will have in common is a
plug-in-hybrid drivetrain. In its five-year plan,
FCA revealed that the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer would get plug-in
hybrid variants. As for other engine options, the Wagoneer could share
some of its powertrains with the Ram 1500. Likely candidates include the
3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, possibly with eTorque
mild hybrid assistance. The Wagoneer siblings could also get the latest version of the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6, which packs 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.
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| © Automobile Magazine Staff |
