Fiat Chrysler presents new Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV

DETROIT – Fiat Chrysler is expanding its popular Jeep Grand Cherokee line with a new three-line model, which the company believes will increase the vehicle’s appeal in an increasingly competitive SUV market.

The Grand Cherokee L marks the fifth generation of the SUV since its debut almost 30 years ago. A three-row Jeep has been under construction for more than a decade. Jeep left the segment in 2010 after poor sales of a vehicle called Commander.

“There is high demand for a three-tier Grand Cherokee. We know that we are going to do extremely well,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep’s global president, during a press conference. “We will greatly improve our leadership.”

The 2021 Grand Cherokee L is recognizable as a Jeep, but features a new exterior design with horizontal LED daytime running lights, a wider seven-slot grille and other design elements that debuted last year in the company’s Grand Wagoneer SUV concept. It is built from a new Fiat Chrysler vehicle architecture, which will also support a redesigned two-line Grand Cherokee and a new plug-in hybrid version.

Fiat Chrysler said the three-row vehicle will go on sale in the second quarter, followed later this year by the two-row and plug-in models. The company has refused to release prices for the L model, but is likely to be above the current Grand Cherokee for $ 34,000 and below the next Wagoneer, a larger three-tier SUV that is due to start selling this year from around US $ 60,000.

Meunier said there will be a “significant differentiation” between the three-row Grand Cherokee model and the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer model, a luxury jeep that will reach $ 100,000.

By the end of next year, Jeep is expected to expand its line of vehicles from six to nine, including the Grand Cherokee L and Wagoneer vehicles.

The Grand Cherokee L will come standard with a 3.6 liter V-6 engine with 290 horsepower and 257 lb. of torque. A 5.7-liter V-8 engine rated at 357 horsepower and 390 foot-pounds of torque will also be available. The company said the new Grand Cherokee will offer hands-free steering technology in late 2021 on 2022 model vehicles.

The interior of the Grand Cherokee L features 8.4 or 10.1-inch touch screens, as well as a 10.25-inch frameless digital driver information screen behind the steering wheel. It will offer more than 110 safety and security features, including 360 degree surround vision and night vision cameras, according to the company. It will be available in six and seven seat configurations.

The next generation of the Grand Cherokee models will be built at a new assembly plant that the company is finishing in Detroit. Fiat Chrysler invested $ 1.6 billion to build a 790,000 square foot paint shop and to convert the two original Mack Avenue engine plants into the new assembly plant.