Jeep reveals the long-awaited $ 111,000 Grand Wagoneer SUV

DETROIT – Jeep’s highly anticipated Grand Wagoneer SUV will push the quintessential off-road brand even further in luxury vehicles with a fully loaded model reaching $ 111,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

The new three-tier SUV will test whether Jeep can expand its product range to the lucrative luxury SUV segment and attract new customers like Cadillac, Lincoln and Land Rover. Jeep has transformed its SUVs into a full line of vehicles in recent years, amid a stream of new competitors.

The Grand Wagoneer will be the premium sibling of a cheaper SUV called Wagoneer, which will start at $ 57,995. Both vehicles are the same size, but the Grand Wagoneer – starting at $ 86,995 – features a slightly different exterior design, a more powerful engine and exclusive interior amenities. Both vehicles are scheduled to be revealed online on Thursday.

“Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were born from Jeep, but their character is different from the rest of the brand,” said Jeep CEO Christian Meunier during a press conference before the inauguration. “They are modern and forward-looking. We are building pure DNA to make these products absolutely unique.”

Although the exterior of the Grand Wagoneer is unmistakably a Jeep, the interior of the SUV may seem unrecognizable to current owners. It has up to 75 inches of screen, including a 10.25-inch touch screen available in front of the passenger that can stream videos and Amazon Fire TV and control certain functions, such as navigation and external cameras.

The interior of the vehicle also features premium materials, such as American Satin walnut, aluminum and Nappa or 24-seat electric seats finished in Palermo leather.

“You can face the interior of this Grand Wagoneer against anything on the market,” Jim Morrison, head of Jeep’s North American operations. “I’m not just saying SUVs, you can compare that to anything on the market.”

Overall, the Wagoneer has less standard features and premium materials compared to the Grand Wagoneer. For example, the cheapest Wagoneer features screens up to 50 inches compared to 75 inches. Some of the screens are smaller and do not offer touch screens for comfort settings. Amazon Fire TV is available on both, as well as a passenger’s touchscreen, which is blocked from the driver’s view through a filter.

Jeep said that both Wagoneer models will eventually offer a driver assistance system on “approved roads”. The vehicles will be launched with a driver assistance system that will be able to control the vehicle’s speed, braking and spacing between other vehicles, but drivers will need to keep their hands on the steering wheel.

Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are expected to arrive at dealerships in the second half of 2021, including a flagship Grand Wagoneer Series III model that starts at $ 103,995. Jeep is receiving refundable deposits of $ 500 for both vehicles through the Jeep website as of Thursday.

Jeep dealers must be certified to sell the models. Certification includes training and an undisclosed investment. They must deliver on 10 “promises” to Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer owners, ranging from free Wi-Fi and car washing on service visits to an “efficient, high-tech sales and service experience”. The automaker will also offer 24-hour customer support to owners.

“Customer satisfaction with the product and how they are treated throughout the purchase process is critical to the entire Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer experience,” said Meunier.

The names Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer were previously used by Jeep for large SUVs from 1963 until 1991. The company had promised to revive the Wagoneer name for almost a decade as a way to compete better in the highly profitable segment of large SUVs.

The seven- or eight-passenger vehicles are largely based on a concept version of the vehicle that the company unveiled last year. The concept featured similar design elements, as well as many of the interior features and screens. Notable elements missing from the concept include an illuminated grille, glass roof and plug-in hybrid gasoline electric motor.

Jeep announced that all of its new models will offer some form of electrification, such as the plug-in hybrid system, however, executives declined to comment on alternative power trains for the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer. Meunier said the brand “has an electrification plan”.

Jeep’s new parent company, Stellantis – the product of a $ 52 billion merger between automakers Fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA – plans to offer a range of all-electric or hybrid vehicles by 2025.

The Wagoneer comes standard with a moderate 5.7-liter hybrid V-8 with 392 horsepower and 404 foot-pounds of torque. The Grand Wagoneer is standard with the 6.4-liter V-8 engine with 471 horsepower and 455 foot-pounds of torque. Each engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The hybrid engine has a 48-volt battery to provide better fuel economy and faster acceleration, in addition to other benefits.

Jeep has not released fuel economy estimates for vehicles.