Spy shots of the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer.
Jeep plans to launch a large luxury SUV to compete with the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.
The new full-size SUV will revive the Jeep Wagoneer name and will have both a standard Wagoneer and a larger, plusher Grand Wagoneer.
A prototype of the Wagoneer was spotted; it is expected to hit the market in 2021 as a 2022 model. The Grand Wagoneer should arrive around the same time.
Even with its heavily camouflaged equipment, the Wagoneer already looks big and bold. Jeep's traditional multi-slat grille appears to poke through the camouflage gear, and the large, square wheel arches are also visible. One photo with the Grand Cherokee in view shows the relative size of the new Wagoneer. Huge.
Another shot gives a glimpse of the interior, which features a large infotainment screen in the center of the dash. This is probably the same 12-inch touchscreen display found on the latest Ram 1500 pickup truck. The Wagoneer's cabin is expected to feature three rows of seats, providing space for seven or perhaps eight passengers.
The platform is a body-on-frame design found on the latest Ram pickups. The Wagoneer will feature an independent rear suspension for added comfort.
Under the hood, the Wagoneer will likely be offered at launch with either a 3.6-liter V-6 and mild hybrid setup or a 5.7-liter V-8. A plug-in hybrid option is also planned, and a high-performance option with a Hellcat 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 may eventually be available. The Hellcat engine is known to be designed for this platform, as it will be used in the Ram 1500-level TRX, which is also scheduled for launch in 2022.
An eight-speed automatic should be standard on all models, and buyers will probably be able to choose rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Jeep has never offered a luxury SUV, but the brand name is well known and perhaps more recognizable than some of its rivals in emerging markets. This presents an opportunity for FCA to introduce a luxury Jeep, even though the Jeep brand is not a category in which it expects to compete.
SUV sales continue to grow strongly worldwide, with luxury models accounting for about half of these sales. Manufacturers such as Aston Martin, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce have also entered the segment.
Production of the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer takes place at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Michigan. The plant currently produces the previous generation Ram 1500, which will eventually be switched to Jeep SUVs.
Before the Wagoneer arrives, Jeep will introduce a redesigned Grand Cherokee.