Jeep has committed to a right-hand drive future and has big plans for the Australian market. And they don’t come much bigger than chasing down the most notable names in the luxury car segment – but that’s the American brand’s plan.
Jeep Brand CEO Christian Meunier has confirmed that the Wagoneer nameplate will be introduced in Australia, beginning with the recently-revealed all-electric model, currently-known as the Wagoneer S.
This all-electric SUV is being positioned as a premium, battery-powered alternative to the Range Rover Sport, expanding the range of models with the nameplate, which currently includes the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in the US market.
In fact, Mr Meunier believes the new Wagoneer S has the potential to replace the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which is powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8.
“The Wagoneer S is in Trackhawk territory,” he said. “That’s the kind of performance you’re going to get. With electrification there’s so much you can do with an EV, there’s almost no limit.”
While no official specifications have been confirmed, Jeep said in its reveal of the Wagoneer S that it is targeting a dual-motor powertrain with 447kW which would allow for a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of just 3.5 seconds. It would do this while also having a range of 600km, assuming Jeep’s engineers can live up to expectations.
In the US, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer have been on sale since 2021 as upper-large SUVs that sit above the Grand Cherokee. The return of the Wagoneer name was first announced by the late Sergio Marchionne back in 2011 so it took nearly a decade for these luxury-focused SUVs to arrive.
There are currently four options in the US market – the Wagoneer and more premium Grand Wagoneer, as well as long-wheelbase versions with more cabin space, known as the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L. These models are powered by a 6.4-litre V8 or the brand’s new twin-turbo inline six-cylinder petrol engine.
While Mr Meunier ruled out the petrol-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models for Australian sale anytime in the near future, the introduction of the new Wagoneer S will give the Jeep brand a chance to push upmarket, if it can replicate its success in the USA.
The Wagoneer nameplate will be introduced in Australia, beginning with the recently-revealed all-electric model.
“When you look at the success we’re having in the US with the Grand Wagoneer, we’re attracting a lot of Range Rover buyers, [plus] Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz,” he said. “So the cross-shopping is very interesting and we’re seeing people we’ve never seen before in a dealership.”
However, he made it clear that Wagoneer wouldn’t be spun off and made a standalone brand either in the US or Australia, instead it will remain underneath the Jeep umbrella.
“It will be an extension of Jeep, you said like Range Rover is to Land Rover it will be similar,” Mr Meunier explained. “It allows us to also have a more fluid design, we want the Jeep to stay rugged and boxy, with the traditional grille. With the Wagoneer that becomes a bit slicker and more contemporary, very premium, maybe with less trail rating needed.”
But he made it clear these new, more luxurious models wouldn’t be soft, adding that 4×4 will be standard across any Wagoneer model.
Mr Meunier didn’t give any indication on timing for the Wagoneer S to reach Australian showrooms. The SUV is expected in US dealers sometime in 2024, which likely means it won’t be in Australia until mid-way through the decade.
Keyword: Jeep to go after Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus with new range of luxury Wagoneer models in Australia