Jeep Grand Wagoneer to tackle Range Rover

[Jimmyb]

The Range Rover-rivalling Jeep Grand Wagoneer is due in 2018 and could push Jeep into the 80k price bracket

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer luxury SUV is moving closer to reality with Jeep planing to push its brand into the premium SUV space occupied by the likes of the Range Rover, Porsche's Cayenne and BMW's X5 in Europe.

Speaking at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Jeep boss Mike Manley outlined that while Jeep will be exploring smaller SUVs, the brand would also like to bring back the Wagoneer as a luxury model to sit at the top of the range.

He told us “the Grand Wagoneer concept is moving forward. It’s an exciting nameplate to bring back, I think.”

Manley believes a Grand Wagoneer can compete with the Range Rover and models like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, adding “I don’t think there’s a maximum price ceiling per se for Jeep. If you look at the upper end of the segment in the US, for me, the Grand Wagoneer done well can compete all the way through this segment.

“I’ll use US dollars, but pushing the car up to $130,000 to $140,000 [more than £100,000] may be possible, but we need to establish Grand Wagoneer in its own right first. That’s why I wouldn’t say there’s price ceiling.”

Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2015, Manley had previously explained that Jeep has proven it can operate in the $45,000-plus market in North America, but at the moment it only has one model in the $60,000-plus market: the Grand Cherokee SRT. The transaction price of the Grand Cherokee is increasing, suggesting there is demand for a more premium model.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is likely to share a number of components with the forthcoming Maserati Levante SUV. If that is the case, Jeep could choose from a wide range of engines destined for Maserati models, including 3.0-litre V6 diesels and a turbocharged 3.8-litre V8. There’ll be more special Jeeps coming to Europe, too, with sportier SRT and Trackhawk versions of Jeep models in the pipeline.

Can Jeep challenge the Range Rover for luxury SUV sales in the UK? Give us your view in the comments...

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[LeighP]

That market segment is about brand/badge desirability as much as it is about performance.
Given the ability of the product to deliver the goods, it'll all come down to a smart advertising program that plays on the Jeep heritage and cachet.

[spoondog]

Also people buying in that price bracket expect excellent aftersales service, if Fiat Chrysler don't pick up their act in that department it will sink the Grand Wagoneer very quickly.

[Tyvokka]

Originally Posted by spoondog

Also people buying in that price bracket expect excellent aftersales service, if Fiat Chrysler don't pick up their act in that department it will sink the Grand Wagoneer very quickly.

Quite true. Jeep dealerships, after sales service sucks