Jeep Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer reveals 2018 Grand Commander,Jeep Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer to follow Wrangler in big sales push
- The carmaker claims this engine is capable of churning out 237PS or 269PS depending on the trim level.Jeep, the iconic American SUV manufacturer, has unveiled the China-only 2018 Grand Commander SUV on its website. Jeep is likely to launch it at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show in April this year. Here’s what it has to offer.
Judging from the images, we have to say it shares a lot of design cues with the Jeep Yuntu Concept that was displayed last year. However, the fancy plug-in hybrid kit, the suicide doors and the drone tech seen in the concept have been given a miss. The Grand Commander has a long wheelbase and looks sharp with its clean lines, slim LED headlamps and taillights along with the chrome-finished 7-slat grille. It also features a panoramic sunroof and long roof rails. In short, it looks like an extended version of the Grand Cherokee, albeit with a tighter and more youthful skin.
Jeep’s Chinese website states that the Grand Commander will be powered by a potent 2.0-litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. The carmaker claims this engine is capable of churning out 237PS or 269PS depending on the trim level. Now, a 2.0-litre unit may seem like a small engine for such a big vehicle, but considering how China imposes heavy taxes on cars with bigger engines, this move makes sense.
Although Jeep has only revealed sketches of the SUV, it has said that the Grand Commander will cost upwards of $38,000 (Rs 24 lakh) in the Chinese market. This could mean that the production version is not so far away. However, whether it will be sold in other markets such as the US, the UK and India still remains a mystery. But considering the success of the Compass in our market, we will keep our fingers crossed and hope for some good news from Jeep. 
Jeep’s boss says the new Wrangler is "future-proof"
Jeep will follow the launch of the new Wrangler with an all-new Cherokee, its first pick-up and the return of the Grand Wagoneer by 2020, by which point the firm will also offer a plug-in hybrid version of every model in its range.
The US brand is the world’s largest SUV maker and is using the launch of its most iconic model, the Wrangler – replaced for the first time since 2006 – as a springboard for further growth towards annual sales of two million, up from 1.4m in 2016.
Speaking to Autocar during the Wrangler’s launch at last year's Los Angeles motor show, Jeep boss Mike Manley confirmed the new models due in the next three years, with the period beyond 2020 likely to include the firm’s first electric car.
First, Jeep is about to launch the Compass in the UK. Manley calls it the latest “compounding building block” around boosting the brand in the UK and mainland Europe, the star example being the firm’s most successful model, the Renegade. Manley said the new Compass, a Nissan Qashqai - sized model, is “crucial” for the brand as it competes in Europe’s largest segment.
It will be followed this time next year by an all-new Cherokee, which sits above the Compass in Jeep’s range. Also in 2018, Jeep will launch a mild-hybrid 48V version of every model in its line-up. Each will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and mild-hybrid system that allows for improved torque delivery for off-road driving, better fuel economy and quieter on-road manners, according to Manley.
By 2020, Jeep will have launched a plug-in hybrid version of every model in its range, including the Wrangler, the standard version of which will reach the UK next year.
Manley wouldn’t be drawn on the arrival of pure-electric models but said they were inevitable given how economy regulations around the world are tightening.
Jeep has recently launched a 679bhp Trackhawk version of its Grand Cherokee, which, Manley said, is important to give a “halo effect” to the range. The marque also plans to offer customers more luxurious versions of its cars, including more models in premium Summit trim and a return of the range-topping Grand Wagoneer seven-seater in 2020, a year after the launch of its first pick-up.
Q&A Mike Manley, CEO, Jeep:
How important is the new Wrangler to Jeep?
“The Wrangler can trace its lineage back to 1941. It was not only the start of the brand, but the mainstay of the brand. It’s recognised around the world as an American icon. It’s the very embodiment of the brand. It’s the authenticity, the freedom and adrenaline, and connection to the outside. It’s cherished, so you can see how important it is to get the next-generation car right.”
What’s changed with it?
“It’s completely new. We started from scratch. It’s 9% more aerodynamic. It’s been future-proofed – not just for new, advanced powertrains, but for aero, weight. We started with the frame and redid it completely. We redid the capability [off-road attributes]. We improved the on-road ride and handling and redesigned the engines for significant fuel economy improvements. The tech in today’s car was from 2006, so we had to redo that without being intrusive on what Wrangler stands for. The engineers did a good job. We can take Wrangler well into the 2020s.”
How do you rate your performance in Europe?
“With the Renegade growing in Europe, we are where we want to be. We have yet to complete the roll-out in Europe of Compass, which is in Europe’s biggest segment. In 2018, I’m looking for significant growth on 2017.”
The US brand is the world’s largest SUV maker and is using the launch of its most iconic model, the Wrangler – replaced for the first time since 2006 – as a springboard for further growth towards annual sales of two million, up from 1.4m in 2016.
Speaking to Autocar during the Wrangler’s launch at last year's Los Angeles motor show, Jeep boss Mike Manley confirmed the new models due in the next three years, with the period beyond 2020 likely to include the firm’s first electric car.
First, Jeep is about to launch the Compass in the UK. Manley calls it the latest “compounding building block” around boosting the brand in the UK and mainland Europe, the star example being the firm’s most successful model, the Renegade. Manley said the new Compass, a Nissan Qashqai - sized model, is “crucial” for the brand as it competes in Europe’s largest segment.
It will be followed this time next year by an all-new Cherokee, which sits above the Compass in Jeep’s range. Also in 2018, Jeep will launch a mild-hybrid 48V version of every model in its line-up. Each will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and mild-hybrid system that allows for improved torque delivery for off-road driving, better fuel economy and quieter on-road manners, according to Manley.
By 2020, Jeep will have launched a plug-in hybrid version of every model in its range, including the Wrangler, the standard version of which will reach the UK next year.
Manley wouldn’t be drawn on the arrival of pure-electric models but said they were inevitable given how economy regulations around the world are tightening.
Jeep has recently launched a 679bhp Trackhawk version of its Grand Cherokee, which, Manley said, is important to give a “halo effect” to the range. The marque also plans to offer customers more luxurious versions of its cars, including more models in premium Summit trim and a return of the range-topping Grand Wagoneer seven-seater in 2020, a year after the launch of its first pick-up.
Q&A Mike Manley, CEO, Jeep:
How important is the new Wrangler to Jeep?
“The Wrangler can trace its lineage back to 1941. It was not only the start of the brand, but the mainstay of the brand. It’s recognised around the world as an American icon. It’s the very embodiment of the brand. It’s the authenticity, the freedom and adrenaline, and connection to the outside. It’s cherished, so you can see how important it is to get the next-generation car right.”
What’s changed with it?
“It’s completely new. We started from scratch. It’s 9% more aerodynamic. It’s been future-proofed – not just for new, advanced powertrains, but for aero, weight. We started with the frame and redid it completely. We redid the capability [off-road attributes]. We improved the on-road ride and handling and redesigned the engines for significant fuel economy improvements. The tech in today’s car was from 2006, so we had to redo that without being intrusive on what Wrangler stands for. The engineers did a good job. We can take Wrangler well into the 2020s.”
How do you rate your performance in Europe?
“With the Renegade growing in Europe, we are where we want to be. We have yet to complete the roll-out in Europe of Compass, which is in Europe’s biggest segment. In 2018, I’m looking for significant growth on 2017.”
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