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| Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles |
Celebrating 75 years as a brand in 2020, Jeep has always emphasized versatility in conventional and unconventional means. Though the four-wheel drive and impressive off-road capabilities initially defined Jeep’s identity, there was a long-running marketing push by the marque to present their vehicles as an upscale product that can reach peaks few sedans would reach. Starting in the late 1990s, a growing driving consumer base entered the domain of the Jeep brand.
First appearing in the 1963 model year, the Jeep Wagoneer was a longtime entrant in the sport utility vehicle category as a modern, premium product for its time. Sculpted by highly influential industrial designer Brooks Stevens, the original Jeep Wagoneer presented features attracting urban and suburban dwellers as much as drivers requiring a durable four-wheel drive vehicle. The SJ platform version of the Wagoneer endured the Jeep brand’s ownership by Kaiser Motors, American Motor Corporation and later Chrysler before being discontinued in 1991. A one-year appearance as a luxury level of the Grand Cherokee in 1993 under the Grand Wagoneer moniker was the most recent use of the Jeep signature model. Heading into 2021, the Wagoneer name is once again being set to establish iconic luxury.
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| Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles |
FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) has trumpeted the return of the Wagoneer ahead of a full unveiling on September 3rd with a series of teaser photos. On August 21st, an initial announcement included two images with the wording “Coming September 3 ...” featuring one shot appearing like a grille assembly with lettering W-A-G visible. Two more recent releases from FCA came with additional teaser images coupled with less secretive wording stating the debut a new Wagoneer accompanied with the reveal of an electrified Wrangler 4xe. The second media release also included an overhead shot of what is anticipated to be the new Jeep Wagoneer. Ahead of the official reveal, two facts that are safe to assume are that the Wagoneer will be Jeep’s luxury flagship and has the capacity for three-row seating.
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| Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles |
During FCA Capital Markets Day held back in 2018, the auto company delivered a comprehensive outlook for their business strategy to analysts, investors and media that featured an opening address from CEO Sergio Marchionne (less than two months ahead of his untimely death). Among the announcements made was a road map for Jeep’s 2022 model lineup. Predicting that the crossover utility vehicle market would account for a more sizable portion of their total sales and revenue, FCA intended to greatly expand the Jeep global product range. With a five-vehicle portfolio in 2018, up to eleven products were estimated for the 2022 model year including a pickup truck that has most recently been realized as the Gladiator. Part of the 2022 outlook for the Jeep brand was a new, large scale sport utility vehicle named the Wagoneer.
FCA and Jeep will officially debut the new Wagoneer on a Youtube stream on September 3rd at 9 a.m. EDT.
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