New Jeep Grand Commander isn’t coming to America but it still reveals insight into new American Jeeps
If you’ve been waiting for a new Jeep crossover or SUV to hit Jeep dealerships near you, you’ll have to wait a little longer. The automaker recently announced that its new plus-size Jeep Grand Commander SUV will only be released in the Chinese market.
“The Jeep Grand Commander is a seven-seater SUV developed for China,” an FCA representative told automotive publication The Drive in a recent email. “The Jeep Grand Commander will be produced in Changsha and targets the growing seven-seater SUV segment in this market, offering a four-wheel-drive system and a 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine. The Jeep Grand Commander will be available to customers in China in the first half of 2018.”
While Fox Lake Jeep dealers, unfortunately, won’t be receiving the coveted new vehicle, we can still admire it from afar and hope that the automaker will release a similar SUV for North American drivers in the near future.
For what it’s worth, Jeep critics believe that the Grand Commander’s turbo four-cylinder engine will appear inside the newly refreshed Jeep Cherokee and the all-new Jeep Wrangler when they arrive state-side. The new engine is rated at 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
It’s likely that the Grand Commander offers some insight into what the new body-on-frame Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer will look like–after all, the Grand Commander features a modern, rugged look that seems to exemplify the type of feel Jeep is going for these days. While the Grand Commander certainly offers premium exterior styling, it doesn’t represent a radical shift away from Jeep’s traditional (and beloved) design language. If the new North American Jeep vehicles are anything like the Grand Commander, we think Jeep purists will be pretty satisfied.
After all, Jeep has proven that it isn’t deaf to the demands of the North American market. The automaker recognizes that Jeep drivers are longing for a new three-seater vehicle. The new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are both being developed into seven-seat luxury models. The new SUVs will be built at the Warren Truck Assembly plant in Detroit, Michigan where the Ram 1500 is currently being assembled. The new Wagoneer cars will compete directly with the Chevrolet Tahoe, the Range Rover Sport, and the Range Rover.
While we don’t have much in the way of details when it comes to the new Wagoneer SUVs, we’re confident that they’ll offer plenty of cargo space, advanced safety features, beautiful interior detailing and the kind of classic, tough Jeep exterior design you’ve come to know and love.
Visit your favorite Jeep dealership today for more information on the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer. At Ray Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, our friendly staff is always ready to help you find the perfect Jeep vehicle for your needs.
