Electric Wrangler concept revealed

Jeep hits the electric trail with a design study that mixes battery-pure drive with a manual transmission.

 A FULLY electric Wrangler is among concepts Jeep has revealed ahead of an annual brand event in the United States where it traditionally serves up concepts of potential production fare.

The Magneto, if brought into the showroom, would conceivably place as the next-step alternate to a plug-in hybrid Wrangler, the 4xe, that the maker already avails to its customers as an introduction to electric-assisted driving.

That product is restricted to North America so though Jeep’s New Zealand distributor has previously expressed some broad interest in taking an alternate to the purely fossil fuel-reliant range it offers, it also accepts that cannot occur until the battery-assisted programme includes right hand drive.

The Jeep Magneto features a solitary electric motor that generates 210kW and 370Nm of torque, powered by a 70kWh battery. The battery capacity is split up into four separate units mounted around the vehicle’s body to keep weight balanced and help off-road performance.

Jeep’s 2021 concepts are, from left, the Red Bare, the Magneto, Jeepster Beach and Orange Peelz

This output should mean the Magneto can sprint from 0-100kmh in 6.8 seconds, according to Jeep’s claims. The brand hasn’t published a figure for the Magneto’s range, it’s conjected such a battery system should allow for around 338 kilometres between charges.

Unusually for an electric vehicle, the Magneto features a six-speed manual gearbox. Jeep says the system is being set up for the motor to collect regenerated power as the driver eases off the accelerator when the clutch is engaged.

The Jeep Magneto was one of four concepts revealed ahead of the traditional Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, which starts on March 27 and runs until April 4.

The other concepts – the Jeep Red Bare, Jeep Orange Peelz and Jeepster Beach - and are a mixture of modern and traditional.

The first is cast in the mould of an ultra-rugged edition, with V6 turbodiesel power. The Peelz is more about turning heads; this concept does away with the side and rear windows, and uses prototype JPP half doors and a removable one-piece glass sunroof. The Beach, meanwhile, is a homage to a 1968 car that was a classic in the US, the C101 Commando. It runs a modified 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 255kW and 500Nm of torque, about 25 percent more power than the production version of that engine.

New Grand Cherokee purely petrol

Gone are the days of the diesel-powered big Jeep wagon.

 PURELY petrol power, ultimately with hybrid assistance – but no diesel. 

That’s the drivetrain story for the next generation of Jeep’s Grand Cherokee.

 The brand’s global boss has related this to media in Australia during a briefing in which Christian Meunier also said the new model will be in this neighbourhood around August.

 It’s initially in the seven-seat Grand Cherokee L format that the brand unveiled on January 7 but followed in time by a smaller version replicating the current five-chair formula.

The only engine that will avail for some time is the carryover 3.6-litre 'Pentastar' petrol V6, which in US-spec guise is good for 216kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

A plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee '4xe' offering a boost of torque via electric assistance is due in 2022, although details of that driveline are yet to be confirmed by Jeep.

And rumours persist that Jeep will still format future product in V8 petrol SRT form. 

But the days of drawing from the dark side of the forecourt are over.

The current 3.0-litre diesel V6, sourced from VM Motori and making 184kW/ 570Nm, won’t continue on – a blow, undoubtedly, to NZ customers, who heavily favoured it unless they were buying into the SRT formula.

Meunier told Aussie media Jeep is hellbent on becoming a market leader in electrified SUVs – a comment that very much suggests that where Grand Cherokee is going, all other products that presently offer with diesel might also be expected to follow.

 He asserts customers will love having a Grand Cherokee without compression ignition, saying the incoming engines will continue the tradition of providing plenty of power and that the hybrid will be good at towing.

“Towing is core to Jeep, so we wouldn’t compromise on it; we’ve tested Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4XE. Towing is at least as good as with an ICE engine,” Australian website Practical Motoring reports him as saying. 

He enforces electrification is not just about lowering emissions.  

“With electrification on products like Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, we’re able to deliver more capability off-road, more fun to drive, strong towing capacity, strong torque, and eco-friendly technology. So we believe that’s the perfect world for Jeep. 

“To also be able to drive on electric-only for commuting is hell of an experience and we strongly believe in it. So we’re very, very committed to electrification.” 

Jeep is not alone in placing hybrid, and specifically plug-in hybrid tech, to the large SUV and off-road segments. Range Rover has had a PHEV model in the market for more than a year. Also, the replacement for Toyota’s venerable Land Cruiser 200 Series is dropping V8 turbodiesel oomph for petrol V6 and petrol V6 hybrid drivetrains.  

The Jeep announcement ends a week that began with the official completion of the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA, into a 14-brand Stellantis supergroup.

The repercussion, if any, on distributor agreements in New Zealand for the Stellantis brands that come here has not been explained.

Ateco Group - which represents Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and RAM – and Autodistributors NZ (which has Peugeot, DS and Citroen) – have been silent on the matter.

Gen five Jeep Grand Cherokee revealed

New ‘L’ model is the first to offer third row seating.

SEATING for six or seven passengers across three rows, at least two powertrain options, three different drive systems, air suspension and loads of new technology.

Those are among highlights of a Jeep that has been the longest-time coming, a new Grand Cherokee. 

The fifth generation car, called the Grand Cherokee L, has been revealed today in the United States, with comment about New Zealand market provision and launch timing yet to come from distributor Ateco, though on that front talk is that Australia will see it around August-September. By that time, Fiat Chrysler will have been subsumed into a new marriage, with Peugeot parent PSA, under the Stellantis brand name. 

Codenamed 'WL75', the Grand Cherokee L is expected to be sold alongside the current five-seater WK2 Grand Cherokee that has been on sale here since 2011.

Remarkably, the WK2 is expected to slog on for another two years, according to overseas’ reports, before it also switches to the L’s all-new unibody platform.

However, in the interim, it’s likely Jeep will also produce the properly new model in a five-seat format. That edition is expected to go into production before the end of 2021, offering first in North America, which will also be the first candidate for a plug-in hybrid variant.

Jeep and parent Fiat Chrysler are emphasising that the information availed internationally today is specific to North America; more information about international plans will be delivered in due course.

Americans see the Grand Cherokee L in Laredo, Limited, Overland and Summit trims, the latter also reaching to a extra-spiffy Summit Reserve package that puts it on super-sized 21 inch rims (Overland and Summit are on 20s, the others on 18s) and adds glam trimmings Jeep admits are as unsited to off-roading as those big hoops.

The general shape has been inspired by the Grand Wagoneer luxury SUV, revealed late last year in concept form.

Powertrain options for the American market initially restrict to the 216kW/350Nm 3.6-litre 'Pentastar' V6 and 266kW/530Nm 5.7-litre Hemi V8 petrol engines.

The new platform is said to be stronger and lighter than the fourth-generation WK2 Grand Cherokee, with more than 60 percent of the body comprising high-strength steel.

Off-road hardware comes in three varieties, ranging from a single-speed transfer case up to a 2.72:1 low-range reduction and rear electronic limited-slip differential.

There is more off-road ground clearance and water fording capability compared with previous generations, and Jeep’s own ‘Quadra-lift' air suspension is touted to return, joined by adaptive dampers to improve on-road and off-road dynamics.

The Quadra-lift system will also improve off-road ground clearance through an adjustable ride height, with up to 277mm in its highest mode.

A 36mm wider wheel track will improve the stance of the Grand Cherokee L, as well as benefitting off-road stability.

Grand Cherokee L safety technologies include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera and a 360-degree camera.

The model has a digital rear view mirror, 10.25-inch digital instrument display, 10-inch infotainment display, heads-up display and up to twelve USB-A and USB-C power outlets.

 The 10-inch screen runs FCA's Android Automotive-based Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 19-speaker sound system.

Wham bam grand slam ‘super’ Ram for right-hand drive

Australian website says the 523kW TRX monster model is among variants of the new-gen Ram 1500 that’ll be on sale next year.

 RAM-BUNCTIOUS stomp is part of the scenario when New Zealand switches across to the latest generation of Fiat Chrysler’s giant pick-up truck – with confirmation that the TRX supercharged flagship is in the mix. 

The monster truck rival to the Ford F150 Raptor is powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 – shared with the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – with an astonishing output of 523kW and 881Nm.

 Even though the TRX is bluff, massive and weighs 2.7 tonnes, Ram claims it’ll still hammer out the 0-100kmh dash in 4.5 seconds and the quarter mile (400m) run in 12.9 seconds at 174kmh. Top speed is rated at 189kmh. That makes it one of the world’s fastest production pick-ups.

Talk of the TRX being in the mix comes as production transition from the Ram 1500 offered brand-new to Kiwis now – the old DS generation model that still circulates Stateside, but as a ‘classic’ variant – to the latest ‘DT series’ RAM 1500 that introduced to America over a year ago is all but complete.  

The Melbourne facility where factory-fresh product is converted into right-hand-drive format for New Zealand and Australia is deep into re-jigging for the new model, which is far more advanced than the one Kiwis are enjoying – and still can. DS availability will continue, in a lower price slot than DT, which can be expected to deliver with a bigger sticker than the current range carries, a reflection of it being vastly more modern. Regardless, with DT comes a new opportunity that’s sure to create extra excitement.

According to Australia’s CarAdvice website, the TRX has been signed off for right-hook reconfiguration, initially as a limited production run from next year. Two are arriving within weeks for early tooling and engineering work.

The website says Ram Trucks Australia has advised its dealers to initially expect a limited run of 200 to 250 vehicles priced between $NZ189,000 and $NZ210,000 – making it the priciest Ram ever offered here, assuming it will be.

 New Zealand’s Ram distributor, Ateco, has yet to speak about the programme and whether it is involved. Given the interest in Ram here, however, it’s difficult to imagine why they wouldn’t want to be.

Safety auditor pummels Gladiator

Designed to take all that Nature can throw at it, the Jeep Gladiator has taken a punishing blow from our crash-testing agency.

THREE stars: Jeep’s first production ute sold here, the Gladiator, has been given the same middling crash test score by the national vehicle safety auditor as the Wrangler it is based off.

In determining this result, the Australasian New Vehicle Assessment Programme – aka ANCAP – has noted that the same “structural issues” that kept Wrangler from doing better are also pinning back the just-released traydeck variant. 

In a report issued today, it has also highlighted a lack of protection for other road users, pedestrians and cyclists.

The model’s safety assessment from the New Zealand Government-funding and NZ Automobile Association-supported independent testing agency hasn’t come from putting a Gladiator to the sword in its Melbourne laboratory.

No direct testing was carried out by ANCAP. Rather, it has applied the same rating it awarded the Wrangler last December, when the addition of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and blind spot monitoring lifted that model’s safety rating from one star to three.

Gladiator’s test result was based on how the Wrangler performed in 2019.

Gladiator versions has AEB as standard, however ANCAP criticised it for a lack of pedestrian and cyclist detection or lane keeping assist.

According to the safety report, the Wrangler/Gladiator bonnet affords only 'poor' or 'adequate' protection to the head of a struck pedestrian over most of its surface.

"Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is available on the Jeep Gladiator; however, the system is not designed to react to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists," the report states.

Plus, ANCAP said, the model has the same “structural issues” it found with the Wrangler.

As the vehicles share the same core structural underpinnings, engine configuration and restraint package – and therefore provide similar structural crash performance – the ute was awarded the same sub-standard scores in all key testing areas. 

These include 60 percent for adult occupant protection, 49 percent for vulnerable road user protection and 51 per cent for Safety Assist.

 “The structural issues we saw with the originally-tested Wrangler also apply to the Gladiator including A-pillar and cross-fascia beam failure, footwell intrusion, high seatbelt loads and excessive pedal movement. These remain an increased risk for occupants,” said ANCAP director of communications and advocacy, Rhianne Robson. 

“Consumers have come to expect a high level of safety regardless of price-point and market segment. 

“Safety should remain a priority in all vehicle purchases, and this is no different for a vehicle of this type – particularly at this price-point,” Robson added.

In response, Jeep’s distributor in Australia has cited that the Gladiator “is a specialist off-road performance vehicle that has more than 70 advanced safety systems.

"This includes front and side airbags, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, parking sensors, a rear-view camera and autonomous emergency braking."

Jeep’s New Zealand distributor, Ateco Group, has yet to comment.