Wrangler ute no-go
Chrysler Group focuses on a new one-tonne pick-up instead of Wrangler-based uteA plan to develop a utility version of the Jeep Wrangler appears to have been scrapped in favour of a dedicated one-tonne rival for the likes of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
The Wrangler ute seemed high on the Fiat Chrysler group’s future model agenda when Jeep’s Global Brand President and CEO, Mike Manley, met with Australian motoring press in August.
However, at last week’s local Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 media launch, Fiat Chrysler Group Australia Managing Director Clyde Campbell confirmed the new Wrangler derivative was off the agenda.
“I think the clear decision is that if you are going to have a pick-up it has got to be a metric-tonne pick-up,” Mr Campbell explained. “It’s got to be a beast that ticks a few boxes.”
Jeep does currently offer a ‘JK-8’ utility conversion kit for the current four-door Wrangler, but it is an oddly shaped load space limited to about 800kg, Mr Campbell explained.
“You couldn’t fit a motorcycle in there, for instance,” he said. “It’s a funny sort of configuration. But it looks fantastic.”
Whenever the one-tonner does arrive, it is likely to be based on a new-generation commercial vehicle platform and would probably be shared with the RAM truck and Fiat Professional brands.
Before that distant prospect emerges, Jeep has a significant amount of new and refurbished metal on the way.
A facelifted Grand Cherokee with an eight-speed automatic transmission arrives in mid-2013 and an all-new Cherokee based on the Fiat-developed CUSW (Compact US Wide) architecture is due late the same year.
Beyond a unified replacement for the existing Compass and Patriot compact SUVs in 2014 comes a seven-seater - referred to in the press as Grand Wagoneer – and, by around 2015, a B-segment ‘baby SUV’ rival for the likes of the Ford EcoSport, Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008.
“There’s a lot of product coming for Jeep in the next two or three years,” Mr Campbell confirmed. “If they keep supplying us we will keep selling.”
Year to date, Jeep sales are up more than 120 per cent in Australia.
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