Jeep: an electric future with the Avenger first!

Is the American brand Jeep on the way to successfully transitioning to the electrification of its range? Yes, if we are to believe the announcements of Christian Meunier (he has been managing Jeep since 2019) during the “Jeep 4xe Day” videoconference on September 7. By 2030, the American brand, which is part of the Stellantis group, only wants to sell electric vehicles in Europe and 50% on the North American continent. When we talk regarding electrification for Jeep, we are talking for the moment of hybrid vehicles. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling plug-in hybrid model in the United States. While in France, now only 4xe hybrid vehicles are on sale, the thermal engine versions having been withdrawn from the catalog since June 1st. And as far as 100% electric vehicles are concerned, there aren’t any yet, but that will come very soon. Four electric SUVs are already planned and Jeep presented us with three of them, the fourth will be unveiled later.

It was Frenchman Christian Meunier, who heads the global activities of the Jeep brand, who presented us with Jeep’s electric product plan for the next few years.

The first 100% electric model is the Jeep Avenger. This is a small SUV that we have plenty of speak on Caradisiac (it was called “Baby Jeep” until now). Produced on a Stellantis STLA Small platform (extrapolated from the e-CMP), this small vehicle is positioned in the range under the Jeep Renegade. It should exist with thermal engines on certain markets, but should only be offered in electric in France. For the moment, the technical details of this model are confidential and will only be revealed on the first day of the Paris Motor Show, on October 17. With good ground clearance and nice angles of attack and flight, this car is a real Jeep and will be available in 4×2 and 4×4, we will discover these versions at the Mondial. The Avenger should also have a 136 hp electromotor, the one that already equips the city SUVs of the Stellantis group DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, Peugeot e-2008 et Opel Mokka-e. For the moment Jeep only announces its autonomy, it would be 400 km.

Quite faithful to the illustrations presented by Stellantis last March, the Jeep Avenger displays a beautiful face and a discreet little blue “e” on the grille which indicates that it is electric.

Avenger may make you think of an American superhero movie, but it’s also the name of a coupé from Dodge, another brand from Stellantis, which was marketed from 1995 to 2000 (then in sedan from 2007 to 2014) and which did not enjoy great commercial success. Let’s wish more luck to the small SUV from Jeep which will be presented at the Paris Motor Show. On this occasion, it will be immediately available to order in a limited Launch Edition series, before its arrival in dealerships and its commercial launch really begin in the early days of 2023. As we told you, this SUV is produced in Poland in Tychy, as will be the future other small SUVs of the Stellantis group: a model for Alfa Romeo (which would be called Brenner or Palade) and probably another for Fiat. Besides Europe, this Avenger model will also be launched in Japan and South Korea.

Placed under the Renegade in the range of the American manufacturer, the Jeep Avenger will, according to the manufacturer, be equipped with a modern and technologically advanced interior. Some photos de prototypes confirmed this by showing off an interior adorned with a nice infotainment screen.

The second model, scheduled for 2024, is the Jeep Recon. It’s an all-new model, as Jeep engineers designed it from scratch. It is exclusively electric and has real off-road capabilities. It is equipped with the Jeep Selec-Terrain traction management system with electric axle locking technology (e-locker). It also benefits from protection under the chassis, towing hooks and specific off-road tires. Like the Jeep Wrangler five doors, the Jeep Racon is an authentic convertible Jeep with sliding roof and removable doors. It seems capable of achieving off-road prowess, since Christian Meunier indicates that this model “…fully electric has the ability to traverse the highly regarded Rubicon Trail, one of the toughest trails in the United States, and reach the end of the trail with enough range to return to town to recharge”.

A modernized Jeep Wrangler, that’s what you might think when you look at the Jeep Recon. In any case, it is a beautiful all-terrain electric vehicle with which we can’t wait to travel on rocky roads.

Modern, this vehicle benefits from all the latest advances in technology and features the latest generation Uconnect system, with a detailed travel guide of the most remarkable off-road trails. It is a truly global vehicle that will be produced from 2024 in North America. It should be noted that customers from the United States will be able to book it in early 2023, but for Europe it will be a little longer, probably 2024 or 2025.

An open-air vehicle, the Jeep Recon has a sliding roof and removable doors. According to the manufacturer, it is capable of all-terrain prowess, given the special tires and the angles of attack and departure, we want to believe it.

The third and final model that was presented during this “Jeep 4xe Day” videoconference is the 100% electric Jeep Wagoneer. Codenamed Wagoneer S, this model will join the Wagoneer family in 2024, which consists of two models, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. In the United States, these SUVs are powered by V8s and 6 cylinders while waiting to receive a plug-in hybrid engine. While Jeep does not market these vehicles here, this will not be the case for the new electric Wagoneer which will go into production in 2024 and which should arrive on the old continent some time following.

A luxurious model, the Jeep Wagoneer S (this is its code name) will appeal to large families with its spacious interior space. Displaying fluid lines, it offers a nice contrast with the other Jeep models and even dares the LED grille.

This model is a very large SUV which is adorned with an elegant and aerodynamic design. To stand out from other Wagoneers, the Jeep Wagoneer S revisits Jeep’s famous seven-slot grille with LEDs. The electric Wagoneer will be like the thermal Wagoneer a real high-end all-terrain vehicle. If it is very luxurious, the electric Wagoneer will also be powerful with an announced power of 600 hp, it will be able to go from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in around 3.5 seconds and thanks to large batteries. capacity it will display a good autonomy of 400 miles (643 km).

By the end of 2025, four Jeep electric models will be marketed in Europe. For the moment we know the Avenger, the Recon and this Wagoneer S, we are waiting to see the fourth model impatiently.

For Jeep, the switch to electric is important. Thus in Europe, regulations oblige, Jeep will only sell battery-powered vehicles from 2030 (BEV: 100% electric), no more PHEV (plug-in hybrid) unless European regulations are softened, certain manufacturers campaigning in this direction. For the United States, Jeep is counting on 50% of sales in BEV. Suffice to say that it will take more than four vehicles to get there and others should be unveiled following 2025. This will not prevent the American brand from continuing to market thermal models in certain countries, such as India where Jeep must replace Fiat, which has failed to establish itself in this market. In the near future, Jeep wants to become the world leader in “zero emission” SUVs and at the same time become a global high-volume brand, this is the ambitious goal that was set for Christian Meunier when he arrived at the head of Jeep in May 2019, so Jeep will do everything possible to achieve this.