Jeep CEO: Recon SUV Leaves Room for Future Off-Road “King” Wrangler EV
Recently, Jeep introduced the boxy Jeep Recon all-electric off-road SUV concept. The first question was if this was a prelude […]
Monza Staff
Recently, Jeep introduced the boxy Jeep Recon all-electric off-road SUV concept. The first question was if this was a prelude to the pure electric Jeep Wrangler, which we know is on the way, or an entirely new model for the future. And, what do these new Jeep EVs imply for the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, which debuted just a year ago and has shown to be pretty successful?
Christian Meunier, CEO of the Jeep brand, recently discussed all of these in Detroit to provide a clearer picture of the company’s future product strategy as it transitions to a fully electric SUV lineup by the decade’s end. Regardless of the powertrain, Meunier makes it quite evident that the Wrangler will keep improving and that nothing will overturn it.
The Wrangler will still have a gas engine and the 4xe plug-in hybrid for a while, but the Recon will be a pure battery-electric car when it comes out in 2025. The Wrangler will lead the off-road lineup even if it switches to all-electric power. The Jeep CEO declares that the Wrangler is supreme, has a trail rating of 10, is the best vehicle in its category, and is the king of the hill.
He added, “The Recon will be a very excellent contender, but it won’t be as good.” Although the Recon’s exact measurements haven’t been disclosed, Meunier claims they are comparable to the Wrangler. With the option to remove panels for an outside experience, both vehicles are built for off-road exploration and enjoying the outdoors.
The midsize Wagoneer, codenamed S until a forthcoming Jeep fan contest gives it a proper name, and the Recon will be produced in North America. The carmaker hasn’t yet said where either would be produced. However, a few manufacturing decisions remained to be resolved. They will be built in North America, launched here, and shipped to Europe.
The Wagoneer S EV and the automaker’s STLA Large platform, which allows for an all-electric range of up to 400 miles on a single charge, will be used by the Recon. Meunier anticipates that while the Wagoneer S EV will probably meet that aim, the Recon will have a smaller range due to its boxy form.
The carmaker has declared that plug-in versions of its full-size SUVs will be electric. In 2024, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4xe and Jeep Wagoneer 4xe will arrive on sale. According to Meunier, whether they will be given the 2024 or 2025 model year tag has not yet been determined. Additionally, both of them will eventually have fully electric variants.
The company is launching the Avenger in Europe, a brand-new compact electric Jeep SUV. Yes, the Dodge was the name’s owner, but in Meunier’s opinion, the previous Avenger had a low volume, a brief lifespan in North America, and was not well known in Europe. Meunier believes the moniker is appropriate for the fun little Jeep, which will not be offered in North America.
By the end of 2025, there will be four all-electric Jeeps in North America. Recon and Wagoneer S are the first two, and since the designs for both are “99 per cent” ready for production, what we have seen and heard thus far is what we can anticipate receiving. Jeep will most likely disclose the other two new EVs sometime next year.