JEEP has formally confirmed the Grand Cherokee would be the greatest car the model gives Down Underneath when it arrives later within the 12 months, with world president Christian Meunier confirming to native media final week the eight-seat Grand Wagoneer wouldn’t be coming to Australia.
Describing the brand new Grand Cherokee as already being a “fairly substantial, fairly massive” car, Mr Meunier mentioned the three-row model specifically will cater to at the least a number of the market the Grand Wagoneer would have occupied.
“For now it’s off the desk and I feel we are going to deal with the three-row Grand Cherokee,” he mentioned.
“It’s all about efficiency, it’s all about enterprise circumstances … however I’d like to do it and I’m positive it may do very nicely in Australia, however let’s deal with what actually issues for the marketplace for now.”
First teased in August final 12 months earlier than being revealed on September 3 in last idea type, the Grand Wagoneer shall be a full-sized SUV designed to tackle established high-riding luxurious gamers just like the Lexus LX, Vary Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS whereas concurrently poaching gross sales away from different American rigs together with the Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Suburban.
Now nonetheless following the affirmation that the Grand Cherokee will stay the model’s flagship mannequin Down below, Mr Meunier mentioned a great deal of the event work was being carried out in Australia to make sure it was as competent as attainable.
“We’re doing it … and that may make all of the distinction on this planet,” he mentioned.
“We’re going to check your roads, we’re going to check your filth roads, going to check the towing capability as a result of we all know it’s necessary in your market, we’re going to see the way it behaves and clearly that’s necessary with your individual gasoline; with every part that comes with Australia and we’re going to tweak it, we’re going to make it higher, we’re going to make it excellent.
“We’re very decided to try this.”
As beforehand reported by GoAuto, the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee will arrive Down Underneath late this 12 months powered by the acquainted line-up of petrol engines (3.6L V6/5.7L Hemi V8) earlier than at the least one 4xe plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant arrives early in 2022, changing the soon-to-be-defunct diesel possibility.
By including a 3rd row of seating to the equation, Jeep has immediately made the brand new Grand Cherokee a extra viable various to the Toyota Prado in addition to the rising array of seven-seat ute-based off-roaders just like the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Ford Everest.
Jeep Australia offered 2870 Grand Cherokees final 12 months, accounting for 3.1 per cent of the sub-$70,000 giant SUV section, inserting it a good distance off the gross sales tempo of the segment-leading Prado which chalked up 18,034 gross sales.
