Big, fully electric Jeep on the way
BY PETER BARNWELL | 3rd Jun 2024
MORE details of Jeep’s all-electric Wagoneer S upper large SUV have come to light at an international reveal coinciding with the manufacturer pushing the start button on production in the United States ahead of a 2026 Australian market launch.
Slightly bigger than a Grand Cherokee, the Wagoneer S will be available solely as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) and will be Jeep’s first global BEV following initial deliveries in the US and Canada this year starting from $US71,995 ($A108,128).
In Australia, it will join the much smaller Jeep Avenger electric SUV that is imported from Poland and starts at $53,990 before on-road costs.
Following Jeep’s off-road script, the Wagoneer S runs 4xe (four-wheel drive) capability with a five-mode Selec-Terrain system offering Auto, Sport, Eco, Snow, and Sand settings making the most of what are said to be impressive performance credentials from the electric powertrain.
Built on the Stellantis STLA Large platform, the Wagoneer S is claimed to deliver composed driving dynamics both on-road and in a variety of road conditions courtesy in part of Stellantis-designed electric drive modules (EDMs) that independently powering the front and rear wheels for instant torque response.
These EDMs combine the electric motor, gearing and power electronics into a single, compact unit said to be both powerful and efficient. The front EDM is equipped with wheel disconnects to reduce energy draw when cruising and to help optimise range.
Jeep’s new electric drivetrain has attracted much interest as it develops a combined 447kW/840Nm and is said to propel the imposing-looking SUV from 0-100km/h in a scant 3.4 seconds while providing a battery range of up to 480km.
Power is fed from a 400V, 100kWh battery pack that allows recharging from 20-80 per cent in 23 minutes with a sufficiently powerful DC fast charger.
The Launch Edition model will be sold with a Level 2 home charger or public charging credits through a commercial provider using the Stellantis 360-degree charging ecosystem.
In the US, Wagoneer S customers will be able to access the Free2move Charge app to search for charging stations, activate the charging session and keep track of charging history.
Despite its bulk, the Wagoneer S cuts a sleek silhouette akin to something from Range Rover instead of the Jeep brand’s usual more utilitarian flavour.
The display model recently shown in the US rocked what Jeep called “elegant” black cues, a reimagined seven-slot illuminated grille, 20-inch wheels and standard dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
A tech-integrated interior features what Jeep claims is a best in class 1143mm of usable screen space with “segment-exclusive interactive front passenger screen, premium heated and ventilated front and rear seats and 19-speaker, 1200-watt McIntosh audio system”.
Underpinning it all is a plethora of what Jeep refers to as state-of-the-art technology applied to safety, drive capability and creature comforts.
At the reveal function, Jeep called attention to the use of new technologies and techniques in the new model’s overall development intended to improve the driving experience and reduce the overall noise and vibration levels in pursuit of a quiet interior cabin and a smooth ride.
Particular engineering attention was paid to body torsional stiffness which is 35 per cent better than previous similar-sized Jeep SUVs yielding a superior ride, handling and effective response to driver input according to the brand.
Inside, Jeep built on current-generation Jeep Grand Wagoneer design cues with a “sleek, linear fully digital cockpit with modern controls and interfaces”.
Among several new details throughout the interior are a performance-inspired, wine red-stitched steering wheel with a flat-bottom design and twin-spoke. The steering wheel introduces a new Cabo vinyl anti-microbial surface coating, making it easier to keep clean.
The electronic door releases, new for Jeep, can be activated with a light touch of a thumb while a newly relocated start button is surrounded by a die-cast zinc metal marked with a fine textured pattern.
In vehicle tech includes the Stellantis Uconnect 5 multimedia system that enables the front passenger to provide the driver with directions with a quick touch of the screen and also offers OTA updates and “new levels of clarity and connectivity”.
In safety terms, the Wagoneer S features “more than 170 standard safety and security features that help make instrumentation easier to see and aid in collision avoidance with advanced driver-assist technology”.
Jeep brand CEO Antonio Filosa said: “The launch of the all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S marks a new chapter in the storied history of the Jeep brand.
“Building upon nearly a century of innovation and design, this first global EV will introduce a whole new generation of owners to an experience that is distinctly Jeep and 100 per cent electric in every way. With new energy in the Jeep vehicle line-up, ranging from EV to V-8, customers have never had more freedom to choose their own adventure,” he concluded.
