Jeep has had a busy few months and launched two commemorative vehicles this week.
The Willys Jeep changed the world – not many vehicles can boast such incredible heritage. When the U.S. Army needed a light, off-road capable military utility vehicle to increase mobility on the battlefields of World War Two, they turned to the American motor industry (Willys, Ford, and American Bantam) who served up the basic, tough and reliable 4WD vehicle which would not only help to defeat ze Germans but also went on to fight in the Cold War and provide the inspiration for the Land Rover. We are eternally grateful.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe bears a resemblance to Grandpa Willys but is a very, very different animal. A 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 engine is mated to a pair of electric motors, and the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid propulsion system will deliver 375-horsepower, 470 pound-feet of torque. While consuming a mere 49 MPGe (Miles Per Gallon equivalent) and 21 miles of all-electric range with a total range of 370 miles. Miles of smiles, no doubt. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling plug-in hybrid in America.
But, will this new kid on the block be truly off-road capable? The Willys features a 2.72:1 Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system (as opposed to the 4:1 Rock-Trac Heavy-Duty Full-Time 4WD System available on the top-spec Wrangler Rubicon), heavy-duty Dana 44 axles and LT255/75R17C mud-terrain tires. The Willys 4xe factory suspension lift provides 10.1 inches of ground clearance, and water fording is a relatively low 30 inches, 5.5 inches less than the new Land Rover Defender.
So what sets this new Willys apart from the Wrangler 4xe range? The Willys 4xe features standard LED headlamps and fog lamps, Alpine 9-speaker premium audio, all-weather floor mats, rear limited-slip differential, rock rails, black grille, and 17-inch black-painted alloy wheels. An available Sun and Screen Package, featuring the class-exclusive Sky One-Touch Power-Top and the Uconnect 4C NAV with 8.4-inch touchscreen, is optional on the Willys 4xe.
So, not much, then. What you do get is a new entry price point to the Wrangler 4xe, with a starting U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $53,995 (excluding a $7,500 tax credit and $1,595 destination). This is about $4,000 cheaper than the top-spec 2022 Wrangler High Altitude 4xe.
You also get a special ‘Willys’ decal on the hood, trimmed in the 4xe’s signature Electric Blue, and an ‘Electric 4-Wheel Drive’ decal on the swing gate signify that this Willys is a 4xe plug-in hybrid.
Would Grandpa G.I. be impressed with the new Willys? Yes, definitely. But this is a man who spent four years eating out of a can while pooping in a hole and probably learned to both love and loathe the original Willys. Time will tell whether this new vehicle will earn and deserve the Willys name, but one thing is for sure, the enemy won’t hear you coming.
Ordering for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe is available from 14th September 2022, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee was launched 30 years ago; two men in shiny blue and highly flammable jackets (the Chrysler president and the Detroit mayor) drove the Poppy Red Clear Coat 1993 Grand Cherokee ZJ Laredo from the production facility to the Cobo Hall high-rise in Detroit. There, they drove up the stairs and through a large, weak plate glass window to the cheers of the assembled crowd.
The 1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its unibody, three trim levels, and keyless entry, was hailed as a revolution; the British disagreed as they knew that it was with the Range Rover that the SUV was born. But, the Jeep was half the price of the comparative Range Rover while boasting all of the features and American heritage, a V8 engine, and better than average on and off-road performance. It is worth noting that a 2022 Range Rover SE remains almost double the price of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV ever, and the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe commemorates “three decades of fun, freedom, and adventure” with the introduction of the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary edition. The special-edition Grand Cherokee 30th Anniversary pairs 4xe electrification with legendary Jeep 4×4 capability. It features unique blacked-out exterior details, sleek interior accents, and amenities, plus several standard safety and security features. Orders for the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary edition will open later this year at a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $4,700 for the package.
The special-edition Grand Cherokee 4xe will be on display at the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit from September 17th to the 25th, 2022.
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