In response to a recent inadvertent Facebook breach, Jeep has opted to provide a more official peek inside its highly awaited Wagoneer S electric vehicle, which is set to go on sale in the United States next year, with European models following.
The Wagoneer S is clearly aimed at premium brands like Range Rover and Lexus, with screens and digital displays all over the place. There’s a monitor in front of the steering wheel, a larger central infotainment system, and a small interactive touchscreen beneath it that appears to control climate and other comfort elements.
Finally, the front passenger gets a screen, something we’ve seen Porsche embrace recently in its Taycan, Macan EV, and future Panamera.
The off-road specialist promises that the electric SUV would include “mindful materials and design-focused features” such as a “tailored driver control centre with a unique Jeep brand-exclusive Selec-Terrain toggle and dynamic, color-selectable ambient lighting”.
Jeep further stated that the Wagoneer S will have “a standard dual-pane panoramic sunroof” and “a discerningly tuned, segment-exclusive, 19-speaker, premium flagship McIntosh audio system”.
On the matter of the Select-Terrain toggle, early photographs show that it has Sand, Snow, Eco, Auto, and Sport modes, indicating that Jeep isn’t messing around with capability. This looks set to be an EV that can also do the Jeep stuff that discerning customers expect.
Unfortunately, the company is still keeping official specifications under wraps, but the photographs show that the Wagoneer S will not be small, measuring roughly five meters or more in length. The fact that it will be an early adopter of parent firm Stellantis’ latest STLA big architecture emphasizes this point even further.
Jeep has already stated that the electric engine can go from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, due to a 600bhp electric motor setup that sends power to all four wheels. The all-electric range is also estimated to be more than 370 miles.
Analysis: Jeep is moving into premium territory
It appears that electrification is a fantastic reason for many manufacturers to try to go more upscale, tapping into a client base that would have previously purchased brands such as Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and even Range Rover.
It’s understandable, given how pricey current battery technology is, resulting in a price difference when compared to internal combustion engine equivalents. With that in mind, numerous manufacturers have attempted to improve the quality of their electric products in an effort to justify these lofty forecourt figures.
Jeep also appears to be hitting the reset button, with both the Wagoneer S and the upcoming electric Recon model combining the brand’s well-known ruggedness with an element of opulence.
Whereas a model like the Wrangler (which Recon aims to compete with and potentially replace) formerly served as a dependable albeit unpolished workhorse, the electric versions will feature more premium-feeling interiors and next-generation infotainment systems.
However, as Land Rover did with its most recent Defender, Jeep may face customer reaction as buyers complain about the lack of affordable and capable machinery on the market.
While the electric revolution is certainly raising the bar in terms of interior luxury, forward-thinking exterior design, and cutting-edge technology, it is currently doing little for those who want something that can be hosed down after a filthy mountain bike session and topped up in the wilderness with a Jerry can.
