Jeep teases electric off-roader

Jeep could be using this week’s Jeep Brand 4xe Day to reveal a new electric vehicle.

A new vehicle has been previewed in a teaser video for the event, set to take place on September 8 and include “a series of announcements” on the brand’s electrification plans.

The teased vehicle looks to be identical to one of the vehicles teased in wireframe at parent Stellantis’ 2021 EV Day, referred to as a “very capable” off-roading “whitespace vehicle” for Jeep.

It features a bluff, boxy five-door body with rugged design touches like a tailgate-mounted spare wheel and tail lights strongly reminiscent of those on the Gladiator and Wrangler.

The shape of the windows further suggests we’re looking at the same vehicle.

This week’s teaser video also featured a shot of Jeep’s trademark seven-slot grille with illuminated surrounds, pointing to a potential new design element for electric Jeeps.

At last year’s EV Day, Stellantis said the “whitespace” off-roader would be one of eight vehicles on the new STLA Large electric vehicle architecture that would be launched over the next three to five years.

Another Jeep SUV was among the fleet of vehicles teased, which also included the production version of Dodge’s Charger SRT Daytona concept, a “long-range luxury sedan”, a Ford Ranger-sized Ram pickup, and a range of crossovers.

The other visible Jeep SUV has a smoother, more crossover-like look, and appears to be a medium-to-large two-row crossover.

It’s unclear where this would sit in Jeep’s line-up, and whether it could serve as a replacement for the ageing Cherokee. Previous reports have indicated a Cherokee replacement won’t be launched until 2025, while Jeep boss Christian Meunier says it’ll have “a lot of electrification”.

Stellantis says its STLA Large-based vehicles will support electric motors each producing between 125kW and 330kW, which creates the tantalising possibility of dual-motor 660kW all-wheel drive powertrains.

STLA Large vehicles will also be able to support battery capacities from 101-118 kWh, facilitating a maximum range of up to 800km.

The teased off-roader is unlikely to be the first electric Jeep to market, with the brand having already teased a small, Europe-focused EV that’s rumoured to resurrect the Jeepster name.

It’s set to go on sale in 2023, likely sitting between the Renegade and Compass size-wise and sharing a platform with the Citroen C4 and Peugeot 2008, which supports both petrol and electric powertrains.

While it has yet to introduce an EV, Jeep has been busy rolling out a range of plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) wearing the 4xe branding.

These comprise the Compass, Renegade, Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, with the Gladiator also set to receive a PHEV powertrain. Only the Grand Cherokee 4xe has been confirmed for Australia thus far.

While Jeep’s current 4xe models use four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrains, the brand has also confirmed parent Stellantis will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the new Hurricane inline-six that recently debuted in the Jeep Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L.

The company has previously hinted at an electric vehicle wearing the Wagoneer nameplate. It’s unclear whether that indicates an electric version of the current, Ram 1500-derived Wagoneer or an unrelated product sharing its name.

Stellantis is developing a platform called STLA Frame, designed for large, body-on-frame electric vehicles like the upcoming 2024 Ram 1500 BEV.