AUBURN HILLS, Mich.,
July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On
July 15, 1941, the former
Willys-Overland Co. signed a contract with the U.S. War Department
to begin production of the first military Jeep® vehicle. Eighty
years later, the Jeep brand thrives around the world with a product
lineup that continues to expand into new segments, a devoted
community of global customers and the use of 4xe electric vehicle
technology as the natural evolution of 80 years of capability
leadership.
"We're celebrating our 80th anniversary by continuing to move
upward and forward," said Christian
Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer. "We're
expanding our portfolio into new segments, with the three-row Jeep
Grand Cherokee L, while setting a strong foothold in the premium
SUV market, with our all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Next in
our exciting global product pipeline is the introduction of the
all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which will be equipped, for the first
time, with plug-in-hybrid 4xe technology. We are fully committed
towards a vision of zero emission future, and by 2025 we will be
offering a zero-emission fully electric Jeep 4xe in every SUV
segment."
To celebrate its anniversary and to honor this zero-emission
vision, the Jeep brand posted today on the Jeep brand YouTube
channel the 80th Anniversary version of the Jeep Life Electrified
video, which debuted during the 2021 Stellantis' EV Day event. The
video showcases the unique nature of the electrification of the
Jeep brand through a couple's love story. The piece intertwines
Jeep brand vehicles, future technology and the Jeep global
community, to establish a promise for a brighter future ahead. The
piece features Bastille's new song, "Give Me The Future," out
today.
"We are committed to make Jeep the greenest and most exciting
SUV brand. The electrification of the Jeep lineup will allow
commuters to travel solely on electric power, delivering an
efficient and fun on-road experience and offering an ability to
enjoy even more off-road capability in nearly complete silence,"
said Meunier.
This zero emission vision is another significant milestone in
the 80-year history of a brand that continues to be defined by a
sense of community, open-air-freedom, pioneering spirit and
groundbreaking 4X4 innovations.
12 Key 'Moments' in 80 Years
Put 100 Jeep SUV
enthusiasts from around the world together and ask them to name the
most memorable moments in the illustrious history of the Jeep brand
and it's unlikely that any of them would respond with the same
answers. Below is a list of some of the most important moments for
the Jeep brand from those eight memorable decades.
1. 4xe is the new 4x4
The evolution of the Jeep brand
accelerated in this 80th anniversary year with the arrival of 4xe,
the Jeep brand's exclusive and proprietary utilization of
electrification applications to develop and produce the most
capable, fun and advanced 4x4 vehicles in the world, including the
all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which will be introduced at the 2021
New York International Auto Show.
As the icon of the brand, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe is leading the
brand's electrification offensive. Jeep Wrangler's Trail Rated 4x4
capability is made possible by a sealed waterproof battery pack and
electronics that can perform in the toughest conditions. Powered by
a 2.0L I4 DOHC direct-injection turbo PHEV, the 4xe sports
impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet (637 Nm) of instant
torque. With 49 MPGe, a driving range of 370 miles, acceleration
from 0-60 mph in just six seconds and E-Selec driving modes, this
is the most capable, powerful, efficient, eco-friendly and
technically advanced Wrangler ever, which, because of its quiet
electric power, can now more fully immerse its owners in nature
drives.
2. The new American premium
The all-new 2022 Wagoneer
and Grand Wagoneer take the premium SUV into uncharted territories
of style, comfort and adventure. The eight-passenger Wagoneer and
Grand Wagoneer represent a premium extension of the Jeep brand,
wrapped in a sophisticated and authentic new design. They build on
a rich heritage of premium American craftsmanship, heritage and
refinement, while delivering a best-in-class customer experience
with a suite of premium ownership perks that go beyond simple VIP
service.
3. Global expansion
During the last decade, the Jeep
brand has expanded its global product offering with new nameplates
such as the compact Jeep Renegade and the all-new Jeep Gladiator,
the most capable Jeep truck ever. The brand also expanded its
production footprint, allowing customers in markets such as
Europe, Brazil, India
and China to enjoy
locally-assembled Jeep brand vehicles. This diverse product
portfolio and broad production footprint, with 10 plants in six
countries allowed the Jeep brand to significantly increase sales in
the span of 10 years.
4. The ultimate in traction and handling
In 1999, two
new four-wheel-drive systems were introduced. The Quadra-Trac II
system offered an innovative system that transfers torque rear to
front and side to side, meaning drive torque is immediately
available to all four wheels – assuring ultimate traction and
handling at all times and under all circumstances without driver
input. When Quadra-Trac was combined with the new Vari-Lok front
and rear progressive axles, which deliver far more torque to the
wheel with better grip, the result was the new Quadra-Drive
system.
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee literally breaks
through in Detroit
On January 7, 1992, at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, Chrysler President Bob Lutz drove the first new Jeep Grand Cherokee
ZJ off the Jefferson production line, along the streets of the city
and through the glass front door of the Cobo Hall, signifying the
breakthrough premium SUV. Grand Cherokee offered upscale interior
appointments, on-road ride, handling and comfort without losing any
of the off-road capability that had made the Jeep brand a
legend.
6. The birth of a legend
The arrival of the Jeep
Wrangler in 1986 answered the public's desire for a compact SUV
with more creature comforts. It featured a lower center of gravity,
improved handling and a more comfortable interior. It set the
precedent for one of the most beloved – and capable – Jeep vehicles
of all time. Although the Wrangler shared the familiar open-body
profile of the CJ-7, it contained few common parts with its famous
predecessor. Mechanically, the Wrangler had more in common with the
Cherokee. On Aug. 5, 1987, just over
a year after the introduction of the Wrangler, American Motors
Corporation was sold to the Chrysler Corporation and the popular
Jeep brand became a part of Chrysler's Jeep / Eagle Division.
7. The world's first compact SUV – Cherokee
The energy
crisis of 1979 spurred the development of a smaller 4x4. The 1984
Jeep Cherokee XJ was designed from the ground up and was the
world's first compact SUV. Using a unibody structure, the vehicle
was much smaller than its predecessor yet retained 90 percent of
its interior space. The vehicle featured the shift-on-the-fly
Command-Trac four-wheel-drive system.
8. Wagoneer creates the original premium SUV
In 1963,
Jeep Wagoneer was the original premium SUV that combined four-wheel
drive with an automatic transmission. Featuring options that were,
up until then, only available in high-end passenger cars, the
Wagoneer changed what people expected of a four-wheel-drive
vehicle. This broadened the market and appeal of 4x4 vehicles and
created the modern SUV, one that was advertised as "All-new,
All-Jeep." Two decades later, the Jeep brand launched the Grand
Wagoneer, which brought the 4X4 premium experience to the next
level with standard features such as leather upholstery, air
conditioning, AM/FM/CB radio, sound insulation and wood
graining.
9. Jeep Jamboree - the "Granddaddy" of all 4-wheel
events
In 1953, the first Jeep Jamboree took place at the
Georgetown Divide in California,
attracting 55 vehicles and 155 participants. This event, organized
by Mark Smith, demonstrated just how
much owners of Jeep brand vehicles love getting together for fun,
camaraderie and 4x4 adventure. While Jeep Jamboree proudly holds
events on trails all over the United
States, one of the most popular is the Rubicon Trail, which
traverses the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, arguably the most grueling 17
miles of off-roading adventure anywhere. Few brands on earth have
gone on to generate as much dedication and commitment from its
community as the Jeep brand. In every corner of the globe, on every
day, there are displays of passion from owners and fans.
10. The first SUV
In 1946, Willys-Overland introduced
the industry's first all-steel-body station wagon – the Willys
Wagon – but the real groundbreaking news was in 1949 when
four-wheel drive was added to the wagon to create the first SUV.
Capable of carrying seven passengers in comfort, hauling cargo and
tackling even the toughest trail, the Willys Wagon was a game
changer. The Brooks Stevens-designed
Wagon was in production for nearly 20 years—longer than any other
contemporary American automobile of its day.
11. A Jeep 4x4 for the masses
The 1945 CJ-2A became
the world's first light-duty four-wheel-drive vehicle available in
mass quantity to the general public. While the CJ-2A shared the
basic architecture of the MB, there were several notable
improvements. These included a fold-down tailgate, side-mounted
spare tire, larger headlights and a power take-off unit.
12. An icon is born in wartime
In 1941,
Willys-Overland was awarded the contract to be the primary supplier
of the new 1/4-ton military vehicle by the U.S. government. More
than 350,000 of these Jeep MBs would be produced by 1945 and would
be the basis for the civilian Jeep CJ that would start production
even before the war was over.
Jeep Brand
Built on 80 years of legendary heritage,
Jeep is the authentic SUV with capability, craftsmanship and
versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep
brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by
offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners
with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.
Jeep Wave, a premium owner loyalty and customer care program that
is available to the entire Jeep lineup, is filled with benefits and
exclusive perks to deliver Jeep owners the utmost care and
dedicated 24/7 support.
The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass,
Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. To meet consumer
demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left- and
right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel
powertrain options. Jeep is part of the portfolio of brands offered
by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For
more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit
www.stellantis.com.
Follow Jeep and company news and video on:
Company
blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com
Jeep brand: www.jeep.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep
YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or
https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA
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SOURCE Stellantis