Recently appointed CEO of Jeep, Antonio Filosa, has a challenging road ahead. His goals for the brand include reaching one million sales worldwide each year, attracting both die-hard Jeep fans and newcomers, improving the reliability of vehicles, strengthening relationships with dealers, and navigating the shift towards electric vehicles.
Regarding electric vehicles, Jeep plans to introduce two battery-electric models soon. The Wagoneer S, set to debut this year, is similar in size to the Grand Cherokee but will be positioned in the luxury segment due to its expected pricing.
The Recon, launching late this year or early 2025, embodies the essence of the Wrangler, featuring similar size and removable doors, along with Trail Rated badges. However, the Recon will utilize a skateboard-style unibody architecture, catering more to urban dwellers compared to the Wrangler’s rugged design.
Despite the growing market for electric vehicles, Filosa has been asked about the possibility of hybrid powertrains for the Wagoneer S and Recon. While the Wagoneer S will remain solely electric, there is some flexibility with the Recon. Filosa mentioned that while the main strategy remains deep electrification, they are exploring opportunities for the Recon, given its versatile platform.
This potential move aligns with Filosa’s emphasis on providing customers with a range of powertrain options. It also reflects a broader trend within the Stellantis group, with other brands considering hybrid options for their vehicles.
Although a hybrid Recon is not imminent due to engineering readiness, it could provide common ground with the Wrangler, which has seen success with its plug-in hybrid variant, the Wrangler 4xe. This success indicates a growing interest in hybrid options among consumers, with Jeep anticipating strong sales of plug-in hybrids this year.
