Jeep plans electrified versions of its entire lineup by 2025, and on Thursday, the brand revealed a significant part of that: a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe.
Although the brand has not yet disclosed electric range or fuel economy specifications for the new plug-in, it plans to offer an official debut for the model at the New York Auto Show next month, alongside the rest of the Grand Cherokee lineup.
The plug-in hybrid also serves as a revelation of the Grand Cherokee in its standard wheelbase style, following the Grand Cherokee L that bowed earlier this summer, with a 15.1-inch longer wheelbase.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 2022
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the only other plug-in hybrid from Jeep currently available in the U.S. It comes with an electric range of 22 miles and 20 mpg in hybrid mode, provided by a fairly large 17.3 kWh battery pack. The system has been designed to leverage the benefits of electric motor torque in off-road situations in a way that no other vehicle has done so far, until the arrival of electric trucks like the GMC Hummer EV and the Rivian R1S.
Jeep currently emphasizes plug-in hybrids in its lineup for Europe, stating that by 2025, 70% of its vehicles sold will be electrified, and the Wagoneer will soon include a 4xe model in “the most profitable premium SUV segment.”
Electric vehicles are the other part of that, and although Jeep did not provide a specific timeline for other models in Thursday’s presentations, focusing on the fact that the parent company Stellantis announced a $35 billion pivot for electrified vehicles, it did showcase several potential future electric Jeeps. However, Jeep has suggested that a fully electric model may not arrive until around 2024.
Connectivity is not the only piece of futuristic technology that Jeep envisions in its models this decade. In a video (embedded below), it gave hints about the autonomous use of off-road vehicles, drone pairing, and other future pairings.
