Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S Kick Off Brand's EV Plans; Both Begin Production in 2024
Jeep promises four EVs by 2025; the Recon and Wagoneer S will be built in North America starting in 2024.
Jeep on Thursday revealed the first major steps towards an all-electric future. As part of the brand’s 4xe Day, the American SUV company showed off a trio of EVs, two of which will debut to the public next year ahead of 2024 production. The Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S promise two different approaches to electrification, and both will be built in North America. In addition, we also saw the all-electric Jeep Avenger, a pint-sized SUV arriving in Europe next year, as well as the confirmation of an upcoming Wagoneer 4xe model.
All of these models are part of an ambitious plan to offer electrification across the entire model range by 2025. By 2030, Jeep expects fully half of its US sales to be fully electric; in that same year, the brand will transition to 100-percent battery-electric sales in Europe.
Jeep Recon: the Electric Wrangler
“The Wrangler is king,” said Jeep CEO Christian Meunier during the presentation, in response to a journalist asking why Jeep isn’t simply making a BEV version of its icon. That role is filled with the new Recon, a Wrangler-sized and -inspired SUV that has been built from the ground up as a BEV. The blocky design has clear Wrangler inspiration in its removable doors and squared-off fenders, but adopts a wholly different front fascia design. True to form, the Recon’s roof can retract with the push of a button, and the rear side glass can be removed.
SEE ALSO: 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Review: First DriveTow hooks, chunky off-road tires, and substantial skid plates ensure the Recon can handle the off-roading expected of the brand—it’ll just do it in near silence. In fact, Meunier confirmed the Recon is capable of crossing the Rubicon with enough remaining range to return to town and recharge.
Underneath, the trail-rated Recon features Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction management system, in addition to the brand’s e-locker axle tech.
Jeep will display the Recon to the public in 2023, and reservations will go live early in the year. The Recon will be sold globally, and production will start in 2024.
Wagoneer S: Luxury Mid-Sizer
On the other end of the electric spectrum sits this SUV, codenamed Wagoneer S. Set to expand the Jeep sub-brand, it targets the crowded mid-sized premium SUV segment with a design that’s sleeker than anything we’ve seen from Jeep before. The signature seven-slot grille gets a full LED treatment, with ultra-thin headlights framing it. In profile the shape is close to that of the current Grand Cherokee, but it’s an illusion. The sizeable roof spoiler stretches back to hide what is a dramatic taper for the rear glass, done for a slippery aerodynamic profile.
SEE ALSO: Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Cadillac Escalade ComparisonThat focus on smoothly slicing through the air explains the Wagoneer S’ targeted performance figures. Jeep is aiming for no less than 400 miles (644 kilometers) on a single charge, but also 600 horsepower. Jim Morrison, head of Jeep North America, pointed out that the estimated 3.5-second dash to 60 mph (96 km/h) is Trackhawk territory.
“We’ll delight our customers with a premium, highly efficient SUV that is loaded with technology and high quality craftmanship,” said Meunier, “offering 4×4 capability, high performance, rapid acceleration and a target range of 400 miles on a single charge.”
While we didn’t get a solid peek into the Wagoneer S interior, we do see a whole lot of red, and seating for five.
Like the Recon, the Wagoneer S—or whatever it is eventually called in production form—will debut to the public next year, when folks will be able to put down deposits. Production will then kick off in North America in 2024.
Jeep Avenger: Not For Us
Ahead of those North American debuts, the first all-electric Jeep will debut in Europe next year. The Avenger isn’t for our market, being even smaller than the pint-sized Renegade.
“The all-new Avenger will offer Jeep brand capability that is rightsized for the European market,” said Antonella Bruno, head of Jeep Europe at Stellantis, “This modern, fun and emotional SUV will appeal to a growing set of customers who are looking for a capable, compact, modern and all-electric Jeep brand alternative to the current players.”
Jeep is targeting 400 kilometers (249 miles) of range for the Avenger, which will be built in Poland. We won’t have to wait long at all to see this Jeep EV in the metal: it will debut at the Paris Motor Show, on October 17.
Discuss this story on our Jeep Recon forum
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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No thanks... last thing I want in my off roader is to have it run on batteries. My gas powered 4 wheelers can tote extra gasoline when going remote... How can you charge these in the middle of the desert? Sad for the brands going electric. There will never be enough electric generation to support even a 25% adoption of EV's. If you want one for going to get groceries, great, but you will always need a gasoline powered back up.
The first thing I want is full electric. No hybrids just good range and all the benefits of EVS. Our Ioniq5 AWD Ltd is so good in all ways and brilliant in many. Gas is gone. Nothing is perfect re fuels, however gas and diesel just dont stack up any more.