Yes. Jeep plans to introduce a long-wheelbase Wagoneer to properly compete with its crosstown rivals’ bigger siblings. And if the standard-length Wagoneer’s size is anything to go by, then the long-wheelbase Jeep is sure to overshadow even the biggest of these big SUVs, the 226.9-inch-long Cadillac Escalade ESV.
While Jeep kept mum on the topic of a long-wheelbase Wagoneer at the time of the production SUV’s unveiling, the brand previously acknowledged during the reveal of the Grand Wagoneer concept that it plans to produce the extra-long variant of the SUV once production of the standard-length model fully ramps up. We wager the even bigger Wagoneer may see the light of day as early as 2022 as a 2023 model.
Likewise, we expect Jeep to offer the Wagoneer family in plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid 4xe guise. Although the brand is officially keeping quiet on such a powertrain, Jeep head Christian Meunier shared with MotorTrend that the brand has a “plan for electrification” for the Wagoneer. Given the Grand Wagoneer concept relied on a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain for motivation, it makes sense that such a setup will eventually find a home under the hood of the production Wagoneer.
What exactly powers a possible Wagoneer 4xe remains a mystery. It’s possible Jeep calls on the Wrangler 4xe’s 375-hp setup, which uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. That said, the brand might also forgo the Wrangler 4xe’s turbo-four for a larger V-6 gas engine in the Wagoneer 4xe so as to best or match the 392-hp rating of the Wagoneer’s standard 5.7-liter V-8 engine.
Regardless, we anticipate the Wagoneer (including the fancier Grand Wagoneer) to receive the 4xe treatment in the next couple of years—likely after the long-wheelbase model goes on sale.