Eighty years of history and innovation. “The success of Jeep is strongly linked to our roots. We are one of the few brands that has a direct line with its own customers and organises special events where the meeting between them and the people who work at Jeep generates motivation, ideas, and firm projects for the future”.
80th anniversary
Mark Allen, Head of Jeep Design since 2009, enthusiastically remembers the Jeep Easter Safari of last April. It’s an annual event that gathers the most loyal fans, shows the brand’s vision for the future, and, for this year’s edition, celebrates the eightieth anniversary of the creation of the legendary American off-road SUV.
Tradition and future
Tradition and future co-exist at Jeep through strongly identifying stylistic elements, which have made all the models unmistakable. “From the iconic, seven-slot grille to the trapezoidal wheel arches, to the strong connection with nature, to a certain strength that recalls the world of trucks and is perceived in the door sections, in the square lines, and in the large glazed surfaces”, Allen continues. Elements that are present in all seven concept cars unveiled during the Easter Safari in Utah. “The most innovative is the Magneto, a development of the Wrangler in an electric version that unites the great, off-road gifts of Jeep with the silence of zero-emissions mobility”.
Electrification at the centre
“Currently, our electrified range, composed of the Renegade, Compass, and Wrangler, denotes electrification, above all, through details that are functional in terms of aerodynamics and that additionally enhance their shapes. We will continue to work on researching quality and efficiency, as we have done for our latest two models: Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee”.
Personalisation with Mopar
Having a Jeep also means being able to customise every inch of it thanks to the collaboration with Mopar. “Customisation is one of the most fun aspects of Jeep. The most customised model is the Wrangler, thanks to a dedicated catalogue of accessories, with more than 200 pieces that concern the technical and aesthetic parts”. The relationship is so close that when you work on developing a new model, a team of Mopar engineers is transferred to one of the four Jeep style centres in the USA, China, Europe, or Latin America.
From pure off-road to urban SUV
The future of Jeep speaks the language of differentiation to meet the most diverse needs of customers. If models like the Wrangler and Gladiator were designed for maximum performance off-road, the Compass and Renegade get closer to the mobility needs of European customers, while the Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee look to the world of luxury. And there’s more on its way: “Prepare yourselves for some wonderful surprises”.
(Full article in A&D no. 249)
