It's Jeep's turn to tap the brakes on electric vehicles. Earlier this week, the American manufacturer announced that its upcoming electric vehicles, the Wagoneer S and the Recon, could also be offered with gasoline engines.
Jeep isn't the first manufacturer to make such a decision in the past year. Toyota has clearly expressed its lack of interest in 100% electric vehicles. Not to mention General Motors, which announced its intention to offer plug-in hybrid models, despite it not being part of its initial plan.
An adjustment
I've been saying this for a while, but the electric vehicle industry has evolved too rapidly. At the pace things have been moving in recent years, it's clear that we could have hoped to see only electric vehicles in dealerships by 2030 as many dream of. However, reality is different, and the skyrocketing production costs for batteries have forced manufacturers to rethink their strategy. At present, electric vehicles are not very profitable for the majority of manufacturers, especially those that only offer electric models. Tesla may be an exception, but that's because the brand sells more than just cars with its cutting-edge technologies.
New models
Jeep has unveiled several electric models in recent years, and some of them are about to enter production. This includes the Wagoneer S, a large luxury SUV that joins the brand's high-end family. It will also be the brand's first 100% electric vehicle. Currently, Jeep only offers plug-in hybrid vehicles. The Wagoneer S is expected to feature an electric motor with over 600 horsepower and breathtaking performance. However, the brand's president, Antonio Filosa, believes it would be wise to add at least one gasoline engine option to enhance the model's sales.
Then there's the Recon, a 100% electric model designed for off-road driving. Once again, rumors about a gasoline version are circulating widely on the web.
As for the gasoline engine, everything indicates that Jeep will use the same inline-6 engine found under the hood of the new Charger. The manufacturer could also adopt the same mechanics found in the Wrangler 4xe and the Grand Cherokee 4xe, namely a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
