The Jeep brand is planning some big changes for its line-ups in the 2014 model year. Rumours regarding the demise of one of Chrysler’s minivans have been spreading for some time; a report from Automotive News gave a hint that one of the minivans will either be totally discontinued or evolve into another vehicle. We have now confirmed that aside from the changes planned for the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan and the Jeep Liberty (which will be remodelled and renamed), the three-row SUV Dodge Durango is set to be replaced; it will now come next year as an all-new full-size 2014 Jeep Grand Wagoneer model.
While the Ford Explorer and the Jeep Grand Cherokee are doing very well in the market, the Durango which is also a great vehicle was not doing well. So, Chrysler decided to take a radical action to correct this trend. The name, Grand Wagoneer is a rehash of an old name based on the same platform and engine choices of the Dodge three-row utility. Read this comprehensive rundown to know all what has been planned for the 2014 Grand Wagoneer.
The model will be built at the same plant as the Town & Country replacement and the next Grand Cherokee. It is designed to compete with the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon. It will undergo a facelift; an updated grille and new front and rear fascias are all expected. The most noticeable feature that will be seen on the Grand Wagoneer 2014 is the restyled tail lamp which looks like the one found on the newest Dodge Charger and Dodge Dart.
In addition to the exterior refresh, Chrysler brand’s larger 8.4-inch LCD screen will be added to the new vehicle as a part of its Uconnect system. Other changes expected include an updated centre-stack which will house the new 8.4″ radio (with and without navigation).
From all indications, the Grand Wagoneer 2014 model should use an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 8-speed transmission system has already been introduced in the Chrysler 300, the Ram 1500 and the Dodge Charger, and it will also get to the Jeep Grand Cherokee soon. When the transmission system is mated with a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, it gives mix of solid acceleration and an impressive fuel economy; several mile per gallon improvement in fuel economy. This is a welcome development due to the rising gas price.
The 2014 Jeep Grand Wagoneer will be a step above the Durango. Aside the new powertrain, some other features will be offered but it will still retain its off-road capability. It may finally solve the issue of low sale associated with the Dodge Durango. What else do buyers want? The vehicle will have an improved performance, a better fuel economy and it will even be more aggressive with helps from the LED “race track” tail light.
According to the Sergio Marchionne, CEO of the new Chrysler-Fiat alliance, the upper-scale seven-seat 2014 Grand Wagoneer will hit the markets probably next year, possibly around January. The pricing information is not out at the moment.
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