FCA Design Exec Ralph Giles Says Grand Wagoneer Almost Had the ‘Wood’
Wondering why the new Grand Wagoneer lacks the slabs of wood? FCA says it would’ve been ‘too retro.’
‘Where’s the wood?’ That’s what more than a few Jeep fans asked when the Grand Wagoneer arrived back in September. You could point them to the interior trim, of course, but that’s not what they mean. They wanted a Grand Wagoneer with slabs of wood on the side, just like the late-era SJ Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer of yore.
What the world will receive come 2022, though, is a six-figure luxury SUV without that fine grain of “marine teak” draped upon the exterior. But why? FCA design boss Ralph Gilles dropped a couple bombshells about the new SUV for Gear Patrol. Both will break some hearts.
“We actually had a few themes that were…emulating the last version, from 1991,” said Gilles. “It was almost too retro. We quickly got off that bandwagon. We think we found a nice blend of simplicity [and] gorgeous details. It looks impenetrable, almost like a fortress in a way — but still elegant.”
The Grand Wagoneer didn’t always have wood, of course. Back when Kaiser owned the Jeep brand, the long-running SJ Wagoneer first arrived in 1963 as a solid slab of steel with some chrome here and there. It wouldn’t be until AMC purchased Jeep in early 1970 that the big Jeep SUV began wearing the wood trim fans associate with the Wagoneer line to this day.
“I know I’m gonna get a lot of crap about not getting the wood on the sides,” Gilles said. He adds his team did slap on some fake wood paneling on the sides “for a hot minute” before nixing the idea entirely. It’s probably for the best, as well.
According to Autoblog, the last Jeep to wear fake wood was the Liberty, through a tribute dealer package dubbed “Wagoneer.” Those who opted received woodgrain decals. However, the modern body lines didn’t work as well with the retro package; it was no PT Cruiser, after all.
Neither is the Grand Wagoneer Concept, nor the 2022 Grand Wagoneer. The new Grand Wagoneer is, however, a five-star luxury SUV sure to make a splash at the country club, just like the SJ did back in its day.
Photos: Jeep
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