Jeep Teases Something ‘Grand’ on Social Media

Jeep could be teasing the next Grand Cherokee, a current three-row Grand Cherokee or the Grand Wagoneer.

Around 10 a.m. on Monday, August 10, the Jeep social media channels shared the image above of the Grand Canyon. As you can see, the image is accompanied by the definition of the word grand. It is safe to assume that the Trail Rated brand is teasing an upcoming models, but which model?

The Grand Cherokee has long been one of the most popular sport utility vehicles in the North American market, and the current iteration is in its 10^th model year. It is due for a new generation and it is rumored that that new generation will come within the next few years. On the other hand, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer is set to make its return as the new, bigger SUV in the lineup. This isn’t rumor – we know that the Wagoneer name is coming back soon. In addition to those two models, there is also a rumor that Jeep is working on a three-row version of the Grand Cherokee.

With three new “Grand” models expected to arrive within the next two years, this teaser image comes with some mystery as to whether Jeep is preparing the next Grand Cherokee, a current Grand Cherokee with an extra row of seats or the new Grand Wagoneer. Based on a recent earnings presentation from FCA, we believe that it could be the three-row Grand Cherokee.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee

There was a point in time within the past two years where it was expected that the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee would be all-new. As time went on, internet rumors suggested that the next generation Grand Cherokee would not arrive until 2022.

Last month, an FCA earnings presentation stated that production of the next generation Grand Cherokee would start in the third quarter of 2021. Based on that timing, the new Grand Cherokee will arrive for the 2022 model year sometime in the latter portion of the 2021 calendar year.

New Grand Wagoneer

Next, we know that the Wagoneer name is returning to the Jeep lineup and it is expected to be offered as both the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer. It is expected that this model will be a heartier SUV, riding on a Ram truck frame rather than the Grand Cherokee’s unibody construction. It has long been rumored that the new Grand Wagoneer would arrive for 2021, but we have somewhat official information that refutes that.

Once again, the recent earnings presentation comes into play, explaining that the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer would begin production during the second quarter of 2021. That would lead to a very short 2021 model year for those two new SUVs, so we expect to see them arrive for 2022 as well.

We should also point out that the next generation Grand Cherokee and the new Wagoneer are major vehicles for the Jeep brand and FCA. We expect plenty of fanfare for each of those debuts.

Three-Row Grand Cherokee

Finally, the earnings presentation states that production of a “3-row full-size SUV” from the Jeep brand will begin in the first quarter of 2021. The Grand Cherokee is the brand’s only full-size SUV right now and it has long been rumored that a three-row version was coming. This model would not be as big of a deal as the next gen Grand Cherokee or the Wagoneer debut, so it could be handled in a more subtle manner.

If you look at the social media image at the top of this piece, take note of the fact that in the definition area, it has “Grand / grand.” That is normal of a dictionary entry, with the word followed by the pronunciation. In this case, we think that it is a hint. They could be hinting to a grander Grand Cherokee, and with the definition referencing size, they could be talking about the larger, three-row version of the current Grand Cherokee.

The only problem here is that this teaser image is not accompanied by a date. It simply says “Coming Soon,” so we don’t have any idea as to when we might learn which vehicle this image is teasing. However, with 2021 quickly approaching, the Jeep brand only has a few months to introduce the “3-row full-size SUV” on the earnings presentation update. Then again, this could be the beginning of a long, slow lead-up to the next generation Grand Cherokee or the new Grand Wagoneer debut.

Photos: FCA

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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