Jeep to revive Grand Wagoneer

All signs point to Jeep reviving one of its most iconic nameplates while plugging a major gap in its product range with a luxurious seven-seater.

Said to revive the Grand Wagoneer name, the new Jeep is likely to debut in the US in 2015. If the rumour mill is right, the three-row SUV could become Jeep Australia’s flagship model later that year or early 2016.

The rumours make sense. As long ago as 2011, respected international industry newspaper Automotive News said Chrysler and Fiat Chairman Sergio Marchionne had hinted that a seven-seater was on the cards. That model would likely be built on the extended Grand Cherokee platform used by Chrysler stablemate Dodge’s seven-seat Durango.

Jeep hasn’t had a seven-seater in its range since it stopped production of the Commander in 2010. Since then, the luxury seven-seater SUV market has grown in strength, with standout models including Land Rover’s Discovery 4, Audi’s Q7 and Mercedes-Benz’s GL.