Jeep boss says V8 will be phased out eventually "but not yet"

Jeep has confirmed its V8s are not dead yet despite recently announcing big electric vehicle plans for the future – with the Aussie favourite expected to be gradually phased out.

Speaking at a roundtable event for the India and Asia Pacific region this week, Jeep CEO Christian Meunier gave the V8 a stay of execution from being axed in favour of electric power, saying “it will happen, but not yet”.

“We want to keep producing the V8 for as long as we can, especially while there is a market demand for it, but at the same time electrification gives us the opportunity to get even more performance in a better way,” he added.

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The 2021 Grand Cherokee S-Limited features either a V8 petrol or V6 turbo diesel engine

“I love it, but I love electrification more – it gives us more acceleration, more power, more torque and all in a better package without hurting the planet, and that’s the solution in the long term.”

The US manufacturer’s top execs were adamant the transition to electric won’t mean losing out when it comes to performance though.

While details are still scarce on what the Grand Cherokee 4xe teased last week may be capable of, if the Wrangler 4xe, which is available to order in America now, is anything to go by – we could be looking at the new PHEV Jeep featuring a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit making 280kW and 637Nm paired with a 17kWh battery pack.

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The Grand Cherokee 4xe PHEV will be revealed in full at the upcoming New York International Auto Show

That means the upcoming 4xe models could produce more than enough to stand up against the brand’s existing line-up – even if they don’t come in the form of a V6 or V8.

As a quick reminder, here’s how that stacks up against Jeep Australia’s current engines and their performance:

Gladiator

3.6-litre Pentastar V6 found in all variants – makes 209kW/347Nm.

Wrangler

3.6-litre Pentastar V6 found in all variants – makes 209kW/347Nm.

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The Wrangler 4xe PHEV

Grand Cherokee

Night Eagle – 3.6-litre V6 or 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel – makes 213kW/347Nm or 184/570 respectively.

S-Limited – 5.7-litre V8 petrol, same 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel or additionally available as 5.7-litre HEMI V8 – 5.7-litre V8 petrol produces 259kW/520Nm, no figures quoted for HEMI V8.

Trailhawk – utilises same V6 turbo diesel.

S-Overland – utilises same V6 turbo diesel.

Cherokee

Sport – 2.4-litre Tigershark – pumps out 130kW/229Nm.

Limited – 3.2-litre Pentastar V6 – makes 200kW/315Nm

S-Limited – utilises same 3.2-litre V6.

Trailhawk – utilises same 3.2-litre V6.

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The Wrangler 4xe PHEV

Compass

Launch Edition – 2.4- litre Tigershark petrol – produces 129kW/229Nm.

Limited – utilises same 2.4-litre petrol.

S-Limited – utilises same 2.4-litre petrol.

Trailhawk – 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel – makes 125kW/350Nm.

When also asked by 4x4 Australia about the future of diesel in its model range, the boss said the American firm plans to phase it out between now and 2030.

“Diesel is disappearing in Europe, the volume is going to reduce but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop producing [diesel variants] all at once – there will be a transition between now and 2030 and we’ll continue to have a V8,” Meunier said.

“Our role is to make Jeep even more exciting, to embrace electrification. On top of that, the Jeep community loves nature, they embrace it, so by making a product which doesn’t hurt nature and can drive in silence – that’s magic.”