At today’s media day for the 2022 Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit, the Jeep brand of Auburn Hills’ Stellantis revealed the new heritage-inspired 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe and the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary edition.
“Jeep Wrangler 4xe customers looking for the ultimate combination of capability and electrification, with a vintage twist, can now have it in the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe,” says Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America.
“The debut of the new heritage-inspired 2023 Wrangler Willys 4xe pairs 49 MPGe, 470 lb.-ft. of torque with unmatched Jeep capability, a 2.72:1 4WD low range ratio, heavy-duty Dana 44 axles and a new entry price point to the 2023 model year Wrangler 4xe lineup, which continues to be the best-selling plug-in hybrid in America.”
The 2023 Wrangler Willys 4xe boasts the performance and efficiency of 375 horsepower, 470 lb.-ft. of torque, a 17-kWh battery that handles most daily commutes with 21 miles of all-electric range, as well as hours on the trail with electric-only power.
Its off-roading credentials are boosted with the go-anywhere capability of a 2.72:1 Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system, 30 inches of water fording, heavy-duty Dana 44 axles and mud-terrain tires. Willys 4xe factory suspension lift delivers 10.1 inches of ground clearance.
The Wrangler Willys 4xe features standard LED headlamps and fog lamps, Alpine 9-speaker premium audio, all-weather floor mats, rear limited-slip differential, rock rails, black grille, and 17-inch black-painted alloy wheels with mud-terrain tires.
A special ‘Willys’ decal on the hood, trimmed in the 4xe’s signature Electric Blue, and an ‘Electric 4-Wheel Drive’ decal on the swing gate signify that this Willys is a 4xe plug-in hybrid. Electric Blue is also used to accent the front and rear Willys tow hooks, the Jeep badge and the Trail Rated badge.
Torque from the electric motors in the Wrangler Willys 4xe’s hybrid powertrain arrives instantly on demand from the driver. The powertrain also delivers fuel-saving, seamless start-stop operation of the engine.
The powertrain integrates two electric motors and a 400-volt battery pack with a fuel-efficient, turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. This configuration maximizes the efficiency of the hybrid propulsion components and mates them with the Wrangler’s world-renowned and proven driveline.
The Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe driver can tailor the hybrid powertrain to best suit each trip, whether it is filling the needs of most daily commutes in pure-electric operation, a night on the town or quietly exploring nature off-road.
Hybrid, the default mode, blends torque from the 2.0-liter engine and electric motor. In this mode the powertrain will use battery power first, then add in propulsion from the 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 when the battery reaches minimum state of charge.
In electric mode, the powertrain operates on zero-emission electric power only until the battery reaches the minimum charge or the driver requests more torque (such as wide-open throttle), which engages the 2.0-liter engine.
The eSave mode prioritizes propulsion from the 2.0-liter engine, saving the battery charge for later use such as EV off-roading or urban areas where internal combustion propulsion is restricted. The driver can also choose between battery save and battery charge during eSave via the hybrid electric pages in the Uconnect monitor.
It also includes Selec-Speed control with hill-ascent and hill-descent control. This allows the driver to control vehicle speed up and down steep, rugged grades with the transmission shift lever. Like every Jeep Wrangler, the Wrangler Willys 4xe wears a Trail Rated badge that signifies 4×4 capability with equipment that includes skid plates and front and rear blue tow hooks, 17-inch off-road black-painted wheels and LT255/75R17C mud-terrain tires, and up to 30 inches of water fording.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe maintains Wrangler’s renowned ease of customization with a host of Jeep Performance Parts from Mopar available when the vehicle arrives in showrooms.
With a starting U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP)of $53,995 (excluding $7,500 tax credit and $1,595 destination), the heritage-inspired Willys 4xe brings a new entry price point to the Wrangler 4xe lineup, joining Rubicon 4xe, High Altitude 4xe, and Sahara 4xe.
Ordering for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe is available starting today with deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe is assembled at Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex in Toledo, Ohio. Vehicles are scheduled to start arriving at dealers in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary special edition represents the most technologically advanced and 4×4-capable Jeep Grand Cherokee yet, delivering 25 miles of all-electric range and 56 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) from a hybrid system that delivers 375-horsepower, 470 lb.-ft. of torque, max towing of 6,000 lbs.
“When the original Jeep Grand Cherokee debuted in 1992 by famously crashing through the glass at Cobo Hall, it literally shattered expectations and redefined what a premium SUV could be,” says Morrison.
“Three decades later and more than 7 million Grand Cherokees sold, the most awarded SUV ever is still forging new ground with the electrified plug-in-hybrid 4xe model. The Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary edition underscores how far the Grand Cherokee has come and is yet another example of the Jeep brand’s goal to be the electrification leader in SUVs.”
On the exterior, the Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary special edition features a unique blacked-out exterior appearance with a modified front fascia, signature blue tow hooks, dual exhaust, dual pane sunroof, new 20-inch black wheels, special-edition badging and body-color rear fascia, lower moldings, sill claddings, and wheel flares.
Inside, the special-edition Grand Cherokee 4xe features black Capri leather seats, ventilated front seats, wireless charging pad, nine-speaker Alpine audio system and Uconnect 5 with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus navigation with 3D graphics.
Other standard features include front and rear park assist, intersection collision assist, passive entry, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a digital rearview mirror, and 360-degree surround view camera system.
The fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is the first Grand Cherokee to offer a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) variant. Its introduction signals the continued growth of the Jeep brand’s electrified mission of Zero Emission Freedom, as the brand explores future mobility.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe comes standard with a two-speed transfer case, 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and 47.4:1 crawl ratio. The Trail Rated Grand Cherokee 4xe delivers up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water-fording capability. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s E Selec modes — hybrid, electric, and eSave — allow the 4xe driver to tailor the hybrid powertrain to best suit each trip, whether it be commuting, off-roading, or long-distance travel.
The Grand Cherokee 4xe comes standard with the class-leading 4×4 Selec-Terrain traction management system, which offers five available terrain modes (Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, Mud/Sand) to provide optimized calibrations for any given driving scenario.
The entire Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup has more than 110 advanced safety and security features, including many standard safety features, plus available driver-assist systems, 360-degree surround view, drowsy driver detection, and night vision cameras.
Segment-leading technologies include a 10.25-inch front passenger screen, rear-seat monitoring camera system, rear-seat entertainment displays with built-in Amazon Fire TV, premium 19-speaker, 950-watt McIntosh audio system and the award-winning Uconnect 5 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The debut of the original Grand Cherokee set the industry benchmark for luxury and capability and ushered in five generations that have made the Grand Cherokee the most awarded SUV in history.
First-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ): 1993-1998
The Jeep Grand Cherokee made its famous debut by crashing through the convention center entrance at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 7, 1992. The first SUV equipped with a driver-side air bag, it set new standards for on-road ride, handling, and comfort in an SUV.
Second-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ): 1999-2004
The WJ was a complete redesign. Only 127 parts carried over from its predecessor. A larger cabin with more room for rear passengers and larger doors increased comfort, and location of the controls for the driver were more conveniently located. A new feature included the automatic four-wheel-drive option (Quadra-Drive) with a new transfer case.
Third-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK): 2005-2010
A complete redesign of the ZJ/WJ, the all-new WK Grand Cherokee combined power, luxury and a significantly quieter, more comfortable ride. Jeep engineers worked hard to improve on-road refinement by adding a short/long-arm independent front suspension. The ground-up transformation continued with a choice of three power plants, including the 330-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine.
Fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2): 2011-2022
All-new for 2011 and more than 4 million sales after the introduction of the first Grand Cherokee, Jeep improved the formula to deliver an ideal blend of on-road refinement and off-road capability, with improved fuel economy, interior, a new exterior design, and a host of safety and technology features.
The Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit has been the production home of the Jeep Grand Cherokee for 30 years. In 2021, production launched at a second all-new assembly plant in the city to help meet the demand for the SUV and expand its product offerings, including an electrified model. The two plants now operate as the Detroit Assembly Complex.
With an investment of $1.6 billion, Stellantis converted the two plants that comprised the former Mack Avenue Engine Complex and built a new paint shop to become the assembly site for the fifth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee L, and the PHEV Grand Cherokee 4xe model.
Additionally, the company committed to putting Detroiters first in the application process for the 3,850 new jobs that were created. As of July 31, 2022, 3,292 Detroiters have been hired to work at Mack, with nearly 350 from the three zip codes surrounding the plant.
Jefferson North recently completed a $900 million retooling and equipment upgrade program to enable production of the next-generation Grand Cherokee.
Available for a limited time, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary edition has a U.S. MSRP of $4,700 for the package and opens for orders later this year, with vehicles scheduled to begin arriving to Jeep dealers by early 2023.
The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary edition will be on display at the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit during public days, Sept. 17-25, 2022.
