A new seven-seater Jeep is still to be officially confirmed by the US 4WD brand but is believed to be in the pipeline for a 2015 release.
Jeep hasn’t offered such a vehicle since the Commander was discontinued in 2010 (2009 for Australia).
Jeep’s biggest vehicle is currently the Grand Cherokee, though the flagship model continues to offer five seats only.
Chrysler’s vehicle line executive of international products and programs, John Mrozowski, said there was an obvious hole Jeep could fill.
“That’s the question of the day,” said Mrozowski, when asked about the potential for a third row in the Jeep Grand Cherokee that has launched in updated form this month in Australia. “There’s certainly a market for a seven-passenger Grand Cherokee.”
“But I can’t comment on future product.”
US speculation is pointing to a new model called the Jeep Grand Wagoneer rather than an extended-seating version of the Grand Cherokee.
Either way, the model would likely use a stretched version of the Grand Cherokee’s platform, which is a legacy from the old DaimlerChrysler alliance and is also used underneath the current Mercedes-Benz ML.
The new seven-seater is likely to feature less boxy styling and a roomier 3rd row, addressing some of the issues that led to the Jeep Commander lasting only four years due to poor sales.
