What's new
By:
Mopar Insiders Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Dodge Needs It’s Own Version of the Jeep® Wagoneer S

Dodge Needs It’s Own Version of the Jeep® Wagoneer S​

Could a Performance SUV Be Dodge’s Missing Link?​


1738712238708.png

As more buyers opt for SUVs than traditional cars, Dodge needs to expand its current lineup, and maybe another SUV is the answer. While the Dodge Hornet is nothing more than a rebadged Alfa Romeo, Dodge needs something to fit directly between it and the popular full-size Durango, and the all-new Jeep® Wagoneer S could be the basis for such a vehicle.

moparinsiders.com

Dodge Needs It's Own Version of the Jeep® Wagoneer S

As more buyers opt for SUVs than traditional cars, Dodge needs to expand its current lineup, and maybe another SUV is the answer. While the Dodge Hornet is nothing more than a rebadged Alfa Romeo, Dodge needs something to fit directly between it and the popular full-size Durango, and the all-new...
moparinsiders.com moparinsiders.com
 
Click to expand...
I agree. Dodge never filled the Nitro spot back then or the spot the Journey had a few years back. The Journey could have been perfect but so neglected by Dodge. All it would have taken was a better engine and a bit more refinement. It was a good size for that gap.
 
The Wagoneer S should have been a Dodge from the start. Aggressive styling to clean it up. A perfectly sized Journey replacement that should be powered by the 2.0.
I looked at one today. The height of the roof is car like. The front is a half heated attempt at the 7 slot grill. I'm sure cargo room is hurt by short roof height and the sloping back window. Not every new product has to be a Jeep.
 
I think the Journey has good proportions as far as wheelbase, length, and ground clearance, etc. I don't anticipate pure battery electric being the powertrain of choice, it would probably have less than ten percent of sales.

A present day, pavement oriented Dodge Nitro, based on the Jeep Recon platform, should also be something for consideration.
 
Dodge has the opportunity to spin off upcoming stuff with a whole bunch of products and turn them into aggressively styled performance vehicles. If Dodge used Porsche as a benchmark, the SUV segment could hold three different sized vehicles that can deliver on the Dodge image of affordable performance. Dodge could then spin off hatchback coupes off the, let’s say, Hornet, Rampage pick up and Avenger compact coupe and a midsize trio of V-8 option SUV, Challenger Coupe and Dakota Ram pickup and fill out their lineup with affordable performance vehicles. I believe the Durango, Grand Cherokee and an Alfa Romeo SUV are already scheduled to be based off the Dodge Charger platform. Reverse engineer these two other SUVs and coupes like the Charger and you’re good to go and you have the facilities to build them in America. With coupes sedans and SUVs in the Dodge lineup the brand will prosper and have the cash to build a Corvette fighter we might call the Viper. Why the heck not guys, why the heck not?
 
Last edited:
Yes there should be Dodge STLA large CUV.... I prefer the Brampton platform so that it can get the Hurricane, but maybe they can do 2.

Journey and Nitro were horrible vehicles can we just agree that we want that sort of segment without referring to Daimler era misses.
 
A vehicle like this would actually be very welcome in Dodge's new lineup. Something lower to the ground like a Levante Trofeo but with more cargo space but still keeping a sleek, coupe-like look with that huge floating spoiler out back but obviously more aggressive on the Dodge variant. Something with the 300+hp Hurricane-4 EVO as the entry level GT powertrain moving up to a 420hp R/T and a 550hp "R/T Scat Pack" type variant with the Hurricane-6 powertrains with more aggressive styling, huge brakes, SRT type suspension, interior and everything else. Factory widebody setup (without the flares) with 305-width front and 325-width rear tires. Something decently practical with amazing performance
 
patfromigh said:
When I bring up past vehicles and refer to size and proportion, most readers on this forum can easily relate to them.
Click to expand...
Nitro - was bit oddball with it offroad orientation form Jeep, wasn't especially practical the short overhangs and storage.

C, D, and E segment Dodge are needed. E segment should be resolved with a Dodge WL75.
 
Last edited:
The Wagoneer S was already locked down when EV sales plateaued last year, so it is stuck with the battery electric power train. I would like to see the CDJR brands move towards something like what Toyota is now does, offering different levels of electrification options within the same vehicle. A Dodge version of the Wagoneer S would be a good place to start. I suspect many customers would be willing to give up a few tenths slower of 0=60 time for a range extender option.
 
patfromigh said:
The Wagoneer S was already locked down when EV sales plateaued last year, so it is stuck with the battery electric power train. I would like to see the CDJR brands move towards something like what Toyota is now does, offering different levels of electrification options within the same vehicle. A Dodge version of the Wagoneer S would be a good place to start. I suspect many customers would be willing to give up a few tenths slower of 0=60 time for a range extender option.
Click to expand...
We know that S can have Hybrid drivetrain, but needs a REEV to have the proper performance to be S.
 
This seams like a vehicle class that could be split between various brands and not sabotage sales.

The Jeep version being off road and more rugged, high stance, and the Jeep styling
The Dodge version being more aggressive and focus on the sports experience over the luxury experience, hybrid
The Chrysler version being more modern version (the new Chrysler design language) and appeal to people who want technology.

That would separate audience, and compete with the other mfgs over themselves. If your volumes are large enough, you can justify the efforts to change interior and exterior aspects to make them unique and not badge engineered. Buick and Chevy do a good job of that right now with some of their vehicles.
 
cgseller said:
This seams like a vehicle class that could be split between various brands and not sabotage sales.

The Jeep version being off road and more rugged, high stance, and the Jeep styling
The Dodge version being more aggressive and focus on the sports experience over the luxury experience, hybrid
The Chrysler version being more modern version (the new Chrysler design language) and appeal to people who want technology.

That would separate audience, and compete with the other mfgs over themselves. If your volumes are large enough, you can justify the efforts to change interior and exterior aspects to make them unique and not badge engineered. Buick and Chevy do a good job of that right now with some of their vehicles.
Click to expand...
Buick makes the interiors in China.

Pepe was big on Coachwork, look at EU so it not a bad idea to build volume across multiple brands with the pull system, but using China brand as a example is difficult as supporting evidence.
 
TripleT said:
We know that S can have Hybrid drivetrain, but needs a REEV to have the proper performance to be S.
Click to expand...
I am in shock when I see how much the state of the art has progressed in regard to extended range electric vehicle technology. Now that Mr. Cheapskate is out of the picture, will the legacy Chrysler Corp brands be allowed to investigate such possibilities. The Punch transmission is built to a price and realistically any IC engine generator setup should be running Atkinson or Miller cycle. I'm hoping for better things to come.
 
cgseller said:
This seams like a vehicle class that could be split between various brands and not sabotage sales.

The Jeep version being off road and more rugged, high stance, and the Jeep styling
The Dodge version being more aggressive and focus on the sports experience over the luxury experience, hybrid
The Chrysler version being more modern version (the new Chrysler design language) and appeal to people who want technology.

That would separate audience, and compete with the other mfgs over themselves. If your volumes are large enough, you can justify the efforts to change interior and exterior aspects to make them unique and not badge engineered. Buick and Chevy do a good job of that right now with some of their vehicles.
Click to expand...
Jeep Cherokee and Chrysler SUVs spun off the Wagoneer S are already in the works, why not a Dodge too? I’d go two row on the Jeep, and Dodge and three row on the Chrysler. All three can offer gas, hybrid and electric options. They can sell the heck fire out of these shared platform relatives. Throw in a Ram mid size pickup and it’s three shifts at Belvedere.
 
Last edited:
patfromigh said:
I am in shock when I see how much the state of the art has progressed in regard to extended range electric vehicle technology. Now that Mr. Cheapskate is out of the picture, will the legacy Chrysler Corp brands be allowed to investigate such possibilities. The Punch transmission is built to a price and realistically any IC engine generator setup should be running Atkinson or Miller cycle. I'm hoping for better things to come.
Click to expand...
Nearly everyone with any sense is abandoning the Tri-power arrangement for EV - REEV.... you can have PHEV arrangement by adjusting the battery size.

I worry the Tripower is too heavy and compromised and should be reserved for performance vehicle where a physical connection is required. Which means nearly everything Unibody should be REEV-EV setup. Dodge Tripower and BOF tri-power.
 
The Wagoneer S is 1.5 inches shorter than the first generation Dodge Durango with a wheelbase 2.5 inches shorter than the Dodge's 193" length and 116" wheelbase.. The next generation Durango grew into a larger segment. The Dodge Journey inherited the first Durango's dimensions (193" L and 114" WB) . The Dodge Nitro was 179 inches in length with a 109 inch wheelbase. Seeing those dimensions, it just seems to me a two row crossover of that size can be built on the STLA Medium platform. It doesn't need to go large, nor be that boxy, and could even be a few inches shorter than the Nitro's old dimensions.

So in answer to the video above, I think Dodge should go with a D-segment 3-row inspired by the first generation Durango and a two row C-segment model using the Medium platform, as will the next Jeep Compass. A clean sheet design doesn't have to share anything with a past product except dimensions.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top