For the past several months, our spy photographers have been chasing Jeep® engineers as they test mules for the upcoming 2022 Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer (WS). Many people were confused when we first showed pictures of a cut-down Ram 1500 chassis mule, for Jeep’s upcoming Ram-based body-on-frame full-size SUV back in April of 2019. Since then we have spotted the cut-down chassis mules across the United States like Michigan, California, and Arizona. We also have seen shots of Jeep engineers hot weather testing the mules in Dubai.
Our spy photographers than caught the Wagoneer in a full-bodied prototype form, using slapped together Ram 1500 parts and what looked like parts from the current-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2). Those prototypes have been spotted around the Metro Detroit area, with one even getting stuck on the side of the road.
It seems now that the legendary SUV brand has shown off its Grand Wagoneer Concept, the Jeep team is now testing in the Wagoneer in its final pre-production form. Two of the new prototypes showing its Wagoneer faces have been spotted along with one of the original chassis mules in locations like the suburban area of St. Louis and Tulsa, Oklahoma. We expect the team of engineers were on their way to the FCA Proving Grounds in Yucca, Arizona.
When it comes to the overall appearance of the Wagoneer, the pre-production models look to carry over a lot of the features from the concept model. We do see the addition of corner lights in front of the front wheels, quarter windows put in the second-row windows, and gone is the premium signature grille lighting in favor of some new daytime running lights (DRLs) similar to the shape that is found on the midsized Cherokee.
This Wagoneer prototype shows us that grille still has that trademark Wagoneer kink, the detailed roof rack from the concept looks to have made it to production (without the teakwood), and gone are the 24-inch concept wheels which are replaced with what looks to be 22-inch dual six-spoke aluminum wheels. When it comes to the front fascia, it looks like much of the design from the concept is carried over to the production with little to no change.
The rear design styling seems to feature much of the same design as the concept as well, with tail lights than run the length of the rear of the vehicle. We do see the same shark fin antenna from the Ram 1500, is also located on the rear middle section of the roof of the Wagoneer.
We do now know that the Wagoneer will now be a family of planned vehicles for the Jeep brand. There will be the Wagoneer as the entry-level of the spectrum. Expect a more traditional Jeep offering than what we have seen with the premium offering with the Grand Wagoneer Concept. Grand Wagoneer will be much like the concept, with a lot of high-tech gadgets and premium furnishings. There are planned long-wheelbase versions of both models as well.
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Unlike the concept model, there is no hint of a charging door indicating that either of these prototypes is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) which will debut in the 2023 model year. Sources close to MoparInsiders.com indicate that both the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with eTorque powertrains will be among the first powertrains available. However, don’t expect an EcoDiesel option in the lineup anytime soon as FCA moves more away from diesel and towards electrified powertrains.
Stay tuned to MoparInsiders.com for the latest Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer news and information, and for those who want to discuss the all-new Wagoneer more in-depth, you can visit WagoneerForums.org.
