This August, FCA dealers will get a glimpse of something that consumers and journalists will apparently have to wait a little longer to see: The resurrected Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
DETROIT, MI - No cell phones will be allowed in the room when Fiat Chrysler dealers meet in August.
That's because at the biennial meeting in Las Vegas, FCA dealers will get a glimpse of something that consumers and journalists will apparently have to wait a little longer to see: The resurrected Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
According to Automotive News, the company is going to give dealers a sneak peek at the three-row, seven-seat, luxury SUV Jeep has planned for the 2018 model year. The last Grand Wagoneer was produced for the 1991 model year.
A spokesman for Jeep said he could not comment on future or potential product plans.
The revived Wagoneer will share a platform with the next-generation, two-row Grand Cherokee, and so will likely be a uni-body - rather than body-on-frame - vehicle, according to Automotive News. An all-aluminum or mostly-aluminum body also appears to be a safe bet.
But it's still unknown exactly what that forthcoming body of the Grand Wagoneer will look like. Speculation surrounds a kind of throwback to the 1970s-era Jeep Cherokee.
In March, Jeep unveiled seven concept off-roaders for the 49th Annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. One concept, the Jeep Chief, was described by the brand as a "tribute to the classic 1970s era full-size Jeep Cherokee, this Wrangler-based concept vehicle evokes the west coast surfer lifestyle of sun and fun with a nod to nostalgic beach rides."
The Jeep Chief can be seen above in light blue, as can various older models of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
Considered the first luxury SUV, the Grand Wagoneer was produced from 1963-1991.
FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne first hinted at its revival at the Detroit auto show in 2011. When it arrives, the Grand Wagoneer will compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator and Land Rover SUVs.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter