Has General Motors Changed Its Mind About Tackling Jeep?

by Steph Willems

Published: May 30th, 2019

has general motors changed its mind about tackling jeep

In the middle part of this decade, as sales of the Jeep Wrangler (and the Jeep brand itself) rose into the stratosphere, speculation cropped up that General Motors would not let its rival dominate the off-road SUV market unchallenged. The company offered hints that it might field something of its own.

A GM SUV with serious trail-rated chops is still talked about today, even after GMC brand boss Duncan Aldred, speaking in 2017, said, “I don’t think it’s worth trying to take on Wrangler.” Even after the reborn Chevrolet Blazer turned out to be an Acadia-based crossover. Blame Ford’s upcoming Bronco and the Wrangler’s continued popularity for the continued speculation.

Now, the internet is once again abuzz after photos revealed two Wranglers at GM’s Milford Proving Grounds.

Spy shots published by GM Authority show two Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds, festooned with sensors, making their way around GM’s test course. Clearly, the automaker is benchmarking Jeep’s perennially popular off-roader, but to what end?

Fans of The General no doubt hope this is all a lead-up to a new vehicle designed to take on the Wrangler in the dedicated off-road space. Know your competition, and all that. And it may indeed be, though GM has made no mention of a new model aimed squarely at the Wrangler or Bronco.

GMC would be the natural home of any such Wrangler fighter. While the automaker has kept the “Granite” trademark in the company fold for some time, the name, first used on a very unmasculine 2010 concept vehicle, is widely expected to land on a sub-Terrain crossover in the near future. Hardly a Jeep-fighter, unless we’re talking Renegade.

However, a platform introduction coming early next decade may give the company an opportunity to grant these enthusiasts’ wishes. Part of its plan to reduce complexity and lower expenses, GM expects to move all of its body-on-frame vehicles onto the VSS-T platform — a piece of architecture that would come in varying sizes. It’s possible a new SUV could emerge from the effort.

[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

#FutureModels #GeneralMotors #GM #Jeep #JeepWrangler #Off-Road #ProductPlanning #SUVs

Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments

Join the conversation

4 of 36 comments

Oberkanone on May 30, 2019

Bronco, Bronco Scout, Raptor, Ranger Raptor and an off road version of Explorer are Ford models either planned, approved, or already on the market targeting off road, outdoors lifestyle market that Jeep resonates with. GM will be late to the party if they do try to appeal to Jeep customers.

Like Reply
Hummer on May 30, 2019

Hummer should not come back under Barra, maybe if a car enthusiast was in charge, but with bean counters in charge as they are a Barra controlled Hummer would mean tons of crappy crossovers. HUMMER left with 2 (x2) products - both of which were fielded by AM General on AM Generals proving grounds. 3 Generations of BOF trucks where every single truck left the factory with full time 4WD with low range. 3 generations of trucks with steel bumpers that could take an impact without significant damage better than any SUV made today. Lockers standard/optional on every model made, Emphasis on ground clearance, approach, departure, and breakover angles. V8 Standard/available on every product line. GM would be lucky to get one of those things right on a Modern HUMMER. Don’t screw up what works and don’t crap on heritage. The Blazer name has already been trampled on - let’s leave it at that.

Like Reply
- See 1 previous
- Art Vandelay on May 31, 2019
  
  Just buy a surplus one. The military is replacing them...they can't take a blast.
  
  Like
- Hummer on May 31, 2019
  
  @Art Vandelay I have an H1 (sold one), 2 H2s (looking at a 3rd), a H3 V8 Alpha, and a H3T 5 speed manual. The HMCO H1 is close enough to s military version for me.
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Theflyersfan With sedans, especially, I wonder how many of those sales are to rental fleets. With the exception of the Civic and Accord, there are still rows of sedans mixed in with the RAV4s at every airport rental lot. I doubt the breakdown in sales is publicly published, so who knows... GM isn't out of the sedan business - Cadillac exists and I can't believe I'm typing this but they are actually decent - and I think they are making a huge mistake, especially if there's an extended oil price hike (cough...Iran...cough) and people want smaller and hybrids. But if one is only tied to the quarterly shareholder reports and not trends and the big picture, bad decisions like this get made.
Wjtinfwb Not proud of what Stellantis is rolling out?
Wjtinfwb Absolutely. But not incredibly high-tech, AWD, mega performance sedans with amazing styling and outrageous price tags. GM needs a new Impala and LeSabre. 6 passenger, comfortable, conservative, dead nuts reliable and inexpensive enough for a family guy making 70k a year or less to be able to afford. Ford should bring back the Fusion, modernized, maybe a bit bigger and give us that Hybrid option again. An updated Taurus, harkening back to the Gen 1 and updated version that easily hold 6, offer a huge trunk, elevated handling and ride and modest power that offers great fuel economy. Like the GM have a version that a working mom can afford. The last decade car makers have focused on building cars that American's want, but eliminated what they need. When a Ford Escape of Chevy Blazer can be optioned up to 50k, you've lost the plot.
Willie If both nations were actually free market economies I would be totally opposed. The US is closer to being one, but China does a lot to prop up the sectors they want to dominate allowing them to sell WAY below cost, functionally dumping their goods in our market to destroy competition. I have seen this in my area recently with shrimp farmed by Chinese comglomerates being sold super cheap to push local producers (who have to live at US prices and obey US laws) out of business.China also has VERY lax safety and environmental laws which reduce costs greatly. It isn't an equal playing field, they don't play fair.
Willie ~300,000 Camrys and ~200,000 Accords say there is still a market. My wife has a Camry and we have no desire for a payment on something that has worse fuel economy.