As automakers begin to transition their lineups towards EVs, they have a choice to make about where they want the design direction of their vehicles to go. This is especially true when factoring in factors of design that help improve range. Brands like Mercedes, for instance, have been making their EVs very round and smooth while a marque like GMC kept the Hummer EV as boxy as the original.
One company whose image heavily relies on its vehicles’ styling is Jeep, whose boxy designs hearken back to their rugged military vehicles of old. Given that, they had to be careful about how they approached the design of their upcoming electric offerings. However, as reported by Autonews, dealers seem to like the new look so far.
More: 2024 Jeep Wagoneer EV And Recon Electric Off-Roader Revealed At Stellantis Dealer Event
At a Stellantis dealer event last week, much praise was given to the Recon, a Wrangler-adjacent off-roader that manages to still look like the classic Jeeps people know and love, while also bringing its own distinct identity to the table. Additionally, in typical Jeep fashion, owners will still be able to remove the doors and roll back the roof for an open-air experience.
One former Jeep dealer, Josh Towbin, supposedly plans on getting back into the business because he sees promise in the brand’s future offerings, especially the Recon. “I was a fan the second I saw it,” Towbin told Automotive News. “I get a vibe for a car, if it’s going to be a hit or not, just like a gut feeling. I do pretty good with that. I’ve been aware of that car for a while, and it’s an exciting vehicle. I think that car is just going to be a guaranteed hit. It’s got the Jeep off-road capabilities.”
Photos Fred/Jeep Recon Forum/Lee Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram and Stellantis
Other dealers at the event also liked the Wagoneer S, an upmarket midsize SUV whose swoopy styling is a bit new for Jeep, but not a complete departure from what we’re used to. “The industry has sort of created this expectation that electric vehicles have some certain design elements, and I think they really did a good job of staying true to Jeep, but still incorporating differentiators so that it is an EV,” said Josh Douglas, a Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram dealer, to Automotive News.
Confusingly, this lux midsize SUV isn’t an electric version of the three-row Wagoneer, but rather something entirely different, aimed more at the likes of the BMW iX than the Cadillac Escalade. Nevertheless, it should prove to be a competitive offering if it can deliver on the concept’s 600 hp (608 PS / 447 kW), 400-mile (644-km) range, and 3.5-second 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time. Along with the Recon, the Wagoneer S is slated to arrive in 2024, so it seems dealers won’t be the only ones with access to these SUVs for very long.
