The danger of sticking with a certain “family” look for too long is that people may get bored with it. That’s probably what Jeep execs think, too, so they want to take a different design direction.
According to a report from Autocar, Jeep CEO Mike Manley commented at the Detroit Auto Show that the brand needs to be “more flexible” with its future products.
“Two generations ago, the Cherokee had a very fluid look – it was more feminine and had a broader appeal”, said Manley. “Then we went more boxy with our styling. Now I think we can do different looks with different cars. The cars will still be recognizable as Jeeps, but the looks will evolve – you’ll start to see how flexible we can be.”
Jeep plans to evolve the styling of its models in the next three years so as to appeal to a broader customer base. It seems to have learned from its past mistakes, too.
“Back when we launched the Dodge Journey in Europe, we got some pretty negative feedback”, Manley conceded. “At that point we established a dedicated interior studio and we’re now at the point where we’re winning awards for our quality.”
There is one model’s design Manley is adamant the company won’t change. “The Wrangler is non-negotiable. It’s the car that has a look that is absolutely iconic and not to be messed with.”
That’s good to hear. Even if the other models “evolve” in something not so successful, at least the “poster boy” for the brand will remain intact.
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