Features

Is the Grand Wagoneer or the Grand Cherokee the Grander Jeep?

Positioned above the Grand Cherokee in Jeep’s lineup, the mighty Grand Wagoneer will most likely trade its smaller sibling’s unibody architecture for a body-on-frame setup. With its underpinnings almost assuredly cribbed from the Ram 1500 pickup truck, the Grand Wagoneer ought to emerge with towing and hauling abilities that match what’s likely to be near-class-leading off-road prowess.

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Unlike the Ram’s rear end, which utilizes a live axle, the Grand Wagoneer is expected to adopt an independent rear suspension setup. This should provide it with a ride quality befitting a vehicle that’s expected to crest the six-figure mark when loaded up with options. Don’t worry, the base Grand Wagoneer will surely sport a more reasonable sticker price of $60,000-$70,000.

2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Tech

Go heavy on the options menu, though, and Jeep will gladly outfit the three-row Grand Wagoneer with all the toys associated with high-end luxury vehicles. Expect a big touchscreen infotainment system to make an appearance (possibly the Ram 1500’s available 12-inch unit), a digital gauge cluster, and loads of comfort and convenience technology. We’ve even heard rumor of a possible Level 3 driver-assist setup to one-up the hands-free systems offered by General Motors (Super Cruise) and Ford (Active Drive Assist).

2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Powertrains

Expect the Grand Wagoneer to share much of its powertrain lineup with the Ram 1500. That may include the truck’s standard 305-hp 3.6-liter V-6, but we think it’s unlikely. Most variants of this massive Jeep, however, will likely rely on the brand’s nearly 400-hp 5.7-liter “Hemi” V-8 engine for motivation. A mild hybrid version using a small electric motor, dubbed eTorque, will surely be offered as an option on the Hemi.

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Those in search of even greater fuel efficiency may find it in the form of a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter V-6, which Jeep could employ as a means of competing with the 2021 Escalade and its diesel engine option. Additionally, a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain is anticipated to find its way to the mammoth Jeep in the coming years. No matter what’s under the hood, though, expect four-wheel-drive to come standard on most—if not all—Grand Wagoneer trims.

Furthermore, we wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of a Grand Wagoneer Trailhawk variant that uses the Ram 1500 TRX’s 702-hp supercharged V-8. The off-road capability and power of Ram’s most powerful pickup mixed with the enclosed, luxury-lined cabin of an SUV? Sign us up!

2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer On-Sale Date

Look for the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer to debut by year’s end with sales expected to begin by the middle of next year. Despite the model’s retro name (and the lead rendering), the reborn Grand Wagoneer will likely eschew the vinyl woodgrain panels of prior models. Bummer. More

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What Is a Ford Bronco Raptor?

Unlike the regular Ford Bronco’s off-road-enhanced trim levels, such as the Black Diamond and Badlands, which are geared toward traditional rock crawling and clod-busting, the Raptor has a higher-speed mission. The closest Bronco that Ford’s shown may be the Wildtrak model, but the Raptor will take that trim’s abilities to the next level. Expect reworked suspension components designed for plenty of wheel travel and high-speed bump absorption—basically, the chassis will be set up to perform Baja racing-that ought to allow the Bronco Raptor to bound across the open desert. There also will be a more powerful, likely larger, engine option than the twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 that tops the run-of-the-mill Bronco’s engine lineup.

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What Will the Ford Bronco Raptor Look Like?

We’ve taken a stab at rendering what the Ford Bronco Raptor might look like, using the current F-150 Raptor’s styling, as well as informed guesswork, as a baseline. The basics are this: The Raptor-fied Bronco will have more aggressively flared fenders with more clearance for what are expected to be standard 35- or 37-inch off-road tires; a lifted suspension for more ground clearance; a burlier steel front bumper with—again—more clearance; heavy-duty skid plates protecting the likes of the powertrain, gas tank, and suspension components; and possibly a large power dome on its hood. We also festooned the Bronco Raptor in the illustration above with Rigid Industries LED auxiliary lights, mostly because we thought the lamps looked sweet.

Part of what makes guessing the Bronco Raptor’s appearance so difficult is how wild the 2021 Ford Bronco looks out of the box. Just look at the regular Bronco with the Sasquatch package, or the Wildtrak and Badlands trims—both come with beadlock-style wheels, 35-inch tires, and aggro suspension mods. Those trims’ wheels and tires also stick out prone of the fenders, giving the SUV an aftermarket-looking appearance from the factory. The Raptor surely will build on this foundation, but how far can Ford go while complying with safety regulations and other fun-killers without simply selling a street-friendly version of the Bronco R—the tube-frame racing version of the Bronco? That we figured the muscular-looking Broncos in these early spy photos were Raptors should speak volumes to how aggro the non-Raptor Broncos can look; from what we can tell, the vehicle we spied may merely be a Sasquatch-equipped Bronco prototype.

What Engine Will the Ford Bronco Raptor Come With?

The basic Ford Bronco comes with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine shared with the Ranger pickup. It mates to either a seven-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic. Buyers can upgrade to a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6, which comes only with the automatic. Every Bronco features standard four-wheel drive, but we expect both the Bronco Raptor’s engine and four-wheel-drive system to go above and beyond the setups found in lesser Broncos.

Starting under the hood, we anticipate the Bronco Raptor will either use a fortified version of the standard SUV’s 2.7-liter V-6 or a larger 3.0-liter unit found elsewhere in the Ford stable. Horsepower figures for even the regular Bronco are forthcoming, but based on what the SUV’s engines produce in other applications, expect about 270 hp from the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and around 325 hp from the 2.7-liter V-6. As such, whatever engine ends up under the Raptor’s boxy hood likely will spit out at least 350 horses—and we think 400 hp isn’t out of the question. Really want something to look forward to? There is a slim, outside chance Ford installs the bigger 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 (which makes as little as 375 and as much as 450 hp in the F-150) or a naturally aspirated 395-hp 5.0-liter V-8 under the Bronco Raptor’s hood.

Expect every Raptor to come with Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission—we doubt the seven-speed manual transmission will make the cut.

. . . And What About the Ford Bronco Raptor’s Suspension?

Ah, the suspension, where most of the Raptor magic is derived. As on the larger F-150 Raptor, look for the Bronco Raptor to benefit from a lift kit, heavier-duty suspension components (front control arms, rear axle, and links), wider front and rear tracks, and—most critically—a set of Fox shocks. We figure the Raptor will use 2.5-inch-or-larger internal-bypass Fox-supplied units, which will offer appropriate damping and cooling for the rapid-cycle use endemic to Baja-style terrain. (Think of the wheels bouncing up and down constantly, as the Bronco hits dips, rocks, and undulations at highway speeds—such abuse can quickly fry normal shocks and rattle and bang on less burly suspension components like cannon fire. ) Look for beadlock-capable wheels at all four corners—likely wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tires (probably from the brand’s KO2 line).

When Is the Ford Bronco Raptor Coming?

Ford is staying mum on timing for the Bronco Raptor—and, in fact, it hasn’t officially acknowledged such a vehicle is on its way. The thing is, the Ranger pickup that the Bronco shares some bones with offers a Raptor model globally, and the F-150 Raptor brand continues to gain marketing strength in the United States. We figure a Raptor variant will follow the Bronco to market by a model year, meaning Ford will likely pull the wraps off the model next year and bring it to market as a 2022 model. More

They’re losing market share to trucks and SUVs, but traditional passenger cars are far from dead. Although some automakers (ahem, Detroit) aren’t even trying to sell sedans and coupes anymore, all the car companies remaining are working twice as hard to make their offerings sleeker, more compelling alternatives to the taller, truckier versions of the […] More