Jeep says it is looking to its history as it crafts its electrified future. The Stellantis brand is looking to build upon the legacy of the “industry’s first modern SUV”, the 1963 Wagoneer, which featured a luxurious interior, upscale materials, and premium appointments, with its first global all-electric SUV. Today, the brand shared more details and provided a first look at the interior of the new Jeep Wagoneer S built on the new STLA Large platform from its parent company.
The brand promises that the new SUV’s tech-focused interior will feature premium technology integrated with meticulously crafted artisan details. Features include a tailored driver control center with a Jeep-brand-exclusive Selec-Terrain toggle and dynamic color-selectable ambient lighting. The SUV will also feature a standard dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a segment-exclusive, 19-speaker, premium flagship audio system from its expanded collaboration with McIntosh.
Earlier this month, Jeep revealed the exterior design and expanded its lineup of SUVs with the all-electric and premium Wagoneer S, which will be sold in the U.S. in the fall of 2024 and then in key markets around the world. Driven by aerodynamic efficiency, its sleek exterior design features a reimagined LED-lit seven-slot Jeep brand grille.
The Wagoneer S is part of the Jeep brand’s ongoing 4xe global electrification initiative in pursuit of the brand’s vision of accomplishing Zero Emission Freedom. The plan is in full support of the net zero carbon emissions targets set by Stellantis during the Dare Forward 2030 long-term strategic plan.
It will offer standard 4xe capability with all-terrain management, advanced Jeep brand-focused technology, and impressive performance credentials including 600 hp (447 kW) and a 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) time of around 3.5 s.
The STLA Large platform
Earlier this month, Stellantis unveiled the new, flexible, BEV-native—but including hybrid and internal combustion propulsion—STLA Large platform that is the foundation for the Wagoneer S and a range of upcoming vehicles for global markets in the D and E segments.
The automaker says that the platform enables several segment-leading capabilities including embedded energy (118 kW·h), charging efficiency (4.5 kWh/min), and performance (0-100 km/h or 62 mph in the 2-s range)—along with high-performance vehicle dynamics and Trail Rated off-road driving. It also claims the platform is engineered with unparalleled technology flexibility that enables greater levels of vehicle diversity and “top-rank” quality and customer satisfaction from a base set of componentry along with robust and cost-efficient manufacturing processes that can be duplicated in multiple assembly plants.
Upcoming products on the platform will cover a spectrum of vehicle types, from cars to crossovers and SUVs, all with the electric propulsion benefits of instant torque response combined with zero emissions. The automaker says that the STLA Large platform and the full-size vehicles based on it are the core of customer demand in prime global markets. The platform will be used first in the North American market not only for Jeep but also for Dodge, followed by other brands including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, and Maserati. There will be eight vehicles launched from 2024-2026.
“Our goals for our STLA platforms are ambitious, but this is what our customers need from us today,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “Creating a family of vehicles from a well-engineered set of components that is flexible enough to cover multiple vehicle types and propulsions, overperforming any of our current products, will address each of our iconic brands’ customers. The flexibility and agility of this platform is its hallmark and will be a driving force for our success in the shift to electrification in North America.”
The platform’s flexibility enables engineers and designers to adjust the wheelbase, length, width, height, and ground clearance. It spans 187.6-201.8 in (4764-5126 mm) length, 74.7-79.9 in (1897-2030 mm) width, and 113.0-121.1 in (2870-3075 mm) wheelbase ranges. While no mention of height, the ranges are 5.5-11.3 in (140-288 mm) for ground clearance and the odd 32.6 in (858 mm) size for maximum tire diameters.
Engineers can adjust key dimensions—such as the front spindle to the driver’s foot, the front and rear overhang, and the passenger compartment floor—to fine-tune vehicle capabilities and performance. Several suspension modules and powertrain cradles can be selected to suit vehicle-specific performance objectives like ride, handling, and comfort.
Employing advanced high-strength materials is intended to optimize for weight and rigidity to enable best-in-class performance across vehicle types. Key comfort and performance components—such as the cabin heating/cooling system, steering, braking assist, and propulsion—are designed to minimize energy consumption to enhance driving range. Components within the platform are packaged to maximize usable interior space and storage.
Three-in-one EDMs (electric drive modules) that incorporate the motor, power inverter, and gear reduction can be configured in front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive layouts. The power inverter employs silicon carbide semiconductor technology to minimize power losses. Propulsion system performance can be upgraded during the vehicle’s lifespan via over-the-air software updates. Based on specific vehicle objectives, the platform accepts drivetrain enhancements such as limited-slip differentials and wheel-end disconnects that can improve performance or reduce mechanical drag to improve efficiency and range.
Overall, Stellantis says that the STLA Large platform has the potential to carry extreme power that will outperform any of the existing Hellcat V8s—music to the ears of eco-conscious performance enthusiasts. The initial generation of propulsion components holds the potential to deliver acceleration of 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in the 2-s range.
Balancing driving range and cost, the platform initially includes battery-pack options with energy ratings between 85 and 118 kW·h and overall range targets of 800 km (500 mi) for sedans. However, it is engineered to easily accept future energy storage technologies when they reach production readiness.
STLA Large is designed and engineered with the option of 400- or 800-V electric architectures. Fast charging will add up to 4.5 kW·h per minute to the 800-V battery pack.
While a native BEV platform, STLA Large will be installed in several plants in Europe and North America with available multi-energy variants supporting hybrid and ICE (internal combustion engine) propulsion systems without compromising key vehicle capabilities, according to the company. That flexibility is intended to provide a bridge for customers during the transition to electric propulsion and the development of a robust and widely available charging network. Hybrid/ICE design flexibility provides transverse and longitudinal engine mounting configurations supporting front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive.
STLA and Dare Forward
The STLA Large platform supports Stellantis’ next-generation electrical and software-defined vehicle technologies—STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive.
Outlined on EV Day 2021, it is one of four global platforms—Small, Medium, Large, and Frame—that underpin Stellantis’ future products and are key to achieving the bold targets of the company’s Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan. It is the second platform to be revealed following the release of the STLA Medium in July 2023 on the Peugeot E-3008.
The four platforms are designed and engineered for extended lifecycles via the interchangeability of battery-cell chemistry, EDMs, power inverters, and software control.
Stellantis is investing more than €50 billion over the next decade in electrification to deliver on the targets of reaching a 100% passenger-car BEV sales mix in Europe and a 50% passenger-car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the U.S. by 2030. To achieve these sales targets, the company is securing about 400 GW·h of battery capacity, which includes support from six battery manufacturing plants in North America and Europe.
Stellantis plans to have 48 BEVs on the market by 2024 and says it is on track to become a carbon net zero corporation by 2038, all Greenhouse Gas Protocol scopes included, with single-digit percentage compensation of remaining emissions.