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Jeep CEO Is Really Interested In Bringing The Avenger To America

8.9K views 144 replies 30 participants last post by  Dave Z  
#1 ·
From the article:

During a recent interview with Motor Trend, Broderdorf said he’s very interested in bringing the Avenger stateside, admitting he’s a big fan of how it looks and believes it could appeal to those looking for affordable crossovers.

“I will tell you flat out: I am looking at it,” he said. “I think the Avenger is an incredibly interesting product. I actually love the look of that car, and what it is. Man, that thing is cool. I’m trying to understand what the shortcomings might be. Why it wasn’t picked [to be sold in the US] to start with.”

Full article here:

Jeep CEO Is Really Interested In Bringing The Avenger To America
 
#2 ·
This company is doomed.
 
#10 ·
I have to agree with Erik. Avenger is a handsome vehicle, and Europeans are clearly smitten by it. But it is NO Jeep. Especially when Jeep is facing so many serious issues at the moment.

This is most likely Paris or Turin telling Jeep "Hey, we have this neat vehicle here that just won European Car of the Year and we think it would make a nice addition to your lineup in North America."

Having access to an automaker's global parts bins can be a good thing, but not when it clouds executives' priorities and brand vision.

Sorry. No.
 
#49 ·
Please define what a Jeep is ????? A Jeep to me is two extremes those who want a Off-Road capable vehicle and those who want a vehicle that is good in inclement weather and does it comfortably. So the Avenger to me would be a awesome addition to the Jeep Lineup. Wrangler/Gladiator Covers the Off-Road Side which is actually small percentage of Jeep owners needs and wants. Then we have the Compass,G Cherokee in both Forms then we have the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for those whose needs and wants are more excessive than what the Grand Cherokee provide, plus they don't want to be like the Jones instead they are the ones who the Jones envy !!! If they do bring it to the US my Wife and I will be definitely interested in the Avenger, we are empty nesters I don't have no need for either the Grand Cherokee or the Wrangler. Jeeps needs a portfolio that fits every persons needs.
 
#14 ·
Jeep offers a very nice midsize pickup called Gladiator.

I own one; it is a VERY nice truck. You just need to look past the MSRP and the off-road macho looks and it makes a very nice pickup truck.

Jeep is offering some sweet deals if you look around.
 
#18 ·
Wagoneer S not being a Chrysler from the start is puzzling. Yeah, I get it, they wanted Chrysler to pretend to be as technologically advanced as the 1924 B-70, but that can't happen any more. Nobody gets that huge a leap now, because everyone uses roughly the same methods. Indeed, by being arrogant with suppliers and cheap wtih engineers, Stella is LESS, not more, likely to be able to pull that off. STLA Brain is going to be “interesting” based on the issues they had with a “normal” 400V system. Waiting for Brain and 800V... for what? A car ordinary people will compare unfavorably to Teslas no matter how good it is, because they compare Musk's promises to Stella's reality? Better actually selling something now.
 
#21 · (Edited)
From the article:

During a recent interview with Motor Trend, Broderdorf said he’s very interested in bringing the Avenger stateside, admitting he’s a big fan of how it looks and believes it could appeal to those looking for affordable crossovers.

“I will tell you flat out: I am looking at it,” he said. “I think the Avenger is an incredibly interesting product. I actually love the look of that car, and what it is. Man, that thing is cool. I’m trying to understand what the shortcomings might be. Why it wasn’t picked [to be sold in the US] to start with.”


Full article here:

Jeep CEO Is Really Interested In Bringing The Avenger To America
Maybe not as a Jeep.. ;)
Image


The reality is Jeep has too much product right now, and it's almost all up in the upper echelon of $50k-110k$ (going by what dealers actually stock vs what is on the webpage)

The Grand Wagoneer should have been pinnacle luxury off-road. But it barely off-roads for something that's built on a truck chasiss. That was its mistake, besides avoiding almost anything they could to visually connect the modern version to the classic versions. Do we need a full crate wrapped around it? No. But maybe homage aside from chrome trim would've been nice as something that isn't an 'easter egg'. They could have made (and keep showing the same concept car to prove it) an off-road capable Grand. They didn't. They can rectify it, but the question is will they?

Grand Cherokee should have stuck with the short wheelbase only, and let the Durango take the 7-seater class. It was a dumb move, because people aren't going to pay for the big Jeep if they don't have to spend that much to do it. The Grand Wagoneer wasn't automatically going to be a vehicle that people buy for status, unless it had a little retro-flare to connect it to its heritage, and it does not. It doesn't even have a rear window that goes down into the tailgate. Aside from interior luxury it has very little going for it over the cheaper Grand Cherokee L.

Cherokee should still be in the lineup - I'm really not sure why they decided that they should keep the Compass over the Cherokee. It needed a redesign, no doubt. For people in that price range VALUE is important, and they cut off a lot of storage space with the odd rear end. The Compass was an odd choice to keep, IMO.

Renegade, when it comes back, had better not be worse off-road than its predecessor. It should be better off-road. Especially in trailhawk guise. They're far more capable than people give them credit for. But the drivetrain holds it back. Aside from the 2.4L being an oil hog that required engine replacements for some vehicles, and the other issues, like motor mounts going bad quickly and the MySky/Sunroof Failures, it really isn't a bad vehicle. Fix those things with quality parts that won't die if they aren't being maintained (because honestly nobody in this price range really maintains a sunroof, or thinks to do so).

Wrangler and Gladiator will always be the Halo vehicle for the off-road crowd. Hopefully they aren't thinking Recon is going to replace Wrangler. Because it won't. It's an EV alternative at best.

Gladiator needs to be a truck first and a Wrangler second. JMO. It's not, and it suffers for it. For being full of compromise. As it sits now, Scrambler would've been a better fit. The Gladiator was a truck first, and was never a Wrangler. It wasn't intended to be one.

I think a mini-truck might do well here, too. The Comanche concept wasn't a bad one. Too bad, like some of their better ones, it'll never see the light of day outside of the show circuit.
 
#22 ·
I think the Cherokee vs Compass made sense, the Compass was new, the Cherokee would have, as you say, needed a redesign. Cherokee was heavier and not all that much bigger or more comfortable. There's a new Cherokee but I think they are holding back to let the Recon come first, not wantnig to make the TC-by-Maserati mistake again (the cheap car comes after the expensive lookalike, not before it).
 
#26 ·
Except that it's still tiny compared to the Renegade. It wouldn't sell as a Jeep here. A Dodge, sure. Or even a Chrysler. I really think a lot of Americans are overestimating its size by A LOT, but the design itself is solid.
Image
 
#43 ·
I like it! But like others have said not as a Jeep. Would be great to slot under the Hornet. Great size, change the front like the above photoshop, slap on a fratzog and give it a good price. Give it a slightly higher ground clearance and you have a winner if its at the right price. Avenger, Omni, Caliber, any of those names works.

Ensure to bring the mild hybrid and the all electric. Optional on the PHEV.
 
#62 ·
I'm pretty much sure that FWD based CMP models have roughly 16cm of ground clearance.
I think you are correct. I used the first site that would give me ground clearance. It might be 21cm for the AWD version, but 16cm for the FWD version sounds right
Nope, he is wrong again.

200 mm FWD BEV
210 mm FWD ICE/4xe


 
#66 ·

While it comes with Jeep’s Selec-Terrain™ system, existing versions of the French-designed, Poland-made Jeep have only mildly impressive off-road specifications—7.9 inches of ground clearance, 20° approach angle, and 32° departure angle. The EV version is front wheel drive only. The new 4xe setup has a 22° approach, 21° breakover, and 35° departure angle, with 210mm of ground clearance (8.7 inches), which is far more respectable.

7.9 inches =0.201 meters = 20.1 cm = 201 mm
 
#67 ·
While it comes with Jeep’s Selec-Terrain™ system, existing versions of the French-designed, Poland-made Jeep have only mildly impressive off-road specifications—7.9 inches of ground clearance, 20° approach angle, and 32° departure angle. The EV version is front wheel drive only. The new 4xe setup has a 22° approach, 21° breakover, and 35° departure angle, with 210mm of ground clearance (8.7 inches), which is far more respectable.

7.9 inches =0.201 meters = 20.1 cm = 201 mm
Not being an off-roader type individual, the only thing I'm concerned about is STLA not *&#^@)$ up on the PRICING! 💲 💲 💲
 
#69 ·
It would not cost that much to badge engineer to a point
Tires suspension interior materials make quite the difference.
Dodge can be a Mazda type
Chrysler needs to figure out what it wants to be. And that might require another brand to be a volume leader
Ram is ram
Jeep is a fine line. You want to keep purists but at the same time people want a Jeep that rides good
 
#70 ·
Yup.
Plymouth existed for a reason. Chrysler ... I don't think people trust Chrysler as a volume leader. I think they're okay with it being semi-premium.
And then there's those who insist on a $35,000 V8.
 
#71 ·
Yup.
Plymouth existed for a reason. Chrysler ... I don't think people trust Chrysler as a volume leader. I think they're okay with it being semi-premium.
And then there's those who insist on a $35,000 V8.
If Hyundai cam be trusted now, so could Chrysler. It's called a long term plan. Something that doesn't exist when all you do is pander solely to shareholders.
 
#75 ·
I vote for Dodge, as an EV only for here. (Try to compete with the gasoline versions here, with Euro specs of 99HP, or 4XE at 136 horsepower and 3400 pound curb weight, and all people will talk about is how small it is and how and underpowered it is; the EV gets 156HP.)

It supposedly gets 240 miles in WLTP; I suspect it needs to get at least 200 miles EPA range for U.S. market psychology. If a few HP could be added or a few pounds shed, that would be great; a big improvement seems unlikely.

The only really significant Jeep styling cue on the Renegade is the grille, and there is nothing swoopy or rounded about it as I would want in a Chrysler. I replaced that and a couple other bits with modified Durango parts. For consistency, a resemblance to an upcoming Durango would be better. Of course, it's the Jeep boss who's interested in adding this car to his lineup not the Dodge boss.
Image

If this vehicle is imported from Europe, subject to the current tariff, and goes for $35 or 36,000, I imagine the vast majority of potential buyers preferring an Equinox EV or the upcoming new Chevy Bolt. If it could be built in Mexico with enough US battery tech, presumably for other cars for other markets, list for $32,000, and the $7,500 tax credit is not cancelled as Trump is promising and Musk is endorsing, it might become the #1 or #2 EV and and a Top Ten seller. If a threat to jack up the European car tariff is carried out, it would unfortunately sell like FIAT.
 
#82 ·
All that is understandable. I just wanted to add a more realistic comparison picture. ;) It's irritating that the American Jeep boss brings the Avenger to the table at all. It obviously was not designed for North America. They'd have to re-engineer it so much that the 2nd generation (2029?) was ready by the time. And if the next Renegade starts at 25.000 $ in electric version, there's no market below it.
 
#83 ·
That's just it though, in the US, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram all share the same show-rooms. So if you need something sub-25k, it can be a Dodge or a Chrysler. It doesn't have to be a Jeep to make money, and it doesn't have to take away sales from the other brands. Jeep doesn't need to be in every segment. They just have to do it right and stop only talking about profits (or disguising it as 'popularity') where the public is concerned. They need to invest in something that isn't almost solely their halo cars, or cars intended to be halo cars (like wagoneer, or maybe even the upcoming recon -- eventually-- at some point -- maybe)
 
#84 ·
So... maybe make Wagoneer an off-road variant of the current Wagoneer, turn the current Wagoneer into Dodge Citadel, move Compass out, fix up Grand Cherokee for off-roading, and make Grand Cherokee L into Durango...
 
#85 ·
Alternatively:
Ram TrailDuster = Ram Wagoneer + RHO Variant
Dodge Durango = What it is now (but obv's a new platform etc bc it old now) + SRT Variant, LWB [7-seater]
Jeep Grand Cherokee = Off-road variant of Durango (which is street-oriented) + SWB variants for TrailHawk/TrackhawkOnly [5 seater]