Jeep is launching a pair of new special edition 4xe models, one that celebrates 30 years since the Grand Cherokee smashed through the Detroit auto show and one that should make the Wrangler PHEV a little more accessible and capable.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee made its debut in 1992 by smashing through the glass entrance of Detroit's Cobo Hall. Since then, the company has sold more than seven million of them and it has become an off-road luxury icon.
To celebrate, Jeep is building the 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe 30th Anniversary Edition. Based on the plug-in hybrid 4xe Grand Cherokee, this package adds a mix of body-colour trim as well as black accents to the Grand Cherokee. There is a modified front fascia and new 20-inch wheels, as well as a 30th Anniversary badge on the tailgate.
Inside, the model gets black Capri leather seats with ventilation for the front occupants. It will have a dual-pane sunroof, Alpine audio, and Uconnect 5 infotainment on a 10.1-inch screen. Other standard gear includes front and rear park assist, passive entry, and rain-sensing wipers.
The 4xe driveline is unchanged, so the 30th Anniversary Grand Cherokee gets 42 km of electric range, 375 hp, and 470 lb-ft of torque. Pricing will come later, with the special edition set to hit dealers early next year.
Meanwhile, if you want something more rugged, Jeep has the Wrangler Willys 4xe. The Willys package includes a suspension lift to give it a little more ground clearance, 2.71:1 low range 4x4, Dana 44 axles, and factory rock rails.
The appeal of this one, though, is that Willys vintage hood badge, which is a nod to the original jeeps of the 1940s. Because this is a 4xe, the stencilled badge gets an electric blue outline, and there is an Electric 4x4 badge on the tailgate.
While Jeep didn't have pricing for Canada, the U.S. Willys slots in about $1,500 less than a 4xe Sahara. We'd expect the same here, so somewhere around $59,000.