What Excites Mike Manley About Jeep’s 2017 Future

Posted on January 25, 2017 by baysideadmin

The Jeep Brand has been one a US success story. The last few years have seen a spike in drivers flocking to the SUVs and has helped Fiat-Chrysler maintain positive monthly sales figures for months. The big question is how does Jeep intend to keep that momentum going in 2017. Digital Trends had an interview with the man who will be shaping the future of Jeep, their CEO Mike Manley in which he talks about what he is excited for most in 2017.

One of the first questions is what is the Jeep brand now that it is branching out its focus into markets like light off-road and luxury. Manley goes on to say that the Wrangler is seen as the icon of the brand but, “for a brand to be successful, I strongly believe it has to have character and personality that do not necessarily end up being purely defined by the products that are in that brand.” He continued that the Jeep products are meant to evoke a sense of adventure and that each branching Jeep product always has that at its core.

What is it that excites him most for 2017? The answer is the same that many drivers are excited about. The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. The Jeep that will finally hold the Hellcat’s 6.2L Hemi V8. Since Manley first confirmed its existence about a year ago, there has been much speculation of what to expect. Will an SUV have 707 horsepower? Manley doesn’t have that answer, just hype that the finished product will live up to the hype.

The other major source of excitement for the upcoming year; the next generation Wrangler. The Wrangler has been the traditional Jeep of late. While other Jeep products have been changing their faces, and showing a more modern aesthetic, the Wrangler has kept to the classic boxy look. What will the new Wrangler look like? Manley assures that the Wrangler will still have “the underpinning of everything Jeep has stood for many years.” I wonder if that means the boxy look will remain.

If you’re looking to find out more about the current line-up of Jeeps, click the link and see the selection on Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. Be sure to like the dealership on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel, to stay up to date on auto news and our special monthly offers.

Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer Will Be Premium SUVs

Posted on July 5, 2016 by baysideadmin

The Jeep Wagoneer isn’t here yet but it is hard not to get excited. While it hasn’t hit the showrooms yet, that hasn’t stopped the news from what it will be like. Automotive News is reporting that both the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be due after 2019 and will “push the premium boundaries of the brand” according to the head of Jeep brand Mike Manley.

“The Wagoneer name represents, historically, the pinnacle of premium for the Jeep World,” Manley is quoted by Automotive News. “But in the same way as you may have an Overland and a Summit, you have different trim levels. So you could imagine the use of Wagoner to denote a really premium vehicle, and Grand Wagoneer takes it to the very next level. If you were to use that as your naming strategy, that’s exactly how I would use the trims.”

Manley is definitely pointing to the Wagoneer being one of the more ambitious vehicles Jeep is producing. With how good Jeep has been in sales, it appears that Jeep is wanting to have a long range of different types of SUVs to pick from. The Renegade at the entry level and the Wagoneer for the premium buyer.

The Wagoneer and the upscale Grand Wagoneer will be sharing a platform with the next-gen Grand Cherokee and will be assembled at the Warren Truck Assembly plant in Detroit.

Could a Jeep Grand Cherokee Pickup Happen?

Posted on May 7, 2015 by baysideadmin

A few years ago, Jeep President Mike Manley mentioned that Jeep was looking into making a Jeep brand pickup. Seeing as how it hasn’t surfaced until this point, it leaves one to wonder if this was an idea that was scrapped or if Jeep has been working on it all this time. In a moment of speculation, Carscoops decided to pick up this point again and ask the question, why can’t Jeep make the Grand Cherokee a pickup?

The article features a clever rendering of what a Jeep pickup could look like. Taking a look at it, it does leave one wondering why Jeep hasn’t attempted something in the years since Manley mentioned it. As the writer states, a rendering is one thing, but it does show how perfect a Grand Cherokee is for this experiment.

“How hard would it be for Jeep, really, to modify the rear end of the current model?”

They go on to ponder if the reason nothing has been tried yet is because of the work Jeep is doing on the all-new Wrangler. The pickup market is hot right now, but could Chrysler be afraid of cooling down the progress of the Ram trucks with a Jeep? It may just be waiting for the right time, or it could’ve just been a wonderful dream on Manley’s part.

Would you like to see a Jeep Grand Cherokee pickup?

If you’re interested in learning more about the current Jeep Grand Cherokee, contact us at Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge. View our new and used inventory online. Check out our mobile app to schedule and keep track of your service appointments. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel, to stay up to date on auto news and our special monthly offers.