Jeep hopes that aftermarket tuners will see the new Wagoneer’s robust body-on-frame construction and powerful V8 engine as a blank canvas. Jeep is encouraging outside companies to customize the SUV and plans to work with a handful of partners to build Wagoneer-based concepts for the 2021 edition of the SEMA show, among other events.
“I think on the Wagoneer, maybe a little less on the Grand Wagoneer, we’ll see overlanders, we’ll see all kinds of lift kits and tires and outdoor gear,” predicted Jeep boss Christian Meunier in an interview with Muscle Car & Trucks.
Both models are related to the Ram 1500 under the sheet metal, so tuners don’t start from scratch. Jeep positions the Wagoneer as the largest SUV in its range, placing the Grand Wagoneer at the very top of its model hierarchy as an alternative to upscale models such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.
“I think it will drive people crazy, and we want them to go crazy. It’s part of the culture,” said Meunier. He added that his team is considering giving some tuners early access to the SUV so they can get a head start. He hasn’t revealed exactly what he has in mind, but it’s not hard to picture a Wagoneer (pictured) with 35-inch off-road tires, a two-plus-inch suspension lift kit, a roof-mounted tent and a rear-mounted spare wheel, for example.
Of course, Jeep could give Wagoneer owners the option to customize their SUV without paying any money to a third party. It’s safe to bet buyers will have a long list of Mopar accessories to choose from, and the company announced it will open its own customization facility near the Toledo, Ohio plant that the Wrangler is building.
The next SEMA show is scheduled to open its doors on November 2, 2021, so we’ll have to be patient to find out what Jeep and its partners are preparing. Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer sales will also start at the end of 2021.
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