GM Benchmarking Wrangler at Proving Grounds

[four low]

GM was short-sighted to discontinue the H series. Political Correctness against "gas guzz!ers", or the perception of "ecological damage". A 2 door competitor to the Wrangler , the H4 was in development. I've seen the pick up truck variant, why GM chickened out is a testament to Stupidity at the Top.
Giving Jeep competition would benefit all, competition leads to better products and choices.
Partnership with Renault, which involves French Unions, and the fact that the French Government owns 15% of Renault means hang onto your Last Generation Wranglers..

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[wolfdog]

The new Chevy Blazer is a Cherokee/Grand Cherokee "rip off" with no good off road options! As mentioned above another "crossover".

Jeep has optioned crossovers, Grand Cherokee and Cherokee Trailhawks! Great crossovers with some decent off road options. Especially rear electric lockers and rock rails! We have a Cherokee Trailhawk and it will go almost anywhere our JLU will with the exception of ground clearance (options are available!) and "open air" (sunroof???) it's a great... ahhh hate the word, but crossover! lol

I don't think GM wants to enter a competition with the "Jeep" name and history. Like the adds say" it's a legend"! They tried with the H3 and failed, I liked it, except inside room.

Let's see what Ford does with it's Bronco...maybe!

Go Jeep!!!

 

[Sean L]

Sold! No longer want gorilla glass. Perhaps AM General would accept a custom JL-fitting windshield group buy order

lol well It'll be four inches thick and weigh a ton.

 

[aprez27]

I never thought I'd ever see the day where Hummer's were praised on a Jeep Forum. lol Times a changin'

 

[Sean L]

I never thought I'd ever see the day where Hummer's were praised on a Jeep Forum. lol Times a changin'

The HMMWV is pretty good, I can't say anything about the H3 as I've never driven one but they don't look like they'd do too bad... and the H2....

 

[D60]

I saw a Wheeler Dealer episode where they got a H1 from salvage and turned it into a cool ride. Now if the Diesel Brothers could just do that and add some monster Cummings to it - then we're talking!

Oh please no, it's Cummins

There was a Cummings Motors News, but that's different

 

[The_Phew]

Mayhaps GM should have been considering an offroad SUV like a decade ago. If they start development now, everyone will be in electric flying cars by the time it hits market.

They just squandered their best model names (Blazer/Trailblazer) on generic crossovers already, anyway. I expect they'll rebadge one of those atrocities into a Jimmy at some point soon, too.

 

[5c0073r]

After GM does it there will be a Cadillac model lol

 

[GreyFox]

I knew this was coming LOL

What a pun. Ok are we talking vehicles still?

 

[JeepColorado]

I thought the Colorado ZR2 Bison was their off road competitor to Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger?

I could see them taking the Colorado and turning it into an SUV. The new Bronco is reported to be based on the Ranger, the platform, the engine, etc.. could all be the same.

Enthusiasts would go crazy if they did that and called it the K5!!! To have a new Defender, a new Bronco and a K5 competing with Wrangler would be incredible.

 

[GRAK]

I could see them taking the Colorado and turning it into an SUV. The new Bronco is reported to be based on the Ranger, the platform, the engine, etc.. could all be the same.

Enthusiasts would go crazy if they did that and called it the K5!!! To have a new Defender, a new Bronco and a K5 competing with Wrangler would be incredible.

Have you seen the new Defender?

 

[JeepColorado]

Have you seen the new Defender?

I've just seen the spy shots- It won't be released until later this year I think. If you meant your comment to imply that it's not really competition against a Jeep Wrangler I'd disagree.

 

[Nerdflex]

I thought the HX was a pretty nice looking concept.

 

[emilboya]

I thought the HX was a pretty nice looking concept.

YES! I would love the HX Concept to see the light of day, my wallet won’t like it though haha

There is actually a Russian company making the HX concept off an Hummer H2 frame

 

[Columbus104]

GM was short-sighted to discontinue the H series. Political Correctness against "gas guzz!ers", or the perception of "ecological damage". A 2 door competitor to the Wrangler , the H4 was in development. I've seen the pick up truck variant, why GM chickened out is a testament to Stupidity at the Top.
Giving Jeep competition would benefit all, competition leads to better products and choices.
Partnership with Renault, which involves French Unions, and the fact that the French Government owns 15% of Renault means hang onto your Last Generation Wranglers..

I wouldn't entirely blame GM on this one. Remember that this was during a point they were teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and likely wouldn't have even survived had the US government not bailed them out. They were under immense pressure to cut costs. And with gas at $4/gallon, the bigger SUV's were the obvious choice. The Wrangler may have faced the same outcome if Chrysler were forced to take a government bailout instead of being saved by Fiat (and bitch all you want about Fiat, but they did save Chrysler).

I actually had a different initial idea when I saw that GM was looking at the Wrangler. Frankly I think any competitor to try to compete directly with the Wrangler is a huge mountain to climb. Not only does FCA have decades of engineering experience already, but they also have an enormously-loyal fan base. I respect Ford for trying with the Bronco, and it was a nameplate that had a loyal following back in the day and may be able to steal a sliver of market share from the Wrangler. As previously mentioned, the only similar nameplates GM owns are either the Blazer (wasted on a lame crossover) and the Hummer (which only existed as a production vehicle for under 10 years, so doesn't have the following of a Jeep).

My guess on why GM is benchmarking the Wrangler is just to get pure offroading specs. While GM may be lacking in having a very strong true SUV badge, they do have an enormously strong truck brand. And with the Ford Raptor flying off showroom floors, and the enormous publicity the Gladiator has garnished, it would make perfect sense for GM to try to build a similar version of the Silverado. And what better vehicle to steal engineering prowess off of than the king of the offroading mountain - a Wrangler.

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