Recent rumors have suggested that General Motors wants a product to take on the Jeep Wrangler. Now, a new report from The Wall Street Journal further fuels the speculation. Insiders told WSJ that a Jeep competitor is being considered, and that it would likely be branded as a GMC if produced.
According to the report, an off-road-focused model was recently proposed to dealers by GM executives. The new product would "borrow cues and capability" from the Hummer brand, which was axed in 2009. The move would cash in on the newfound demand for SUVs, which has been spurred by cheaper gas prices. Even when fuel was pricier, Chrysler group still made a killing on the Jeep Wrangler, with sales increasing by 13 percent to roughly 175,000 units in 2014. The Wrangler is also highly profitable, with some models selling for as much as $50,000 new.
People familiar with the matter told WSJ that a name hasn't been chosen, and that the model has yet to receive the green light. The purpose of presenting the idea to dealers was to gather feedback and assess market viability. This is only the latest clue that GM wants to enter the Wrangler's segment, which is now smaller with the departure of the Toyota FJ Cruiser last year. In November, GMC boss Duncan Aldred said a "Wrangler-esque type of vehicle" was a possibility.
GM global product chief Mark Reuss also teased us with the promise of all-new product early last year. When asked if we'd ever see a GMC model that didn't have a Chevrolet-branded counterpart, the executive replied, "Oh yes, you will." While it's unclear if it was the Wrangler-fighter Reuss was referring to, we know GM wants to further differentiate GMC from Chevy. Having a rugged, off-road-focused SUV would help in that regard.
Read more:
http://wot.motortrend.com/1501_gm_mulling_jeep_wrangler_competitor_for_gmc.html#ixzz3aoxMjfxB
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