GM Benchmarking Jeep Wrangler At Milford Proving Grounds
39
Sponsored Links
Just a few short hours ago, we captured GM benchmarking the Jeep Wrangler at its Milford Proving Grounds in Michigan, marking the first time that GM has tested Jeep’s free-spirited SUV in the past decade.
What we spotted was a pair of Wrangler Unlimited four-door models prowling GM’s test grounds, both decked out in a bevy of sensors and other data-collecting equipment. So we are going to cautiously, yet optimistically reach the following conclusion: a GM Jeep Wrangler fighter might finally be coming.
The idea that GM could produce a Wrangler fighter has been a topic of discussion for quite a while now. But now, just a few years ago, we reported that it was unlikely based on comments made by GMC boss Duncan Aldred. But with a pair of new Wrangler models out and about in Milford, perhaps The General’s thinking has changed.
So then – what would a GM Jeep Wrangler fighter actually look like?
The new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer RS targets the heart of the midsize crossover market, and does not compete with the Jeep Wrangler
Prior to its debut in June 2018, we believed the new Chevy Blazer could possibly fit the Wrangler fighter bill. But we’re tossing that option out the window, since the all-new Blazer is a crossover built on the GM C1XX platform, the same platform as the GMC Acadia. In that regard, it targets the ever-lucrative and highly-important (for the bottom-line) midsize crossover segment, but doesn’t pretend to touch on Wrangler territory.
As any off-road enthusiast will tell you, a GM Jeep Wrangler fighter would have to be a body-on-frame SUV to have the right stuff in the rough. As such, we think a pair of brand new Chevrolet and/or GMC entries with brand new nameplates unriddled by any historic baggage would be perfect. The duo could feature substantially different sheet metal while riding on GM’s upcoming VSS-T architecture, which is meant to consolidate all of GM’s body-on-frame vehicles on a single vehicle set.
Either way, a GM Jeep Wrangler fighter would face some stout competition. The Wrangler is obviously the dominant force in the mainstream off-road SUV segment, and the name carries legendary status. But Ford is working on a rival of its own with the upcoming Ford Bronco, which will be loosely derived from its midsize pickup truck – the Ford Ranger.
Here’s to hoping that this sighting of the Jeep Wrangler being benchmarked by GM at its Milford Proving Ground is a true indication that The General will create a true off-road-oriented SUV of its own. Rest assured, we’ll follow this story as it develops. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Sponsored Links
Gmc granite, we’ve been teased for years now make it happen.
GM also trademarked Envoy recently.
GM needs a Wrangler competitor in the worst way. Whether it is for GMC or Chevy.
This news makes me very Happy. I love the Granite name to be honest.
Most of the wrangler are used to go to the malls and don’t see much of the offroading. What GM needs to do is to build budget version of G-wagon which has the same boxy style but doesn’t not being used as off roader. More like a baby hauler.
Might be so but it is a huge image vehicle that GM has had no answer for.
Chevrolet K5
Trailblazer or Granite would be cool.
Or make a wrangler rival off of the Colorado / Canyon chassis. Throw in a new interior or save it for a couple years for when the new Colorado / Canyon comes out. For the rugged off road version they could lean on the ZR2 upgrades.
The Hummer H3 was so far superior to anything Jeep has ever built. I think Corvette Chief Engineer, Dave Hill did all the chassis/steering work. It saddened each of us who ever owned one to see it go away. I certainly would love to see a similar effort revived.
I agree. I have a 2006 HUMMER H3 and it is the best vehicle, by far, that I have ever owned. GM cannot compete with Jeep by putting trim packages on Chevrolet or GMC; they need a BRAND with at least some history to it. Revive HUMMER and do what should have been done – The HX/H4 – removable top, doors, etc. There are quite a few people that would really like to see it come back. I have 220,000 trouble free miles on mine and swear by the brand.
and bring back the h2 hummer with chrome as well.
No, I think we can safely give the H2 a miss.
I’m sure I’ll be corrected if I’m wrong on this, but isn’t the Hummer H3 just a Hummer-like body on the old model Chevrolet Colorado? It even had the same 5 cyl didn’t it? And the H2 was on the Tahoe frame/body? So the only real Hummer would be the original one (H1??).
Don’t know for sure as I was never a fan of them. But if memory serves me well, what I say above is correct. So wouldn’t that make the H3 and H2 basically just a trim package on a Chevy?
The H3 frame and Colorado frame vary quite a bit. They clearly started with a Colorado frame, but the changes are significant, including how the bumpers are mounted to the frame, cross members, and suspension connections. I had someone slam into the back of my 2008 H3 Alpha when I was stopped at a stop sign and they were doing 30 mph. They totaled their Ford 500, and I drove home.
Till we see more proof of what it is and what it is like I will remain guarded.
There just seems like there are two groups in GM on this. Those who want this and those who don’t. I expect the battle to continue.
Would they bring back the Hummer name as a sub-brand much like Denali is for Chevy or GMC for the serious off-road variants of their existing platforms? I know GMC just started using AT4 to that end, why not Hummer for Chevrolet?
I haven’t owned a GM product for 5 years now
My Father retired from GM with 36 years. We have 1 16 2 door Jeep and a 17 4 door Jeep. Also have a 17 Ram 1500. All of these Vehicles out perform any thing from GM i have owned. I was raised GM but they let down. Not sure I would go back to GM it would have to be 1 hell of a car and not cost a fortune to own.
@Bigdogmac:
Thanks for your post. Unlike many (obviously by the stupid thumbs down you have), I totally agree with you and I now once again drive a GM product. The only thing I can say is that this is a GM fan-boy site and thus why your post is not liked. What you said is not bad, not offensive, and quite frankly I find it to be very true and honest. I think most people on here are just here to defend GM instead of hold their feet to the fire like they should. Personally, when my 2018 Buick Encore is ready to be replaced in a year, I will most likely be going back to Jeep or may make the move up to the Lincoln Corsair.
If your going to Lincoln, I would recommend the Aviator or even the Nautilus. The XT4 outshines the Corsair in almost every way…..I cant honestly say the same for the Nauti/XT5 nor the XT6/Aviat.
Well then since you like Dodge/Chrysler go on fcauthority.com instead of here. Problem solved.
@Chevy Guy:
That’s just ignorant to say. You sound like a kid on the playground in 2nd grade. I often visit Ford Authority too and fcaauthority ins’t being updated ever it seems. But we are all grown ups and should be able to make adult-like comments without getting our underpants all twisted up. Just because I and others may also like Jeep/Dodge/Chrysler/Ram/Ford/Lincoln products doesn’t automatically say we don’t like GM.
Its FC authority, not FCA. I also never got my underpants twisted up, nor did I say you automatically did not like GM. It was just a suggestion, and you look like the one getting your underpants all twisted!
As to using the Hummer name I am not sure that is in the cards. #1 I am not sure GM fully owns the name. Second they did nothing to protect the name when it was attacked by the Green moment.
While the Hummer name has a lot of good equity it also has just as much negative equity. Some in the media would have a field day. Only if it came back as a EV or like could it survive the media blitz.
GM made a major mistake making Hummer a Brand and Lutz said if they had to do it over it would be a Model at GMC. I expect that to be what we see here but expect a Chevy version too that is if it ever gets a go for production.
GM has a chance to remake this to where they are not saddled with the Jeep styling or with the Hummer Size and boxy styling. They can sit down and make a very relevant platform and model to today’s market that is good because of what it is not what it is supposed to look like.
It also would give people a chance to break away from the inherit flaws of the jeep design and FCA quality.
All I know is if GM does this they have to fully commit to being a legitimate offering. Like they did with the ZR2 they put it in the hands of the people that used to work for Hummer and the results speak for themselves.
Except now we will be stuck with the GM design and the inherent GM quality. In CR’s list of the 10 Least Reliable vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2019, Half are GM products. Three are Cadillacs, the Chevrolet Silverado, and the Buick Enclave. In JD Power’s 2019 Dependability study, Buick and Cadillac rank right with Jeep in the bottom third. Know of what you speak, Design and Quality are not attributes GM “Inherently” brings to the market, at least not with U.S. assembled vehicles.
@Brian W.:
Going to call you out on BS here. Don’t tell others to “Know of what you speak” when what you are saying is not only false but can be easily Googled!
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS722US722&q=jd+power+dependability+2018&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiluYD75sHiAhXYFzQIHayZA_AQsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1583&bih=734#imgrc=Lu5t9J9r68c2tM:
It’s all there. Black and white. So where are you getting your alternative facts? Not only that, but understanding JD Power reports is an important part of it. In the latest 2019 study, the difference from the highest (Lexus) and the lowest (Fiat) is a difference of 143 problems per 100 vehicles. That works out to being (on average) 1.43 more problems per vehicle on Fiat than Lexus. And that’s the worst vs. the best on the list. Buick ranks near the top and has for years. Cadillac has fallen, but again the difference isn’t much.
Bring back the Chevy Task Force lineup: Viking, Apache, Spartan
I always thought those names would do well for the top offroad truck offerings instead of things like ZR2.. example Colorado Viking, Silverado 1500 Apache, Silverado 2500 Spartan. Names that hold up to Raptor and Rebel and could make for a great team of trucks for marketing.
But an offroad focused SUV could still be the Chevy Viking and the 4×4 badge could incorporate a badass norse sword. And have theme packages, example: a ‘Northman Package’, could be the cold weather package (heated seats, steering wheel), ‘Battle Shield’ could be a skid plate and rock slider protection package, etc.
Could have colours like Odin Black, Ragnor’rock’ Grey, Green Loki, Hammered Bronze, Lightning Blue, Asgard White Tricoat, etc.
I like that idea of terrain themed names. I know the “High Country” models exist, but there are lots of different uses for these kind of vehicles, and they can make name packages to deal with those.
Poseidon : Something beach ready, surf board mounts, good tires for the sand, or fishing themed add ons
Kodiak: Something rugged for high altitude areas. Higher ground clearance, cold weather package as suggested, mounts for mountain bikes, skis. etc.
Rattlesnake: Dune runner, something like the ZR2 or Bison ready for the desert.
Rockcrawler: For the offroad crowd, winch, skid plates, a solid suspension, all that jazz.
The ZR2 is a good catch all, but these could be simple add on packages and just include some extra badging to go with the upgrades.
@Andrew:
There you go suggesting NAMES instead of that stupid alphabet soup stuff. How dare you!! haha. Ok, ok. I’ve been beating the drum for some time now here about GM needing to use names instead of letters/numbers. Many on here don’t like that and seem to feel the world makes more sense with CT/XT/ZR/AT/GX/WTF (ok, that last one isn’t really a car but my feelings). Anyhow, I like your idea of bringing back those cool names.
Well, I do like the idea of bringing back old familiar names like BLAZER!! But it should be on an appropriate vehicle. “K5 Blazer” would be great! Viking, Spartan, even Kodiak would be cool! But the vehicle itself needs to be cool! I still use a ’89 K5. Tow with it, haul feed with it. Clean it up real good and took the family on a winter vacation up in the mountains this past winter just because it still could and was a lot “cooler” than our Tahoe. Whatever the name it needs to be tough and strong with a a lot of curb appeal. No polarizing design, no expensive hybrid crap. Plenty of old school cool and red, white and blue! Chevy needs that bad right now!
sadly the electric and hybrid are the in thing now.
Hey, I am the Chevy Guy. That was my name originally. I’m just kidding, and me and you seem similar. I am very patriotic and hate electric cars!
(I love K5s as well!)
@Chevy Guy:
May I ask what is un-patriotic about electric cars? I consider myself quite patriotic as well, but have zero clue how you tie that in with electric cars. Please explain.
I did not say that patriotism ties in with electric cars, i just stated 2 facts about myself, and i was not trying to link them together in any way. I am sorry if my comment sounded like i was trying to link them, for i was not. By the way, thank you for being patriotic. America needs that right now!
Naming a off road vehicle with a old name from a commercial vehicle would never pass.
K5 for Chevy and Jimmy for GMC would work fine. GM still owns the rights to these.
Getting into the Viking thing would lead to issue with Marvel. Though I have Vikings in my family history and like the idea.
They could offer a special Midnight Pillaging edition.
My take on this subject is that GM and others (Ford) don’t really make a Jeep Wrangler fighter a core product, but instead kind of an afterthought. Here’s what I mean by that.
Jeep is Wrangler. You say Jeep and Wrangler comes to mind for nearly everyone. Yes, GC would be a close second, but it’s the Wrangler that is the hub of Jeep and all the other models are like the spokes from that hub. GM and Ford (even Toyota with the FJ) never make a “Wrangler fighter” as a hub and work out from there. They instead come out with a fairly decent product that is more like a spoke from a core product that would be the hub. Example, if GM decided to bring out a Wrangler fighter, it would most likely be based off……..(fill in the blank)……..instead of being that core product that other vehicles could be derived from.
They are all missing the boat and will continue to miss. The only two that had a chance to compete with the wrangler is Toyota and Ford. But they won’t because they continue to make a car with some off road capability. Toyota should have stuck with the original FJ design and simply put modern tech into it. Ford should but won’t build the original Bronco with modern tech.
GM/Chevy will miss the boat because they have never had a competitor and even if they did they would build another car with some off road features.
Chevy had the K5, a very off road capable SUV that i think could easily compare to the FJ or Bronco.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_K5_Blazer
( I also agree with your opinion on how Ford and Toyota should keep the Original Bronco and FJ with new tech)
GM had displayed the Chevrolet Niva in Russia in 2014 as a concept and from looking at Youtube videos, the intent was for it be a global vehicle. It was already 4×4 capable vehicle. I wonder if GM is looking at reviving this vehicle as a 4X4, Jeep competitor? I liked the concept, actually. And I don’t know if GM still have rights or access to the platform or it was a Russia only platform.