It looks a little funny though, no?
The Grand Commander name might be a little unfamiliar to some, but those who know their Jeeps will tell you that it was produced for one 5-year life cycle, and was nothing more than an engorged Grand Cherokee, swollen to make room for 7 passengers. That 2005 model shared the same uniframe construction, the same 5-point live rear axle, and featured the same range of large V6 and V8 engines.
However, the new Grand Commander, seen in these leaked patent filings, is a different bucket of fish.
For starters, it won’t be an extended Grand Cherokee in any regard. The Grand Commander appears to sit on a very different platform from the one used on the Grand Cherokee, with some noting that the placement of the front-axle in relation to the front doors suggesting that it’ll be a front-wheel drive model (eek). Further, the Grand Commander won’t have the most commanding ride height, judging by the (relative) lack of ground clearance.
Based on the Yuntu concept, the Grand Commander will most likely be a China-only model, with seating for seven and plenty of tech. Over the Yuntu, the Grand Commander has received more production-ready touches like real door handles and larger lights all-round. The cabin will also likely receive a watering down ahead of production, as the interior of the Yuntu was likely far too exuberant and expressive, and therefore too costly to produce.
The Grand Commander, this time around, will not receive a bunch of V6s and V8s from the Grand Cherokee range to provide motivation. This time, it’ll get the same 2.0-litre petrol mill from the new Wrangler, which with its eTorque mild-hybrid system, puts out a respectable 209kW and 400Nm. This may just be the only confirmed application of this engine outside of North America at this point.
It’s worth bearing in mind that it is highly, highly unlikely that the Grand Commander (in this form at least) will make it out of China, given that there’s a Grand Wagoneer in the works that will populate this same large, 7-seater space, but with all of the trimmings and trappings of a true Jeep (like all-wheel drive, for heaven’s sake). Still though, we’re glad they didn’t stick with the Yuntu name.
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