Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer

Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer Discussing everything from the potential of a diesel-powered Cherokee to a new three-row Grand Wagoneer, we sat down with Jeep president Mike Manley to get an idea of where the brand is headed. After the 2014 Jeep Cherokee’s New York debut, Manley told us about how the reactions to that controversial SUV have been changing.

Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer

Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer

 Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer

Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer

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Interview: Jeep’s Mike Manley Discusses Cherokee Diesel Possibility, Grand Wagoneer

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited rear three quarters 21 300x187 imageManley is confident in the new Cherokee’s capability and technology, but he understands that the only way to completely convince Cherokee loyalists of the all-new model’s off-road capabilities is for them to experience it for themselves — then they can decide whether they are happy with the new model.

When asked about the controversial new styling, Manley said, “I think, like any forward looking design, that’s new into the market, you’re going to get reactions to it. That’s the wonderful thing about styling and design; it evokes different emotions from different people.” Manley continued, “It’s one of those designs that the initial reaction is kind of polarizing. People fall into one camp or another.”

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited side1 300x187 imageWhile Manley acknowledges the new design is polarizing, he said the feedback since the official images were released is “beginning to shift over to the positive side.” To get a real understanding of the car’s design, Manly says the 2014 Cherokee must be seen in person, and we’d agree. Manley also told us that rumors that the Cherokee’s styling started out as an older Fiat design were “absolutely and completely wrong.”

Could a diesel engine be in the Cherokee’s future? It’s possible, but first the brand will be watching the sales performance of the Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, which Motor Trend just tested. Manley tells us that the a diesel engine for the Cherokee would likely “be some variant of a European diesel that we have for this vehicle, probably a 2.2-liter [I-4] or something like that, rather than a V-6 like we have in the Grand Cherokee due to packaging” differences. Ultimately, if a 2014 Cherokee EcoDiesel model arrives in the U.S. at all, it isn’t likely to arrive for at least a couple years.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel front2 300x187 imageA greater priority for Jeep might be the upcoming launch of a three-row Grand Wagoneer. Manley says that there is room above the Grand Cherokee Summit for the three-row Grand Wagoneer. That model will share the Dodge Durango’s chassis, while being “a completely different vehicle.” Manley said that they have “talked about bringing the Grand Wagoneer sometime in 2015.”

The Grand Wagoneer might even appear in China, which has become Jeep’s second largest market outside of the U.S. With a three-row SUV on the way and a new compact, entry-level model coming too, Jeep may be set to become an increasingly important part of Chrysler’s future.