Jeep is working on a compact off-road SUV inspired by the original Willys, and European boss Xavier Peugeot confirmed the project at the Paris Motor Show. The model is in early development and is not expected in Europe until after 2030, with no concrete launch date confirmed yet.
Peugeot said the brand will firm up its “ideas around Willys” by 2030, by which point the next Renegade should be on the road. The Willys-inspired SUV is one of several concepts under study rather than a signed-off production car.
A deliberate nod to the original
Peugeot framed the project as a matter of brand responsibility, saying Jeep must “translate Jeep’s original DNA into concrete and strong answers for European customers”, in line with how the brand positions itself in the United States. “The key word for Jeep in Europe is, of course, freedom. It’s also adventure, it’s authenticity, and it’s passion. And when you evolve such an iconic brand, you feel the responsibility to continue,” he said.
The original Willys helped liberate Europe 80 years ago, which gives the tribute obvious emotional weight on the continent. The catch for buyers is the timeline: a car confirmed at the 2024 Paris show that may not arrive until the 2030s is a long wait for anyone shopping today.
Underpinnings and four-wheel drive
Peugeot said every new Jeep will be available with four-wheel drive, and the new SUV will be expected to live up to the Willys heritage. It will likely ride on Stellantis’ upcoming SLTA architecture, which can accommodate a variety of powertrains, though no engine or battery details have been announced.
Customers should not expect a rebadged group product. Emanuele Cappellano, Stellantis’ European boss, said earlier this year that each model will carry a distinct design with “features that are characteristic for each and every brand”.
Part of a wider European push
The Willys-inspired model is one of four new Jeeps being prepared for Europe, alongside the next Renegade, a large D-segment SUV and the Recon, which is already on sale in the United States. Peugeot said Jeep wants to “strengthen our presence across the key SUV segments. That’s where our business is, and we will continue to do so”.
A US arrival looks unlikely. When Jeep set out its American roadmap earlier this year, the only new model named was the Wrangler Scrambler, and the original Willys measured just 132 inches long, about 10 inches shorter than a Fiat 500e, a size that would be a hard sell in the US. If it ever crosses the Atlantic, it would not be until well into the next decade.
