Range Rovers Make Sergio Marchionne’s Blood Boil

Who knew that just the sight of a Range Rover brings the surrounding temperature around Sergio Marchionne close to 212 degrees (that’s the boiling point of blood if anyone’s wondering.) But they do. Well not literally of course. According to a report by Bloomberg Business in an impromptu interview with the 62-year-old Italian Canadian exec, Marchionne wants to pummel Range Rovers so bad with a Fiat-Chrysler offering.

"“When I see a Range Rover on the street, my blood boils, because we should be able to do a thing like that. And we will.”"

If it’s the Jeep Grand Wagoneer that you think Jeep is reviving, you’d be wrong. This all new luxury SUV would probably sit one above the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. But Wagoneer fans shouldn’t be dismayed. Jeep is still planning to release that offering three years from now.

If you’re looking for powertrain hints and possible chassis offerings for this all-new Jeep Luxury SUV, you’d best turn your attention to the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Rumor has it that the Maserati Levante,  Fiat Chrysler’s premium luxury SUV offering, will make its world debut at that show. This luxury SUV is expected to start out at $100,000 and climb up from there.

This luxury SUV is expected to start out at $100,000 and climb up from there. Engine offerings for the Levante will probably come in-house from Maserati and a rumored range topping Levante engine offering would possibly come from Ferrari (it’s good to have part ownership of a super- car company.)

My guess for this Range Rover beating Jeep is that Marchionne in all his marketing genius, will find a way to use the exact same chassis from the Maserati Levante, but engineer it to come in at a much more enticing MSRP when compared to the Range Rover.

The future looks bright for Jeep and its current offerings are certainly testament to that fact.  We’ll be curious to see what Marchionne comes up with.