First-ever, All-electric Jeep
Held at the historic Altman Building in NYC, 360 MAGAZINE attended the global launch for the Jeep Wagoneer S alongside 200+ journalists. It’s the labels’ first full BEV, marking a historical achievement. Stellantis has a chance to prove to investors that their culturally iconic brand will withstand the test of time despite having a stock price of $22 and multiple engineering flaws and factory recalls. In other words, “They need to pull a Cowboy Carter,” asserts Vaughn Lowery, President of 360®.
Ralph Victor Gilles is the Chief Design Officer of Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler). Shortly after joining Chrysler in 1992, this artisanal whiz received a ton of accolades for further reimagining the dilapidated marquee. Some of his wins: 2002 Jeep Liberty, 2003 Dodge Viper, 2005 Chrysler 300, 2013 SRT Dodge Viper, Dodge ESX2 and Jeep Jeepster concepts. Gilles is a graduate of Vanier College and attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit (2002) with an MBA from MSU. He was born and bred in NYC to Haitian immigrants. He’s the the auto world’s Virgil Abloh and “Let’s pray he can help Make the Auto (industry) Great Again,” Lowery adds. Regrettably, the Big Three are encountering a decrease in sales due to ill-advised inventory and overstocking. It’s a comparison that we have all too often heard since Kendrick Lamar’s Drake dis.
The Wagoneer S will be priced in between the combustion engine models – Grand Wagoneer + Compass – starting at around $71,000. Its powerplant manufactures 600-hp, delivering 617 lb-ft of torque. It’s a Tesla killer, reaching 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. The silhouette is reminiscent of a great white with 0.294 drag coefficient. A far cry from the sea of sameness. According to Gilles, the majority of EVs are shaped like jellybeans. The drive range is approximately 300+ miles per charge. Its sibling, the Trailhawk, will be on the horizon soon. With signature badging, aluminum interior accents, 64 interchangeable cabin colors, 35-inch integrated dashboard display, 30.6 cubic feet trunk, this is what car enthusiasts longed for.
To further sweeten the pot, McIntosh, not Macintosh, self-proclaimed House of Sound (their DNA includes Sonus Faber) has curated a ‘sound stage’ inside the cabin. Well-equipped with 19 speakers, a subwoofer, and 1200 watts, this will attract the attention of the generation alpha. Who doesn’t want to listen to an immersive concert experience while roadtripping to Vegas from LA? Let’s be truthful. The only person who will resonate with TikTok is Gilles. In fact, he boasts that they selected a team of Gen Z and Millenials to help shape their blueprint.
Gilles’ eclectic art background and eccentric ideals are what Jeep needs to resuscitate its automotive soul. GM needs to take a page from their playbook because their out-of-touchness is unbearable.
“If you’re in the marketing and advertisement department, continue to support diverse platforms and invest in our youth. INVEST in US so that our innovative QR-CODED hard copies (avail on bn.com + amazon.com) and 360 MAG podcasts will transform into a VR experience where users can purchase our NFTs while using EFTs to help activate branded capsules,” explains Lowery, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
The pre-orders will be taken today, so we won’t know until then.
We want to express our gratitude to the Renaissance Chelsea, a Marriott hotel, in New York for hosting us. With a multitude of amenities, it is conveniently located in the midtown area. This stylish yet luxurious oasis has a 24-hour gym, on-site eateries, and a bar on campus. If you’re able to gain access to the residential side, the property offers stunning rooftop views, not to mention. One of the few emerging boutique hotels with a unified designer ambiance.
Photo + Content: Vaughn Lowery
