2019 Jeep Renegade Limited 4x4Jil McIntosh Big changes are reportedly in store for everybodys favourite off-road brand, Jeep.The companys entire lineup is on track to get electrified by 2022, Jeep global president Christian Meunier revealed to Australias Car Advice at the debut of the 2020 Gladiator. This means in just a few years we can expect plug-in hybrid or battery-electric powertrains under the hoods of not just new products, but icons like the Wrangler as well.Its a lofty goal for the brand to complete in just two years, but its already got a start in the compact Hybrid Renegade.Jeeps also plans to expand its lineup into more on-road vehicles, according to reports from Auto Express, and has been confirmed to soon launch a rival to the extremely popular ultra-compact Suzuki Jimny.We want to make it more of a sustainable, iconic brand, not only an off-road brand, Meuniers said, which suggests this brand re-alignment rumour has legs. While its arguable Jeep is already an on-road brand, as probably less than half of owners actually take their vehicles out on the trails, a more road-friendly SUV would be a good move for Jeep.And a Jimny rival would do very well in North America, since Suzuki has decided not to bring the vehicle here thats a gap Jeep could potentially fill.With Jeeps new doctrine in mind, wed bet the vehicle could also be all-electric, making for the perfect little city car, especially for us Canadians that need a little more ground clearance for those particularly harsh winters.LISTEN: What do you get when you combine a cross-country electric vehicle road trip with a poignant love story? Mary Ann’s Electric Drive, that’s what. In this week’s episode of Plugged In, we chat with Harvey Soicher, a Vancouver man who tragically lost his soul mate 18 months ago but found some semblance of healing by embracing what he calls a ‘pioneer spirit’ to drive his Audi e-tron from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back.
Origin: Jeep wants to electrify its whole lineup by 2022, says report