Jeep Grand Cherokee History Covered in New Book

I’ve said it time and time again: the more we celebrate Jeep’s 75th anniversary, the more we’re bound to learn things about the marque that we didn’t know before.

Such continues to be the case with Jeep, as detailed most recently in a story by Automotive News that discusses how the Grand Cherokee became a Jeep. And one of the things that many young Jeep fans might find surprising is that it all started with a relationship with the French, and that the SUV was almost named Dodge.

Pretty crazy, huh?

Well, apparently maybe not as much as people think, according to a new book called “The Last American CEO,” written by a pair of former auto execs. Birthed as the XJ design project in a unique partnership with Renault and AMC, the goal was to create a true four-wheel vehicle with the handling and comfort of a car.

The Grand Cherokee was finally introduced in 1984, so I guess you can say the rest is history. And a pretty successful history at that.

Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>

Via [Automotive News]