Jeep might not be part of the massive Stellantis stand at the Paris Motor Show, but it still managed to steal our attention with an unexpected announcement. The European chief of the American brand hinted at a new project inspired by the spirit of the iconic Willys Jeep.

Xavier Peugeot, Head of Jeep Brand Enlarged Europe, revealed bits of information about the future project during a press briefing in Paris. As reported by Autocar, he said that the Willys is a key topic of interest for the brand, and one of several new ideas for future products.

More: 2027 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Debuts With A Lift And Real Off-Road Capability

The high-ranking official clarified that Jeep is “not confirming any concrete launch”. Still, he implied that the Willys project could follow after the confirmed launches from Jeep’s current “Road to 2030” strategic roadmap.

During the presentation, Peugeot showed an image of the Willy’s Jeep next to a wooden crate, featuring a “Not Fragile” stamp. This explains the mysterious teaser of a shipping container shared by Jeep last week.

Review: The New 2027 Jeep Compass e-Hybrid’s Rugged Looks Write A Check It Can’t Cash

Italian media Quattroruote reports that Jeep is currently evaluating ideas combining a compact footprint, off-road capability, electrification, and iconic styling. This suggests that the Willys revival could be positioned in the small segment, potentially below the Avenger and the future Renegade.

Peugeot admitted that Jeep’s values are important to fight the Chinese models in Europe, with the Willys described as “a key card to play.” Still, the project is at an early ideation stage, with the European chief adding: “Give us some time and we’ll come back to tell you more.” 

Jeep

Reading between the lines, a new Willys-inspired Jeep is not expected to hit European markets before 2030. While details are scarce, we picture a small boxy SUV with a no-frills character, an electrified powertrain, and an affordable price tag. However, before the project gets the green light for production, Jeep has several new models in store.

More SUVs For Europe

The company plans to expand its European lineup from two to six models by 2030. The recently facelifted Avenger and the new Compass will be joined by a new generation of the Renegade, the fully electric Recon, a yet-unnamed B-SUV (subcompact) and and a flagship D-SUV (midsize) developed in collaboration with Dongfeng.

More: Jeep’s Next Flagship SUV For Europe Comes From China, Not America

Xavier Peugeot confirmed the upcoming arrival of the Renegade, adding that Jeep “would be mad not to consider it” based on the sales of the original. He also said that the Recon will arrive in Europe in 2027 serving as a fully electric replacement for the five-door Wrangler.

Jeep

The Jeep Wagoneer S was an overpriced flop and dealers are still struggling to get rid of 2025 models. A quick search online reveals a number of massive discounts including one model that stickered for $67,590 being listed for $40,855. That’s a savings of $26,735 and it even includes an $855 documentation fee.

Unfortunately for Jeep, the Wagoneer S is closely related to the upcoming Recon. It starts at $65,000 before a $1,995 destination fee.

More: Jeep’s $65,000 Recon Is Surprisingly Fast, But Can It Outrun The EV Slowdown?

The hefty price tag puts the model in an awkward spot as it will arrive shortly after the smaller Rivian R2. It costs $57,990 in Performance guise and will be followed by a more affordable Premium – which begins at $53,990 – later this year.

While we’ve already compared the two models, it appears some Jeep dealers are worried about history repeating itself. As a result, they’re already slapping discounts on the Recon ahead of launch.

These aren’t anything to write home about and they’re nowhere close to the massive markdowns we’ve seen on the Wagoneer S. However, Jeff Wyler Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Columbus shows a $720 discount on their Recon Moab.

Over in California, Van Nuys Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has a $500 discount on their Moab. This means the $67,590 MSRP has been knocked down to $67,090 before a $122 document and electric filing fee.

Bomnin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Doral also has a $500 discount on their incoming Recon, but the savings is more than offset by massive fees. This includes a $999 dealer fee as well as a $499 electronic fee.

As for the handful of other vehicles listed online, they’re largely priced at MSRP. That being said, it’s too early to read into anything as the crossover hasn’t even launched yet.

Recon Has More Power Than Originally Announced

Digging a little deeper, we discovered that Jeep quietly updated specifications for the Recon. When the model was introduced in 2025, it was rated at 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS) and 620 lb-ft (840 Nm) of torque.

The company has now bumped the output up to 670 hp (500 kW / 679 PS). This will enable the crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in as little as 3.6 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).

Besides having an additional 20 hp (15 kW / 20 PS), Jeep has tweaked the range estimate. It originally stood at 250 miles (402 km), before being lowered to a maximum of 230 miles (370 km).

Jeep now lists the range as 222 miles (357 km) for the Recon Moab and 240 miles (386 km) for the Overland trim. The latter will arrive sometime after launch and details remain to be seen.

More details have emerged about the new models that Jeep will build in China through its local partnership with Dongfeng Motor Group. Under the deal, Jeep will develop two electrified models leveraging Dongfeng technology and sell them not only in China, but also export them internationally.

Stellantis inked a new agreement with Dongfeng back in May, signaling Jeep’s return to building cars in China after a four-year break. Crucially, this will be the first time that Jeep exports vehicles sold in China overseas.

Read: Jeep’s Next EV Could Be Made In China Instead Of Ohio After Stellantis Deal

Stellantis chief executive Antonio Filosa revealed earlier this week that the newly established $1.2 billion Dongfeng Stellantis Automotive Technology company will develop the two Jeep models at its Wuhan facility, starting next year. Both plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions of the new Jeeps will be developed.

According to Auto News, Dongfeng Stellantis Automotive Technology will develop and market the new models while the long-standing Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroen (DPCA) joint venture will handle production. Dongfeng has said it will provide its core electrification and intelligent vehicle technologies to the partnership. In addition to a pair of Jeeps being built in China, two plug-in hybrid and electric Peugeots will also be built locally.

Like so many other Western brands, Jeep sales in China have collapsed in recent years. Following a peak in 2017, when 203,000 examples of the Cherokee, Compass, Renegade, and Grand Commander were sold in China, fewer than 20,000 were sold in 2022, prompting Stellantis to terminate its joint venture with GAC, which had handled local production of these models since 2014.

The only Jeep models currently sold in China are the Wrangler, Gladiator, and Grand Cherokee.

Neither Jeep nor Dongfeng has provided details about which overseas markets will receive the Chinese-built Jeep models. Still, it’s reasonable to assume other Asian nations will be among them, and Europe might be, too.