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Jeep has provided the first look at the next-generation Cherokee ahead of its official debut later this year and an expected European launch in 2026.

The first pictures of Jeep's Land Rover Discovery rival confirm that it will look very similar to the recently revealed Compass, above which it sits in the SUV brand's line-up.

This new version will be completely unrelated to its predecessor, swapping onto parent company Stellantis's new STLA Large architecture, which will enable it to be offered with hybrid and pure-electric power. Jeep has not confirmed which will come first and has yet to disclose any technical details.

It will be closely related to the next-generation Alfa Romeo Stelvio, which will use the same platform. 

The first images of the new Cherokee have been published just a day after former Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa was named as the new CEO of Stellantis, following Carlos Tavares's exit from the role late last year. 

His replacement at Jeep, CEO Bob Broderdorf, said: “The all-new Jeep Cherokee headlines our efforts to deliver more product, innovation, choice and standard content to customers than ever before.

“Jeep Cherokee will boast competitive pricing that strikes at the core of the largest vehicle segment and sits perfectly between Jeep Compass and Jeep Grand Cherokee to bolster our winning mainstream line-up.”

These official images, and earlier spy shots, confirm that the Cherokee shares several design cues with the electric Wagoneer S, including a sloping roofline, squared-off haunches, rear doors set into the wheel arches and door handles recessed into the body.

Up front, however, it features a more prominent variant of Jeep’s seven-slot grille, mirroring that on the new Compass.

It's possible that the combustion version of the Cherokee will use the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre ‘Hurricane’ straight six from the petrol-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, offered with outputs of 420bhp and 510bhp.

An electric Cherokee is likely to be equipped with the 600bhp dual-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain from the Wagoneer S.

This is paired with a 118kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery in that car, giving it a range of 303 miles (according to the US’s EPA test, which is less lenient than the WLTP regime used in Europe). 

Inside, spy shots reveal that the new Cherokee has a large infotainment touchscreen similar to the 12.3in unit featured in the Wagoneer S, with rotary control dials on its sides.

The climate functions, meanwhile, are operated using a touchbar recessed into the dashboard, just below the main screen.

The Grand Cherokee will be withdrawn from sale in Europe in the coming months to make room for the Wagoneer S.

A similar decision may be made about the Wrangler when the upcoming Recon EV lands in Europe next year.

Volkswagen has launched a new version of its best-selling product and it has the potential to dramatically increase revenues and profitability – but it’s nothing to do with cars.

In a twist that might make even the most seasoned automotive analyst do a double-take, one of the firm’s most important product lines isn’t a vehicle, or even a vehicle component, but a traditional type of German sausage.

The world’s second-largest car maker is also a heavyweight in the processed meat business, and its famed Volkswagen currywurst is now heading for the ready meal aisle in supermarkets.

First grilled into existence in 1973 at the company’s own butchery in Wolfsburg, the sausage was originally intended for internal use only, fuelling staff in Volkswagen’s canteens, but it soon escaped the factory gates and quickly attained cult status among the German public.

In 2024 alone, Volkswagen sold close to 8.6 million currywursts, comfortably eclipsing the 5.2m Volkswagen-branded cars and commercial vehicles it delivered globally. Even counting all Volkswagen Group brands combined (9.03m), currywurst runs a close second.

From June 2025, it’s getting the full ready meal supermarket treatment, with a microwave-ready version launching at retailers such as Edeka and Netto in northern and eastern Germany. A national rollout is reportedly in the works.

While microwave currywurst trays have been available since the early 2000s, Volkswagen’s version has a factory-fresh twist: no sachet of curry powder for the tomato sauce, which Dietmar Schulz, head of Volkswagen’s in-house meat department, says is because “there’s already enough curry in there – in the sausage and in the sauce”.

Currywurst isn’t just a PR novelty: it’s big business. Although Volkswagen doesn’t specifically detail its sausage sales in its annual report, estimates suggest its processed meat operation generates seven-figure annual revenues in euros.

The currywurst even has an official Volkswagen part number: 199 398 500 A.

Over the decades, currywurst has become part of Volkswagen folklore. When the German car maker attempted to replace it with a vegetarian alternative in one factory canteen, the backlash was swift and fierce. “No Volkswagen sausage? No way!” became the rallying cry.

Now, with the new microwave-ready version, Volkswagen is keeping things properly seasoned and aiming for even bigger sales.