The Key To Debuting Jeeps? Drive Them Through Plate Glass

If there’s one thing about a quality Jeep that should surprise no one, it’s that these iconic, rough-riding off-roaders can take a serious beating. Whether you’re the proud owner of a new 2016 Jeep Wrangler or a classic like the CJ-7, you know full well just how much abuse these impressive vehicles can take and still run strong the next day. Jeep knows this too, and has taken some pretty significant steps to prove it – including orchestrating some of the most intense, awe-inspiring vehicle debuts in recent history.

Now, granted, the toughness of a Jeep vehicle is certainly no secret. For decades, these capable 4x4s have led the pack in off-road capability and stylish power on the road, all while providing every last bit of style and rugged reputation a loyal off-roader could ask for. But for the rest of the driving world not yet familiar with the raw power of a Jeep, what better way for the company to demonstrate than through a little live stress testing?

The year was 1992, and for Jeep, big things were afoot. Fresh off the assembly line was the Grand Cherokee model, the brand’s newest addition to its lineup and a strong contender for its most impressive off-roader. But to compete with other well-respected 4x4s – including the beloved Jeep Wrangler – the Grand Cherokee would need to make a big splash and, in the process, would end up changing the tone of car debuts forever.

First unveiled at the ’92 Detroit Auto Show, the Grand Cherokee made its grand entrance in a way nobody would soon forget. Piloted by Chrysler President Bob Lutz and with Detroit Mayor Coleman Young riding shotgun, the very first Grand Cherokee off the assembly line made its way down Jefferson Avenue, up the steps of Detroit’s Cobo Hall, and straight through a plate glass window to end up, dazzlingly, on the showroom floor. This display of Jeep durability ended up being a smashing success, launching the Grand Cherokee into its beloved position among American SUVs and solidifying Jeep’s place in the annals of car debut history. But, being Jeep, the fun couldn’t end there – the company would later recreate this heroic feat with the debut of another Jeep classic: the Wrangler.

By 2006, the much-beloved Wrangler had decades of excellence under its belt and a large, faithful fan base dedicated to this iconic off-roader. But after nearly sixty years of performance, it was time for a change, which led to the birth of the third-generation Wrangler. Dubbed the JK, this shorter and wider wheelbase offered a fresh look for the Wrangler and continues to support today’s models – but at first glance, it was clear the model needed a bold introduction.

That’s why, at the 2006 Detroit International Auto Show – at the same venue as the iconic ’92 Grand Cherokee unveiling – the new 2007 Wrangler JK reprised Jeep’s most famous moment when it, too, crashed through a solid wall of plate glass to demonstrate just how much it could handle. Moving this time from Cobo Hall and out to Washington Street, the Wrangler then scaled a specially-built mountain and celebrated a moment of Jeep victory for all to see.

But the fun wouldn’t stop there. Just months later at the 2006 New York International Auto Show, Jeep would once again push the limits of the traditional car reveal by putting its new Wrangler to an even tougher test: being buried in a big pile of mud. After withstanding a powerful hose-down from the fire hoses of the FDNY, the Wrangler burst out of the mud and took its place proudly on the stage for all to see. This would only further solidify the Wrangler’s place among the legendary Jeep 4x4s and would guarantee that nobody can top a debut by Jeep.

While there was never much doubt as to how much a Jeep can handle, these impressive debuts only prove that Jeep stands behind its vehicles in even the toughest situations, even willing to break a few rules – and windows – to prove it. Whether you’re a long-time off-roader or just entering the Jeep family for the first time, you can rest easy knowing your Jeep can take even the worst of what you can throw at it – and still remain one “smashingly” capable ride.

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