New Electric Jeep to Feature 19-Speaker McIntosh Sound System

Although Jeep already offers the small Avenger EV in Europe, the all-new 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S will be the brand’s first “global” electric vehicle, launching first in the U.S. and Canada before taking on the rest of the world. The Wagoneer S will test the demand from Jeep customers for a fully electric Jeep, and will likely be the first of many electric SUVs offered by the company between now and 2030. Since 2021, the Wagoneer has made a strong comeback after a three-decade absence from the Jeep lineup. It was also in 2021 that McIntosh and Jeep first teamed up to deliver an all-new audio system for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. In 2022, Jeep released a Grand Wagoneer with new features like air suspension, a classy leather-and-wood interior, and an over-the-top McIntosh sound system. The electric Wagoneer S Launch Edition ($71,995) will follow suit when it comes to market this autumn with a new McIntosh sound system called the MX1200 Reference Entertainment System. The system was “meticulously engineered and tuned” specifically for the Wagoneer S, according to the folks at McIntosh, who also tell us that it “represents McIntosh’s world-acclaimed listening experience and brings the brand’s audiophile-caliber luxury sound to an electric vehicle for the first time.”

Our partnership with the Jeep brand continues to be a great success. It’s exciting to see McIntosh audio systems on the road again and to share our brand and listening experience with a whole new group of customers.

— Charlie Randall, President of McIntosh Laboratory, Inc.

In addition to McIntosh’s unmistakable aesthetics, the MX1200 Reference Entertainment System reportedly features state-of-the-art sound, thanks to patented technologies like Power Guard (which eliminates unpleasant and potentially harmful clipping) and LD/HP (Low Distortion/High Performance) technology, which allows the system to produce “pristine sound at any volume.” The result is “the highest quality, luxury listening experience,” according to McIntosh. Of course, the illuminated McIntosh logos on the door’s speaker grille won’t hurt, nor will the aluminum framing, industrial ridged control knobs, and iconic “McIntosh Blue” decibel meters on the car’s infotainment screen.

This groundbreaking, fully electric Jeep Wagoneer S will offer the amazing and unparalleled McIntosh listening experience that Wagoneer customers have now come to expect. We have incorporated high-performance McIntosh-grade hardware and very dedicated tuning, which encompasses the sound characteristics of our brand. McIntosh and the Jeep brand have been a perfect match and, in fact, has helped elevating both brands in a joyful and successful journey as we delve deeper into the luxury SUV segment.

— Fiore Cappelletto, Vice President and General Manager of McIntosh Group Automotive

Underneath the system’s boldly-designed exterior, the MX1200 Reference Entertainment System is rocking a 24-channel “premium amplifier” that delivers up to 1,200 watts of power to no fewer than 19 loudspeakers, all carefully positioned around the Wagoneer’s cabin. The setup includes four 6-inch by 9-inch door speakers, plus a set of active coaxial speakers featuring lighter, stronger materials that reportedly “reduce THD, improve performance, and create a more anchored, responsive sound stage.” The coaxial speakers feature a 1-inch tweeter mounted in the center of a 3.5-inch midrange driver, with each component having its own dedicated amp channel. The 12-inch subwoofer, which uses a dual voice coil, is “one of the highest performing subwoofers in the industry,” according to McIntosh. There are also rear speakers mounted in the Wagoneer’s liftgate. McIntosh says that these speakers can play low enough to blend perfectly with the subwoofer. The MX1200 Reference Entertainment System comes standard on the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition. Although its starting price is north of $70K, the Wagoneer S Launch Edition will come with a $7,500 EV discount here in the US.

Other Jeep models available with McIntosh audio systems include the regular Wagoneer, the Wagoneer L, the Grand Wagoneer, the Grand Wagoneer L, the Grand Cherokee, and the Grand Cherokee 4xe.

More information: Jeep Wagoneer S