Around the Industry - 4WD184 – Part 1

Around the Industry - 184 – Part 1

NEXT WRANGLER TO GET 4-BANGER?

We here at 4WDrive Magazine are most definitely on ”Wrangler Watch” these days. We’re getting close to Jeep's launch of the next generation Wrangler, and as such, they are testing the new advances being made to the hotly anticipated 2018 Wrangler.

The latest word on the street is Jeep will be implementing a turbocharged four-cylinder engine into the Wrangler lineup, but it won’t be the base engine, rather a high horsepower option. According to Automotive News, the new turbo four will be dubbed the Hurricane and will be based off the current Tigershark family of inline-fours. An Automotive News article claims a horsepower rating close to 300 could be on tap for the little 2.0L turbo.

Well the claims seem to be accurate as a Wrangler test mule was recently spotted with its hood up, and the tell tale intercooler and inline valve cover could clearly be seen. We’ll continue to watch for the Wrangler as more details come in.

COULD THE COLORADO ZR2 STILL LIVE?

GM has been playing some cruel games with us. At the launch of the 2015 Colorado and Canyon, they hinted that a ZR2 off-road focused version could likely be coming our way. Soon after, GM teased us with the ZR2 concept you see here, at the LA Auto Show. Then, GM came out with the Colorado Trail Boss, which had some off-road improvements, but really wasn’t a ZR2. With hopes of a true off-roader getting the roller coaster treatment, we are hit with another bit of good news.

Spy photographers have recently snapped a camouflaged extended cab Colorado with an unusually high ride height testing at a GM facility. Said test mule was sporting a beefy rocker panel, skid plates and a front bumper that clearly offers increased approach angle clearances to the front wheels. So far, this is the best news we’ve heard yet surrounding the possibility of a ZR2, showing GM may be ready to take on a Tacoma TRD Pro-series. Is that a comparison test we smell in the air?