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Chris Collard
Wrangler Watch
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Courtesy of Jeep
Wrangler Watch
One of the anticipated options is the possibility of a pickup version of the Wrangler.
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Courtesy of Jeep
Wrangler Watch
Expect the EcoDiesel to find its way into the 2018 Wranglers engine bay.
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A.J. Mueller
Wrangler Watch
There is a likelihood that the Wranglers top will get re-engineered and will offer Renegade-like panels.
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Courtesy of Jeep
Wrangler Watch
We predict many Renegade styling cues will work their way into the new Wrangler.
Story by Budd Stanley, photos courtesy of Jeep
A Sit-Rep of need to know information for the coming Wrangler
If there was one vehicle that captures the spirit of off-roading better than any other, it is the venerable Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler is after all the great, great, great, great… great Grandson of the Willys Jeep – the original utility 4WD that started it all back in ‘41.
The Wrangler enjoys one of the most fanatical followings of any vehicle, and for a simple reason; it is an unapologetically specific enthusiasts vehicle. It’s not the coolest vehicle on the road, not the most advanced, not the best handling and not the best performer; it’s none of these things because it kicks ass off-road, and there are not many vehicles left that are so single minded.
However, the current JK chassis is starting to get a little long in the tooth. It’s been around for nine years now, and in terms of modern vehicle manufacturing, that’s ancient. Needless to say, there is a rather large group of enthusiasts frothing at the mouth to get any little tidbit of information on the upcoming redesign, and so we will be providing you with our “Wrangler Watch.”
With the unveiling of the new Wrangler due early next year, likely at the North American International Auto Show, or possibly the Chicago Auto Show, rumour and innuendo is flooding Internet forums and shop floors. We understand your thirst for knowledge on this subject and so let’s breakdown what we do, and don’t know at this point in time.
What We Know
Fiat Chrysler Auto (FCA) have kept pretty quiet on the upcoming new generation of the Wrangler, and that's just not going to change as they love to surprise fans with a big unveiling. The official word from FCA is, “we don’t talk about future models.” However, some details have come out about the upcoming Wrangler. We know there will be a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, which makes sense as they use that transmission in just about every other FCA 4WD product as it provides excellent fuel efficiency. We also know that this transmission will be attached to an upgraded version of the 3.8L Pentastar V-6 and the 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6. We’re really excited about finally getting a diesel Wrangler… well, at least I am.
More importantly, we know that the Wrangler will be keeping all the hardcore bits that make it such a great off-roader. That means solid axles front and rear, body-on-frame construction and a proper transfer case directing power to all four wheels.
What Is Rumoured
Needless to say, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the next generation Wrangler, quite likely more than any other vehicle slating to debut in 2017. No thanks to FCA head, Sergio Marchionne, who considers riling up the media a sport. As such, he has fed us of all sorts of cryptic messages that could… or could not relate to the upcoming Wrangler.
Marchionne has specifically said that he likes the mid-size pickup market, and that FCA should have a vehicle in that market. While we love the idea of a Jeep Wrangler pickup being that vehicle, there is still no official confirmation, and even a chance he was talking about a Mitsubishi-based mid-sized pickup that could be rebranded as a Ram.
One thing the Wrangler, especially the Wrangler Unlimited, suffers from is weight. Keeping the body-on-frame build and solid axles may maintain the Wrangler’s old-school off-road capabilities, but this comes at a heavy cost – literally. There has been a lot of talk around Jeep making use of an aluminum body to help cut the fat. With so many vehicles now making use of the lightweight material, this is not as far fetched as it sounds.
The Wranglers convertible architecture is also a handicap, as it requires added bracing to keep the body from flexing on harsh roads. The word on the street is that Jeep could do away with the Wranglers trademark convertible body style, replacing it with a fixed roof with removable side panels that could be either hard plastic of soft canvas.
Other possibilities Jeep might be taking with the next Wrangler came during a market research session at the Overland Expo where Jeep reps were reported asking dedicated off-roaders what they thought the next Wrangler should and shouldn’t feature. The most impacting questions were: How do you feel about no manual transmission option? Would you be interested in a 3-speed transfer case? Are you okay with not having a windshield that folds down? What about a hybrid power plant option?
While the possibility of a 3-speed transfer case is quite interesting, the thought of a hybrid drivetrain option has also raised our eyebrows. Not many SUV based hybrids have been successful in the past, what makes Jeep think that the Wrangler might be an exception?
Is The Proof In The Test Mules?
A lot of Wrangler test vehicles have been sighted in public, and they have provided a vast number of clues as to what the next generation vehicle could have in store. While nothing on these vehicles could be listed as official confirmation, there is a 95% chance that what you see is what you’ll get come unveiling time.
Test mules have indeed proved to have two solid axles that look to be redesigned, holding up a body-on-frame architecture with slightly revised suspension geometry. Both the front fascia and windshield have a noticeably steeper rake, likely to aid aerodynamics. All the classic 4WD traits look to be there and the ride height is suitably substantial.
All the rear windows are always camouflaged, hinting that the vehicles top could get a drastic redesign as rumoured. The mule also looks to have a longer wheelbase, likely to afford Jeep the space to build a pickup version of the Wrangler while offering extra cab space, and possibly even a four-door version.
Someone was even able to snap a shot of the hood open at one point that shows a turbo four-cylinder engine being tested; lending credence to the rumour that the high output turbo, four-cylinder “Hurricane” powerplant will find its way into the Wrangler. If true, this could give the Wrangler up to four different engine options .
What We Suspect
With all that has been said by FCA, spied on test mules and by examining the common trends in new Jeeps, we have our own ideas of what we could expect to see in the new Wrangler.
Yes, it will be body-on-frame, have two solid axles; will make use of the latest version of the Pentastar and EcoDiesel. It is quite likely that in the name of fuel efficiency standards that we may lose the manual gearbox for the more efficient 8-speed auto. The top will likely get substantially re-engineered with a solid roof frame that will offer removable composite panels on top much like the Renegade, and along the side as well to give the greatest amount of open-air feeling. We believe you will see many design cues from the Renegade as well, quite likely the Jerry Can inspired tail light design and a funky interior design. While it may be a year or two down the line, we do expect there to be a pickup version of the Wrangler.
As you can tell, our “Rumoured” section is substantially larger that the “What We Know” column. However, as we get closer and closer to the sheets finally being pulled off the 2018 Wrangler, we should slowly start reversing these need to know facts. Stay tuned to this space as we are now on Wrangler Watch.