On November 17, 2020, at 12 noon Eastern, Jeep will unveil the Wrangler Rubicon 392 in its production form. A concept has been roaming around for a couple of months now, mostly as a teaser for what was going to be a foregone conclusion. There isn’t going to be a factory Hellcat Wrangler (Scrambler?) but the 392 Rubicon is going to put that fat torque band to great use not only as a dune runner but as an effortless low-range crawler that will crawl over rocks, logs, curbs not seen, whatever. But was it absolutely necessary for Jeep to stick the Hemi into the Wrangler?
Between the newer JL Wrangler and the previous-generation that we’ve had the opportunity to throw around off-road, power isn’t exactly a lacking issue. Sure, the 3.6L V6’s 285 horsepower seems meager in the wilds of 500-horsepower mid-grade models and production cars rocking Pro Stock levels of horsepower like it’s nothing. But when we beat on that JK a couple of years back, we drove it through some sloppy, disgusting terrain filled with mud, snow, and a quickly chilling Brian Lohnes pointing the way without a single hitch or even threat of inadequacy. So why the 392ci Hemi? On one hand, we have to wonder if Jeep is going to go after the bro-roader market that the Ford Raptor and the Ram Rebel TRX will occupy.
What do you think…smart move that needed to happen ever since the AMC 304 was dropped off of the options list, or is this a sign that the mental ward of FCA is about to step one foot too far?
It doesn’t particularly make sense for rock crawling. Or commuting, But I could see it for dunes or mud bogging, or other off road events that involve a lot of foot to the floor driving. And hopefully it will make sense for Jeep’s bottom line.
One more option to jack up the price of these things for the mall crawlers… did you see the starting price for the Bronco??
The gearheads are in control of Chrysler and it’s a wonderful thing. Is it mental? Yeah. Is it cool? YEAH IT IS! Will it help sell more Wranglers? Hell yeah it will! Why question it? Everyone thought it was bitchin’ as a SEMA vehicle so why the concern now? Getting soft?
I mean, if I was buying a new Jeep I’d certainly take it with the big engine.
Since when is too much power an issue with Bang Shift?
Sure. Jeep owners shouldn’t be left out from having to replace their cams and lifters at 100000 miles either.
Exactly, as a former Jeep owner, and never a future one, put whatever POS they want in it. Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Ram, reliability sucks. sorry, it does, from first hand experience, second hand experience, etc.
Can’t wait to see all the posers with chrome/bright paint, lights underneath their 40″ tired street cruisers. More power is always better but seeing a row of these at the local car shows will get old fast. Videos of these crashed off/on the road will be amazing.
Sure why not. I enjoy the heck out of my V8 swapped Xterra. At the price I figure they will go for ($50K+) none of them will really get used and then in 10 years I can buy one and actually use it as a trail runner when I’m tired of the Xterra.
I would prefer a 5.7 Gladiator with a max tow package myself, even better if it was single cab with an 8′ bed so it could actually do truck stuff.