FCA knows exactly where they get their money from…a four-letter word known and held dear by soldiers, farmers, and the worldwide public for decades: Jeep. J-trucks have come and gone, Cherokees have morphed from boxes to crossovers, and the ownership of the brand has changed hands several times over the years, but Jeep conjures up one image in everyone’s mind: a shape that harkens back to the original military war horse, the four-wheel-drive, go anywhere, do anything machine that GIs fell in love with. The Wrangler is a solid moneymaker for FCA…not only are sales steady and sure, but the Wrangler is a strong model for sales from the Mopar aftermarket parts catalog as well. And it’s that guaranteed moneymaker status that becomes a fear whenever there is talk of a new Wrangler. You don’t want to kill the cash cow but you want to move forward. More often than not, those two ideals are at odds against one another. But we’ve known that Jeep has been working on the upcoming “JL” Wrangler, and at FCA’s press conference at SEMA 2017 on Tuesday, the automotive aftermarket was thanked with the first official photographs of the new Wrangler.
The styling has been freshened up without losing that “Jeep” feel, in our eyes. The fold down windshield, twin solid axles and full frame are here as well. Initial engine offerings will include three engines: a four-cylinder gas, the Pentastar V6, and the 3.0L diesel V6. The six-speed manual transmission still comes with the Pentastar, while the others will make do with automatics. And, if decoders are accurate with their research, 32″ tires will be available as an option on some models.
For now, this is what we know, and we will learn more when the JL is fully unveiled at the LA Auto Show later this year. But is it still a Jeep to you? Does it still have that X-factor that begs for modification? Is it still worth aspiring to own, as an off-roader, as a toy, or has something been lost in translation? Let us know below!
make them with the Cummins R2.8 diesel, 5 speed only, dana 60’s, no carpet, softtops, no cruise control, no AC, footman loops everywhere, flat green.
and a real rollbar
Personally, the Rubicon looks much better than the Sahara in the picture. The Sahara looks too much like a car. Jeep also offered 32 inch tires and Dana 44 rear end back in 1997 with the TJ. Dad had one with a 5 speed and a 4.0. Red sport with a soft top. He said that he went through 3 rear ends because it was designed horribly and the 32s made the factory jack not able to pick the Jeep up.
That is surprising, I have a 97 XJ Cherokee. It has 35\” tall tires on it and I still prefer to use the factory jack if I have to change a tire away from home. The little screw bottle jack has no problem getting it high enough to remove the 35\” tire, on or off the road.
FCA is slowly, but surely ruining the Jeep brand. Just give them a few more years.
No top, no doors, windshield folds down, full frame, solid axles, lockers, skid plates, 4:1 case, sliders, 32″ tire.
No other brand is doing anything remotely close and yet all the “Jeep” guys can do it bitch about the “look”.
I think most of the guys bitching are not buying, and wouldn’t no matter what. The funny thing to me is that the people that ARE buying are not using those features.
Where’s the tow hooks? No, don’t look at the front, look at the back… all mall, all the time.
It always makes me laugh when I hear someone list the mods needed to a Heep – then why buy it? If you’re going to drop 40k on a toy, shouldn’t that toy have most of what you need offroad? the world is quickly getting over Jeeps and buying side-by-sides.
IMO, the JK was the BEST, and most capable Jeep ever made. And I expect more of the same with the JL.
On Jeep vs. side-by-sides –> I’d go for the Jeep. My kid just bought used 2013 JK for the price of a new side-by-side. It is her daily driver and we just drive it to the desert and go off-roading. It goes everywhere we want to go. Everyone I know with a side-by-side has modified it in some fashion.
I like the Cummins R2.8 diesel idea
I have seen an early fifties Chevy pickup with a little old Isuzu diesel four banger and it was cool and functional. This new Cummins crate motor should make all kinds of things possible