Jeep keeps its rugged good looks
But 2018 Wrangler “is better in every way.”
LOS ANGELES – For months, anticipation has built to see how one of the nation’s most iconic vehicles — the descendant of the Army jeep that won World War II — could be updated while still keeping it relevant.
The result of that balancing act is the
2018 Jeep Wrangler, unveiled here at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Wrangler is the icon of the Jeep brand, considered the crown jewel of Fiat Chrysler, which has a lot at stake with the new vehicle.
As revealed, the new Wrangler holds true to its rugged roots and adds some modern touches, like a backup camera in the middle of the rear-mounted spare tire. The new one is lighter, due to use of aluminum instead of steel for some body panels, to make it more fuel efficient. And it has push-button start and the latest in-car entertainment system.
But, at the same time, Fiat Chrysler kept the Wrangler’s distinctive looks and worked to keep features that are considered critical to holding the Wrangler’s die-hard following of off-road enthusiasts.
Keeping Wrangler true to its go-anywhere roots, a new, more aerodynamic windshield can fold down with a fourbolt frame that should make it easier. It will be able to ford streams or lakes up to
30 inches deep.
“The all-new Wrangler is instantly recognizable as a Jeep, staying true to the original, yet it is better in every way,” Mike Manley, who heads the Jeep division of Fiat Chrysler, said in a statement. It delivers “more rugged capability, more ride comfort (and) more fuel efficiency,” not to mention leaps ahead in safety, comfort and technology.
Wrangler is an instantly recognizable image for a brand that now offers a wide range of SUVs. Jeep, along with Ram trucks, are the sweet spot of Fiat Chrysler’s lineup.
The redesigned Wrangler will cap a key piece of the production shuffling that has been underway at Fiat Chrysler as part of its $3.5 billion plan to expand the Jeep and Ram brands. The company is spending $700 million on the Toledo North plant in Ohio and adding 700 jobs. To gear up, the company, in conjunction with the University of Toledo, trained more than 2,200 workers on Wrangler production.
Industry analysts familiar with the new Wrangler sound like they think the new one hits the right notes.
“It looks exactly like it should, and the capability is still there,” said Stephanie Brinley, a senior analyst with IHS Markit. Fiat Chrysler preserved the icon and is adding more modern conveniences, such as making it easier to remove the roof, she added.
The boxy Wrangler is a good seller for Fiat Chrysler. CEO Sergio Marchionne has said production changes in Toledo will allow it to build more than 400,000 Wranglers per year at full production. That’s a lot, but its importance for Jeep and Fiat Chrysler is as the image of an ultimate off-roading vehicle.
Wrangler’s fan base is so intense that one online forum recently scored a coup by releasing the owner’s manual for the 2018 version.
Coming to dealerships in January, the new Wrangler will have aluminum doors, hinges, fender flares and windshield frames to lower weight and improve gas mileage, which is expected to rise by 3 miles per gallon.
The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine has been upgraded. It should deliver
285 horsepower and will come with a standard 6-speed manual transmission. The 8-speed automatic is optional. The engine will have a stop-start feature to save fuel by turning off at stop lights. There will also be a 270horsepower 2-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine available in
2019. Wrangler will also get a 260horsepower diesel engine.