We all know that for some time now Jeep hasn’t sold a single pickup truck. To be precise, in 1992 the XJ Cherokee-based Comanche went out of production, and that’s the story for now. However, there have been numerous concepts but nothing concrete. Well, not until now. Jeep Wrangler Pickup is on the way, and the hype is real! Let’s see what we know about it.
What’s interesting is that Jeep already started the Wrangler Pickup production in 2005 based on the Gladiator Concept, but it never reached mass production. From that point on we just had a dozen of concepts that only made us want this pickup more. In 2016 Sergio Marchionne, Fiat Chrysler CEO, confirmed the truck version of the next-gen Wrangler!
Production-wise we heard Mike Manley, Jeep CEO, in 2016 saying that the Wrangler pickup would arrive in late 2017 just after the launch of the next-gen JL Wrangler. Jeep has unfortunately delayed the pickup production for late 2019 which means that we’ll have to wait for two years after the next-gen Wrangler. Mike stated that he wanted to make sure that everything goes fine and with no setbacks with the Wrangler SUV production prior to Jeep’s making the pickup. Toledo, Ohio is the facility where they will produce both Wrangler models. That plant is currently undergoing a $700 million upgrade so as to prepare itself for the production of new vehicles.
Later in 2017, we should be able to see the Wrangler launch in SUV form however Jeep kept quiet on the possible pickup launch date.
When it comes to looks, ever since the company announced the Wrangler pickup we have been getting tons of alleged spy photos, and professional renders and all of those gave us a pretty precise picture of what’s in store for us. Long story short, it looks like a Wrangler with a truck bed. It will have a new front face with more prominent grille slats and headlights with LED lamps. The thing is that we only had the chance to see photos of the four-door Wrangler Unlimited pickup prototypes, however, according to latest rumors this truck will be also available as a two-door vehicle.
The production of the current-gen Wrangler will continue until March 2018 which means that old and new generations will be sold alongside each other for at least a few months. The company avoided revealing too many details on the next Wrangler, but we have a pretty accurate idea of what it will look like.
The JL Wrangler should retain the classic body-on-frame construction however it might get a new aluminum-intensive body. It could help fuel economy by cutting some weight down. According to some rumors, we might also see diesel and hybrid versions of the Wrangler, but these are yet to be confirmed.
The company also promised a groundbreaking cabin upgrade. It will feature the FCA’s latest UConnect infotainment system. A manual transmission will be on the options list, and the Wrangler will most likely keep its removable doors which have become a trademark of some kind for the lineup.
When it comes to power, we have to disappoint you a bit here. Last year Jeep made a Wrangler with the 707-hp supercharged V8 from the Hellcat. That was just a one-off. Sorry. But the more realistic idea is that this version of Wrangler will run on a new 300-hp turbocharged inline-four cylinder Codenamed ‘Hurricane.’ This engine is currently under development. That might even be an optional upgrade over the 3.8-liter, 285 hp Pentastar V6 that is featured in the current model.
As we all know Americans adore trucks. Marchionne is well aware of this fact and him building a Wrangler pickup is the only expected move. We expect it to be different from all the other trucks currently available and therefore it will sell like crazy. We can almost guarantee that. Bright future is ahead of Jeep.
