Scott Kissinger 4/11/23 Scott Kissinger 4/11/23

Not Horsing Around - 2024 Jeep Wrangler

It isn’t uncommon for Jeep to update the Wrangler in the middle of a model run.

The JK, which came out in the 2007 model year, saw a 2011/12 update that updated the interior as well as replaced the 3.8L V-6 with the Pentastar 3.6L. Since Jeep likes to run with a version of the Wrangler for a decade or more, it only makes sense to update things a little to keep the model appealing.

2024 Jeep Wrangler 392 with factory winch

It isn’t uncommon for Jeep to update the Wrangler in the middle of a model run.

But, that’s not the whole story with the 2024 refresh of the JL Wrangler.

Some updates were already pushed out over the last couple years. For one, the JL, which maxed out originally with 32” tires from the factory now has 35” available in some trims and the new 20th anniversary Wrangler Rubicon has available 37’s.

The JL started out with both the 3.6L V6 from the JK and a turbo 4-cylinder with mild-hybrid assist. But, in the first half of the model’s run, we have seen a diesel option (dropped after 2022), the mild-hybrid replaced by a plug-in hybrid 4xe, as well as a hemi V8.

If Jeep has seen fit to give us quite a few options and changes to the Wrangler even before its mid-cycle refresh, look no further than the good folks over in Dearborn and their Bronco for the reason why.

The Bronco brought a fair amount of refinement to the retro-styled off-roader game. 35” tires were part of its initial option list. A turbo V-6 in the Bronco Raptor dropped recently and is a not so subtle reason why Jeep decided to finally give the Wrangler the hemi treatment.

So…it should come as not surprise that the mid-cycle update to the Wrangler is also a little deeper than a light freshening to the dash.

Out front, Jeep is bringing a new grille to the Wrangler. This is a departure if you consider that the JK Wrangler maintained the same grill treatment (though occasionally with contrasting colors) for its entire 12-year run. The new Wrangler updates the 7 slot grill with some additional visual interest that surrounds the grill bars with matte plastic and extends the grill itself to include the headlight ‘buckets’ and stretches well under the headlights themselves. There is also updated texturing within the slots. Overall the look is a bit more sophisticated while maintaining the Wrangler’s tough good looks.

Also tough, but not just for looks is Wrangler’s first factory installed winch. 8000lb capacity isn’t quite what some folks would option as they upgrade their rig, but 8000 lbs is plenty for the sort of person who would want their Wrangler optioned for off-roading directly off the showroom floor. We’d expect that to be really popular for all those Rubicon buyers who like their 35” tires and steel bumpers but don’t want to spend countless hours pouring over the Quadratec/Northridge 4x4/Extreme Terrain catalogs.

All the wheel designs for the ‘24 Wrangler are new. Impressive when you realize that encompasses 10 new designs.

Where those wheels hit the ground, there is a new story as well. The rear axle is a updated version of the Dana 44, a ‘full float axle’ that now allows the Wrangler to top out at 5000lbs of towing. This is quite a jump from the 3500 lbs that the Wrangler has maxed at for many years.

But, despite style and functionality improvements - the real story of the new Wrangler is inside the cabin.

Most of the changes to the interior seem centered around making the Wrangler quieter and more comfortable for road use. This is one place where the Bronco has outpaced the Wrangler since day one, so this would be a good way for the Wrangler to attract some of the customers that have jumped ship to the Ford’s stable.

The interior rocks a much larger center screen that supports a built-in off-road navigation system as well as support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you opt for the High Altitude, Rubicon X, or Rubicon 392 models, the Wrangler brings acoustic glass up front, thicker carpet, and sound deadening foam in the windshield header, A and B pillars, and cowl - making these more expensive Wranglers also a quieter place to be for their higher price-points. Not having the added sound deadening in the lower models is almost certainly recognition that people who buy a Wrangler and immediately start adding and removing parts to make a more trail-focused rig don’t care as much about the luxuries and wouldn’t be happy paying for them.

Another addition to the new interior is side curtain air bags for both front and second row seating. It will be interesting to see exactly how that is integrated into the Wrangler’s roll cage in a way that allows modifiers to make their changes as well as not interfering with the Wrangler’s iconic removable doors.

Also part of the safety story is the Wrangler’s first implementation of adaptive cruise control - with the ability to also bring the Jeep to a stop if traffic in front demands it. This is far from autonomy - but it is nice to see Jeep finding ways to make on-road use a little bit nicer.

When the JL came to market, they impressed with the option of a button panel that would allow add-on lights and accessories to work without cobbling together a button or switch panel. In the new interior, Jeep raises the stakes by also offering a bank of 4 - 110v outlets (in 4xe equipped models - since they also posses a high-capacity battery that can power these outlets through an on-board inverter).

What we have here is the most impressive mid-cycle refresh the Wrangler has ever seen. This should certainly go a long way to attracting the group of potential buyers that Ford has been winning with the Bronco. The impressive part is that, while adding luxuries and sophistication, Jeep has obviously not ignored the kinds of features that the Jeep faithful would enjoy. It should keep Wrangler relevant and successful for at least another 5-6 years to come (when the -next- Wrangler should bow).

Expect the new Wranglers to go on sale this summer.

Scott Kissinger 11/5/22 Scott Kissinger 11/5/22

Tales from SEMA: Jeep Gladiator JTe by Quadratec

The largest retailer of Jeep aftermarket parts, Quadratec, sponsored a customized Wrangler with a stretched Gladiator bed, standard cab, and modified Gladiator roof that even maintains the Freedom Panels. This is yet another example of how good a standard cab Gladiator could look and function.

In 2019, Jeep brought a truck version of the Gladiator to Moab, the J6. Based on the frame of a Wrangler Unlimited and with a 2-door cab, it was the Gladiator many would like to own. Some of us would really gladly trade a back seat if we could gain additional utility/length for the bed while having better off-road capability as the factory Gladiator.

Fast forward to 2022 and the largest retailer of Jeep aftermarket parts, Quadratec, sponsored a customized Wrangler with a stretched Gladiator bed, standard cab, and modified Gladiator roof that even maintains the Freedom Panels. This is yet another example of how good a standard cab Gladiator could look and function.

Fabricated by famed Jeep customizer Greg Henderson, the Gladiator JTe starts as a Wrangler Unlimited with the body behind the front doors cut off and a Gladiator bed stretched to fill the frame behind. Some of these parts are things you could pick up straight out of the Quadratec catalog, like a lift and 17” bronze wheels from Lynx, a front bumper from Carnivore (the rear starts as a Carnivore piece but is customized for the show truck).

Functionally, this build also features both front and rear winches, the rear tucked between the frame rails where the spare used to live. That spare is a 37” tire on a matching Lynx wheel that lives in the bed. Above that bed is a retro themed tubular roll bar that hints as Scramblers of years gone by. Quadratec’s stealth light bar lives inside the top of the windshield, their premium projector headlights replace the stock Jeep parts, and out back Oracle supplies low-profile replacement taillights.

The interior features an Alpine stereo and custom Katzkin leather seats with an electric themed pattern.

Unlike the Jeep J6, this ‘short Gladiator’ started life as a Rubicon 4xe and maintains all the factory plug-in hybrid parts. Quadratec plays up the vehicle’s eco credentials that will allow the JTe to run quiet and clean while performing trail work during the 50 for 50 initiative. That program, in partnership with TreadLightly, will perform one trail clean-up per state over the course of the next 24 months.

As a shortened Gladiator, this truck maintains the off-road credentials of its donor Wrangler Unlimited. For one, it does not sacrifice the break-over angle of Wrangler, unlike the 4-door Gladiator with almost 19” of additional wheelbase. Also, this truck benefits from all the Wrangler Unlimited’s aftermarket part support. The 37” Nitto tires on this Jeep along with the 2.5” of lift, means this truck won’t get left behind by your Jeeping buddies when the trail gets particularly gnarly. By trading the Unlimited’s rear seat for extra bed length, this Gladiator also ends up with almost an extra foot for its truck-y duties as well.

Quadratec has no plans to offer a kit to build your own JTe. So it leaves us still wanting Jeep to bring a shorter version of the truck to market and counting our pennies in case we could talk Mr Henderson to build us one of our own.

Scott Kissinger 9/14/22 Scott Kissinger 9/14/22

Jeep Announces 30th Anniversary Grand Cherokee and Willys 4xe

Jeep has a 2030 sales goal of 50% zero emissions sales in the US, and 100% in Europe. To get to there, witness the announcements from last week’s ‘4xe Day’ where they showed an all electric Wagoneer (final name to be determined), a Recon sibling to the Wrangler, and a compact crossover. Another all-electric Jeep is still something we anticipate but is all but official (since Jeep says they will have 4 all-electric offerings by 2025). We expect an electric Wrangler.

The electrification push involves adding batteries and motors to the gas powered models as well. Last week included plans for all models to have a 4xe offering by 2025. So, it should come as no surprise anytime Jeep expands the number of hybrid models or trims in the lineup.

For instance, at the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jeep followed up with a couple special editions built on the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe.

First up was the Grand Cherokee 30th Anniversary edition. Celebrating the original Grand Cherokee that also debuted in Detroit as a 1993 model with one of Chrysler’s famous debuts where it was driven through a window into the lobby of Cobo Hall (now called Huntington Place) - the new Grand Cherokee debut involved a lot more computer generated flash before driving the new model on Jeep’s indoor test track to the stage. Besides 30th anniversary badging, the special edition bring unique blacked-out wheels, interior accents and a few unique features (for instance, ventilated seats that normally require stepping up to the Trailhawk or Overland trim) for it’s $4700 option price.

Orders for the Grand Cherokee 30th Anniversary open later this year.

Coming soon is a 4xe variant of the Wranger Willys. This joins the Sahara, High Altitude, and Rubicon-based 4xe models and takes its place as the least expensive way to get into a plug-in hybrid Wrangler. Starting price for the Willys 4xe is $53995 plus a pretty epic $1595 destination charge. This represents close to a $1300 savings over the 2023 Sahara but only a $600 savings over the 2022 models.

The Willys 4xe brings standard LED headlamps and fog lamps, Alpine 9-speaker audio, all-weather floor mats, rear limited-slip differential, rock rails, black grille, and 17-inch black-painted alloy wheels wearing LT255/75R17C mud-terrain tires. In other words, it is based on the Willys package.

The Willys has a small suspension lift standard that gives this Wrangler 10.1” of ground clearance (over the standard Willys’ 9.7” clearance) and over 30” of water fording.

A special blue-trimmed ‘Willys’ decal is on the hood and a unique ‘Electric 4-Wheel Drive’ decal takes the place of the normal retro decal on the regular Willys.

Like all 4xe Wranglers, the Willys shares the same 375-horsepower, 470-lb.-ft. Wrangler plug-in hybrid powertrain with 21 miles of all-electric range and 49MPGe.

Orders for this model open today with the first deliveries late this year.

Scott Kissinger 9/8/22 Scott Kissinger 9/8/22

Jeep Electrification Plans

Jeep named September 8th ‘4xe Day’ and dropped a video previewing the brand’s electrification plan.

Included in their plan is an announcement to have electrified offerings across their portfolio by the end of 2025. This suggests a 4xe, plug-in hybrid, version of each model. In that same time, Jeep will be offering 4 all-electric models as well. Three were announced in today’s video.

Jeep named September 8th ‘4xe Day’ and dropped a video previewing the brand’s electrification plan.

Jeep 4xe Day announcement video

Jeep Avenger EV - On Sale in Europe in 2023

Starting off the all-electric push is the Europe-only Jeep Avenger compact crossover. It makes sense this model may come to the US to replace the Renegade, perhaps with a plug-in version. Avenger goes on sale in 2023.

In it’s initial form, the Avenger will have a 400km range which would make it competitive with small electrics like the Chevy Bolt and their recently announced Equinox EV.

Jeep Wagoneer S EV - On Sale in 2024 with up to 600hp and 400 miles of range

2024 will be a busy year for Jeep with a 4xe version of the Wagoneer as well as 2 other all-electric models.

One is an electric Wagoneer called, for now, the Wagoneer S that will offer up to 600hp, 400 miles of range, and 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. While the Wagoneer S shares a name with the recently released Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, it is obvious that the electric model is a new platform, sharing no body panels with the gas offerings.

That same year, Jeep expects to debut the Jeep Recon which provides door-off out-door fun with retractible roof and removable doors and windows as well. The overall design comes across somewhat as Wrangler meets Bronco, which leaves Jeep plenty of room to show off a 4th electric Jeep in the future that will almost certainly be the all-electric Wrangler that has been teased in Moab concepts for the last two years.

Jeep’s electric push shows that the company hasn’t been sitting idly by waiting to see if the move to electrification was going to be a fad, given that having products ready to go in 2023 and 2024 means they have been working quietly for years to get these new names/platforms ready to go.

It will be an exciting time be a Jeep fan for the rest of the decade.

Jeep will be holding a press conference on September 14th at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. UOwCars will be there to report on any details that Jeep drops and if that electric Wrangler gets shown or teased.