Things We Know about the Future Jeep Wrangler – Miami Lakes Automall Jeep
Like many other Jeep fans, we can’t wait to see the 2017 Jeep Wrangler added to the lineup of Jeeps for sale at local dealerships. Yet we still have more than a year before the 2017 model will go on sale, and we don’t know when any details will be confirmed about the model or when we’ll get a chance at a sneak peak.
A lot of what we know right now about the future Jeep Wrangler is rumor and speculation, but we can evaluate the sources of those rumors and compare the information to what we do know about Jeep and the history of the Wrangler to determine what is likely and what is not.
Here’s what we know about the 2017 Jeep Wrangler so far:
Eco-Friendly Engine
The Jeep Wrangler isn’t known for its fuel efficiency or its
low carbon footprint. This is an SUV that is designed for power — for climbing over rocks and managing even the toughest of terrains. All that power requires a lot of fuel.
Jeep executives say they want to make the next generation of the Jeep Wrangler more fuel efficient, but they are still trying to figure out how to do that without sacrificing the power for which the Wrangler is known. Two possibilities being discussed are a diesel engine and a hybrid engine.
The 2017 Jeep Wrangler could get the same 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine that is currently in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, or it could get a smaller version of that engine. The EcoDiesel engine has 240 horsepower and 420 pounds per feet of torque, which some consider to be too much power for the smaller Wrangler. Therefore, a smaller 2.8-liter version could be used in the new Wrangler.
Diesel gas is more efficient, and it burns cleaner than unleaded gas, so making this switch in the new Wrangler could help it be more environmentally friendly.
A hybrid drive train has also been discussed for the new Wrangler, but it’s still unclear how Jeep could design a hybrid engine that would not compromise the power or crawl ratio of the Wrangler. Jeep CEO Mike Manley has discussed both diesel and hybrid engines as possibilities for the 2017 Jeep Wrangler, but he acknowledged that a hybrid engine could pose issues for range, especially on long trails that are popular amongst Jeep drivers.
Whatever happens, Jeep executives have said that the engine will be smaller.
Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission
An eight-speed automatic transmission has been rumored to be paired with the eco-friendly engine in the new Wrangler. Jeep executives have not confirmed it, but Fiat Chrysler included an eight-speed ZF transmission in its 2018 plans filed with the SEC.
The eight-speed automatic transmission would help with improving fuel efficiency, which is a priority for the new Wrangler.
Aluminum Body
Many automakers are embracing aluminum to reduce the weight of their vehicles and improve their performance and fuel efficiency. There has been so much talk about the new Jeep Wrangler incorporating aluminum parts that this rumor almost seems like a certainty.
In fact, Jeep at options outside its Toledo, Ohio assembly plant partly because it could not handle aluminum production if the Wrangler made the switch. The Toledo plant has been making the Wrangler exclusively for decades, so city officials are lobbying heavily to keep the Wrangler in the city. It has given Jeep an incentives package to keep production at the plant and to invest in an expansion to accommodate the new aluminum production and the increased demand that Jeep is expecting.
Some industry insiders aren’t convinced that aluminum parts are a foregone conclusion since some other automakers are having problems with the cost and repair of aluminum. Some think that problems that companies like Ford have experienced may make Jeep take a step back until the material becomes more common and the kinks are worked out.
Solid Axles
Rumors have been flying back and forth about whether or not solid axles will continue to be part of the design for the new Wrangler. At one point, it seemed like they would be replaced by an independent suspension system. However, Automotive News reported that sources close to Jeep says the solid axles will stay for the new Wrangler design.
Solid axles are a popular feature of the Wrangler since they are durable and allow the suspension to be modified to meet the needs of that particular Jeep owner. It seems unlikely Jeep would change this feature.
Plus, one of the Jeep suppliers just made a big investment in its axle-making operations, which suspiciously coincides with the development of the next Wrangler.
Aerodynamic Design
Here’s another one that’s been getting a lot of chatter. The traditional fold-down windshield is expected to be eliminated in favor of a fixed windshield that has a sharp rake to improve aerodynamics.
The change makes sense since the old fold-down model was cumbersome and rarely used. However, Jeep purists are a bit aghast at the way the new design makes the proposed Wrangler look. Some also claim to love driving without the windshield during off-roading runs.
With Jeep’s focus on creating a more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient Wrangler, it seems likely that the fold-down windshield will definitely be replaced by the more aerodynamic design.
Body Changes
The Jeep Wrangler has traditionally been built as a body on a frame. However, some insiders speculate that the new Wrangler could shift to a Unitbody design that provides more durability and is cheaper to build. The integrated design would be more rigid and lighter, making the new Wrangler safer and more fuel-efficient.
For the rest of the body, there is speculation that the Wrangler will shed some of its boxy image in favor of a sleeker design. The new Wrangler is expected to be a whole lot more “swoopy” — without the hard angles for which it is known. We’re not yet sure how to feel about this one since much of the Wrangler’s appeal is its classic design. Sure, every vehicle has to evolve, but these could be too radical a departure from the foundation on which the Wrangler was built.
Hopefully, more hard details will be available about the 2017 Jeep Wrangler in the coming months. Whatever happens, we know that Jeep will deliver with another exceptional Wrangler to enhance its already impressive lineup. It doesn’t seem like there is much that Jeep could do at this point to turn fans away.
We’ll be even more happy when the Wrangler hits the lineup of Jeeps for sale. However, we know that day is still a ways away. We’d just settle for some preview or concept shots at this point. And maybe an early debut at an auto show later this year?
What do you think about the plans for the new Wrangler? What do you hope makes it through to the final model, and what do you hope is just rumor?
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