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2018 Jeep Wrangler to Go Hybrid for Enhanced Off-Road Capability

In continuous production since 2007, the JK-gen Jeep Wrangler off-road sport utility vehicle is in for a dramatic redesign in 2017, when an all-new generation is slated to make its debut as a 2018 model year. You could say that the 2018 Wrangler is a case of out with the old and in with the new.
Jeep Wrangler (JK) 1 photo
Photo: Tudor Raiciu
Inspired by the Ford Motor Company’s aluminum bet with the 2015 F-150 light-duty full-size truck, sources close to Fiat-Chrysler declared that the upcoming generation will adopt aluminum for its body shell, a big change for the Wragnler that’ll also see a hefty investment for the Toledo plant.

Don’t worry about the off-road proven body-on-frame construction though. Officials denied any rumor according to which the 2018 Wrangler is going to adopt a unibody. Another detail that’s been shared by insiders comes in the form of an eight-speed auto.

Yup, the same unit you also get on models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ram 1500, Dodge Challenger and Charger. According to a recent filling with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the ZF 8HP / Chrysler Torqueflite eight-speed “reduces fuel consumption by more than 9 percent over the five-speed" transmission the outgoing Jeep Wrangler can be kitted with.

I am most interested in the Wrangler truck we’ve been promised for ages now, but despite the appeal of this proposition, brand head Mike Manley revealed something a lot more curious for AutoExpress about the 2018 - it will be hybridized “with an electric motor you have the most torque available and with the right combination of transmission and gear ratios you can create incredible crawl ratios.”

To sum the 2018 Jeep Wrangler up, Manley told the aforementioned publication that his top three priorities for the refreshed off-road legend are as follows: preserving the looks, improving the on-road dynamics, achieving better fuel efficiency. Blimey! What are your thoughts on this one?
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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