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2018 Jeep Wrangler Will Get Aluminum Hood And Doors, Possibly More

Jeep’s next-generation Wrangler is expected to hit the market as a 2018 vehicle, and we already know that it will keep its boxy design.
2017 Jeep Wrangler boasts LED headlamps 1 photo
Photo: Jeep
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles representatives have already announced that the vehicle will employ some aluminum in its construction, but it was unclear how much they will use.

A recent confirmation from an employee of Alcoa, a supplier of aluminum, has revealed to JL Wrangler Forums what parts will be manufactured with the material sold by them.

In the case of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, Alcoa will supply FCA with “6022,” “C6A1 high form alloy,” and “A951,” which are three aluminum-related products sold by the supplier.

The next Wrangler will be the first to employ the C6A1 high-form alloy from Alcoa, which is the only supplier of that type of product.

According to the unnamed employee that disclosed this information to JL Wrangler forums, the 6022 and A951 products based on and related to aluminum will be used for front and rear door inners, hood outer, and inner layers.

The source has explained that “6022” is an aluminum alloy sheet, which is used for closure panels, like decklids, doors, or hoods, and it will be united with the pre-treatment aluminum layer bonding technology, A951, which stands for Alcoa 951.

At this point, Jeep might have contracts with other suppliers of aluminum, which would bring more parts of the body and other components to be made from this lightweight material.

Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has already stated that the next Wrangler will not be constructed entirely from aluminum.

However, the statement was made in May 2015, and the automaker might have found solutions to integrate more aluminum at an affordable price. The use of aluminum in automobiles is nothing new, but its price and costs have kept it from big volume models.

The recent focus of automakers trying to make larger vehicles lighter and keep their strength has made many turn to the material that used to be reserved for racing and the aeronautical industry.

Fortunately, people will get to have lighter cars with better handling and fuel economy without worries of heightened repair costs and other troubles.
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Editor's note: H/t to JL Wrangler Forums' Administrator

About the author: Sebastian Toma
Sebastian Toma profile photo

Sebastian's love for cars began at a young age. Little did he know that a career would emerge from this passion (and that it would not, sadly, involve being a professional racecar driver). In over fourteen years, he got behind the wheel of several hundred vehicles and in the offices of the most important car publications in his homeland.
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