Jeep refreshed the JL-generation Wrangler in April 2023 for the 2024 model year. Back then, Jeep said that only four-door versions would receive the Xtreme 35 Tire Package. But curiously enough, the Stellantis-owned automaker changed its mind.
Previously standard on the four-door Rubicon X and Rubicon 392, the Xtreme 35 Tire Package is now available on the two-door Rubicon X and – soon enough – the two-door Willys trim level as well. There is, however, a catch. The BFGoodrich-supplied tires, which measure LT315/70R17C, cannot be had with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Only the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine is compatible with said tires, a torquey powerplant that Stellantis calls the Global Medium Engine.
Advertised by Jeep as the Hurricane, which is a bit confusing because there's another Hurricane with two turbochargers and six cylinders arranged in a line, this lump develops 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) at full chatter. The sixer is more powerful (285 horsepower) but not as torquey (260 pound-feet) because it's naturally aspirated.
At the other end of the spectrum, the 392 in Rubicon 392 refers to the displacement of the 6.4-liter HEMI in cubic inches rather than liters. In this application, the soon-to-be-discontinued V8 makes 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet (637 Nm). Its peak torque is matched by that of the 4xe, a plug-in hybrid setup built around the 2.0-liter Hurricane.
That said, let's turn our attention back to the Xtreme 35 Tire Package for the two-door Rubicon X and Willys. Production is expected to start in March 2024, meaning that first deliveries will be made in either late March 2024 or early April 2024. Pricing for the Xtreme 35 Willys two-door isn't available at press time, but we do know that the Xtreme 35 Rubicon X two-door costs a whopping $62,295.
Photo: Jeep
Pardon me, it's actually $62,295 and a further $1,895 for the destination charge. Ridiculous money for a Wrangler, but then again, this package comes with serious off-road chops. For example, Jeep claims a best-in-segment breakover angle of 32.4 degrees. By comparison, the two-door Bronco Sasquatch makes do with 29.0 inches on the nose, and the four-door Bronco Raptor offers 30.8 degrees.
The Xtreme 35 Tire Package further sweetens the deal with 17- by 8-inch beadlock wheels, a 1.5-inch suspension lift with uniquely tuned shock absorbers, a 4.56:1 axle ratio, and a swing gate reinforcement for extra peace of mind. Jeep further advertises the two-door Xtreme 35 Rubicon X and two-door Xtreme 35 Willys with a water fording depth of 34 inches, no fewer than 12.6 inches of ground clearance, 47.2 degrees for the approach angle, and 40.4 degrees for the departure angle.
According to the November 2023 hourly agreement published by the UAW on its website, JL Wrangler and JT Gladiator production will continue into 2028. The Wrangler 4xe will receive an updated 4xe powertrain in 2025, the year the Gladiator 4xe is due to reach dealer showrooms nationwide.
The big news, however, is that the next-generation Wrangler is due in 2028 in BEV and REPB flavors. BEV stands for battery-electric vehicle, whereas REPB is Stellantis vernacular for range-extended electric vehicle. Think 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which features two electric motors, a massive battery pack, and the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 acting as a generator. The next-gen Wrangler, namely the fifth, is codenamed J70.
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. Full profile
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