Photo: SB-Medien
Ever since the August FCA dealer meeting in Las Vegas spilled the beans on many future projects, Wrangler included, we’ve been eager to spot Jeep engineers testing the next generation of the offroader.
The wait is finally over, with our spy photographers having encountered a 2018 Wrangler test mule in the Southwestern desert. Mad Max visual setup aside, the test vehicle reveals an important aspect about the iconic model, namely that it will grow in length.
As you can see in the gallery below, the area between the hood and the cowl has gained about one inch, with the front fenders also being adapted to support the increase. Expect this extra space to be invested into the next Wrangler’s wheelbase.
The Wrangler will keep its short front and rear overhangs in order to maintain its brilliant approach and departure angles. And since the vehicle must also deliver in terms of the break-over angle, the wheelbase increase has to be moderate.
Nevertheless, this will allow the Wrangler to offer superior interior space, mixing a modern cabin with an overall setup that will help the vehicle stay true to its roots, both in terms of styling and rugged terrain capacities.
We expect the Wrangler to keep its solid axle configuration, but nothing is certain yet. The same can be said about the vehicle’s metal mix - while most of the car will be made from steel, a bit of aluminum could be added to the mix to keep the weight and therefore the emissions in check.
An earlier rumor states the new Wrangler will make its debut in July 2017, but there’s more to the story than that.
As you can see in the gallery below, the area between the hood and the cowl has gained about one inch, with the front fenders also being adapted to support the increase. Expect this extra space to be invested into the next Wrangler’s wheelbase.
The Wrangler will keep its short front and rear overhangs in order to maintain its brilliant approach and departure angles. And since the vehicle must also deliver in terms of the break-over angle, the wheelbase increase has to be moderate.
Nevertheless, this will allow the Wrangler to offer superior interior space, mixing a modern cabin with an overall setup that will help the vehicle stay true to its roots, both in terms of styling and rugged terrain capacities.
The clues we have so far
As we said in the intro, the FCA dealers’ meeting brought us a few pieces of info on the Wrangler - it seems the vehicle was shown to the dealers, with unofficial sources claiming the designers haven’t strayed too far from the styling cues of the current model.We expect the Wrangler to keep its solid axle configuration, but nothing is certain yet. The same can be said about the vehicle’s metal mix - while most of the car will be made from steel, a bit of aluminum could be added to the mix to keep the weight and therefore the emissions in check.
An earlier rumor states the new Wrangler will make its debut in July 2017, but there’s more to the story than that.
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