The FEROX-E 4x4 Is the Italian-Guise Mopar Hybrid Muscle Europe Doesn't Know It Needs

If the name doesn’t ring any bells or whistles, it’s because they’re in the cars. MILITEM is a registered Italian brand that builds ‘Luxury Premium’ vehicles. Even if Luxury Premium may be confusing, the translation is this: the Italians take stock Jeeps and RAM 1500s and add enhancements.

Their latest creation is the new FEROX-E, a PHEV premiere for the brand, offered in two variants. Built around the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the Militem FEROX-E has the same powertrain architecture as the standard Mopar off-roader.

It develops 380 PS and 637 Nm of torque (375 hp / 470 lb-ft) from the two-liter inline-four turbocharged engine and its trusty twin electric motors. The transmission is the eight-speed Torque Flite automatic with all-wheel drive. Up to this point, the posh Wrangler is as Chrysler-authentic as it gets; the Italians have left the mechanicals unchanged.

What is different from the Mopar-spec’ed automobile is the electric autonomy – 32 miles (50 km), at a never-exceed-speed of 32 mph (50 kph). The speed is restricted in Full Electric mode, which means the FEROX-E can go about for sixty minutes without using a drop of gasoline. Best used for urban environments – which is quite unusual for a car built with no roads in mind.

The 2024 Wrangler 4xe was engineered to go almost anywhere without hindrances from details like terrain, geography, or climate. However, the Italians emphasize that the car can be used without restrictions in urban areas – including where combustion automobiles are forbidden due to emissions restrictions.

The carmakers haven’t released any performance details as of the moment of this article, with two exceptions: the acceleration rating - 6.4 seconds for the 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) dash, and a fuel economy of 67.2 mpg (3.5 liters / 100 kilometers) in hybrid mode, thanks to “a sophisticated system able to optimize consumption and reduce CO2 emissions.” (The details about this system are not disclosed for now).

However, Militem has revealed that the battery pack takes three hours to fully charge (but doesn’t mention the battery capacity or voltage). They mention the car’s Max Regen function – the electric storage array charges when coasting. If the Wrangler 4xe’s electric platform has remained unaltered, the Militem FEROX-E would most probably carry the 400-volt, 17-kWh, 96-cell lithium-ion, nickel manganese cobalt pack (but this is just this reporter’s educated guess, in lack of more specific data).

The car has three driving modes - Hybrid, Full Electric, and E-save (identical to Mopar’s initial configuration, but the Italians spell it E-save instead of eSave). By this point, you’re wondering about the actual differences between a regular Jeep Wrangler 4xe and a Militem FEROX-E.

The Italian car builder has developed a new suspension system with an adjustable torsion bar, steering dampers, and adjustable bespoke Militem Performance Shocks with double-calibrated gas struts. The setup also features a two-inch (five centimeters) raised ride height – the lift kit is optional -and five 20-inch wheels (including the rear-door-mounted spare).

There is a sporty version of the FEROX-E that doesn’t carry the extra wheel, the lift kit, and the 20”s, boasting satin Black forged 22”x 9,5”s. it also loses its go-anywhere abilities and prefers to stick to ‘urban and lifestyle’ environments, as the “least rugged off-road model offered by Militem.”

Strangely, unlike the inspiration Wrangler 4xe, the FEROX-E ditches the 12.3-inch touchscreen for a smaller 8.4-inch display but retains the Uconnect NAV system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS) offers - as standard - Blind-spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Path Detection, a rear-view camera, electronic stability control (ESC) with an ERM (Electronic Roll Mitigation) anti-roll system, front and rear park assist and Keyless Enter 'N Go.

Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning Plus, and a new front camera are thrown in for extra money. The wide body stance sports the matt finish on the grille (completed with black mesh on a blue background) and other body elements and emblems.

The interior is where the FEROX-E stands worlds apart from the Jeep from which it draws its roots. Leather options for the dashboard, instrument panel, steering wheel, gear lever, carbon fiber for the door panels, and cargo bay give buyers a broad customization palette. Two body versions are available – the standard hardtop (a three-piece removable cover) or the power soft-top for an uncensored open-sky experience.

But the price tag is the greatest difference between the Italian-tweaked FEROX-E plug-in hybrid and the base Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The regular Mopar starts at € 85,500 ($93,106) in Italy. At the same time, the pompous Militem sibling burns a €92,429 wallet hole ($100,652 at the end of June 2023, exchange rate), and that’s before taxes. The car comes with a three-year or 100,000-km (62,000 miles) European warranty, as the buttoned-up off-roader is only available on the east side of the Atlantic for now.