Jeep Wrangler (JL)

Jeep Wrangler JL
Jeep Wrangler 4-door
Overview
Manufacturer	Jeep (FCA US)
Also called	Jeep Wrangler JL
Production	November 2017–present
Model years	2018–present
Assembly	Toledo, Ohio, United States (Toledo Complex)
Designer	Mark Allen (exterior: 2014)[1] Ryan Patrick Joyce (interior: 2014)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible SUV or 4-door convertible SUV
Powertrain
Engine	2.0L GME T4 Hurricane turbo l4 petrol 2.2L Multijet II l4 diesel 3.6L Pentastar V6 petrol
Transmission	6-speed manual transmission 8-speed Torqueflite 850RE automatic transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase	96.8 inches / 2.46 m (2-door) 118.4 inches / 3.01 m (4-door) [2]
Length	166.8 inches / 4.24 m (2-door) 188.4 inches / 4.79 m (4-door) [2]
Width	73.9 in / 1.88 m
Chronology
Predecessor	Jeep Wrangler (JK)

The Jeep Wrangler (JL) is the fourth generation of the Wrangler off-road vehicle. Unveiled at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 29, 2017, production of the vehicle began in November 2017.^[3] The JL became available to the public in January 2018.

Overview

The JL at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show (Shown with Mopar accessories)

The fourth-generation Wrangler 2-door and Wrangler 4-door^[4] feature an exterior design that is reminiscent of the 1997-2006 Wrangler (TJ), with a "raked" front grille with seven vertical slots and round headlamps that integrate into the front grille.^[5] The designers have moved the traditional Jeep logo off the grille.

The JL is available in Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon trim levels, with all being available in either two-door or four-door body styles, except for the Sahara, which is available on Wrangler 4-door only.

All Wrangler JL models are exclusively four-wheel drive. Options available on all JL models (except Rubicon) include an anti-spin rear differential. The Wrangler has retained a body-on-frame construction. The JL is designed to be more comfortable on-road.^[6]

The Wrangler two-door is 2.5 inches longer overall than before, while the Wrangler four-door has grown by 3.5 inches.^[7] The new Wrangler is roughly 200 pounds lighter than the Wrangler JK. Overhangs increase significantly with the new model having 29.2 and 40.8 inches front and rear.

Trim levels

The Wrangler is available in Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon trim levels:

Sport/Sport S

Rear view

The Sport is the entry level trim with push-button start, manual windows, cloth seats and seventeen-inch steel wheels. Single-zone manual air conditioning remains optional on two-door models and is standard on four-door models. The JL has a 41.4-degree approach angle on its base model.^[8]

The Sport S adds more features to the Sport, such as power door locks, power windows, keyless entry, air conditioning and seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The optional Cold Weather Group is a package that includes heated front seats and steering wheel.

The Sport and Sport S come with Dana 30 axles in front and Dana 35 axles in the rear.^[9]Order the anti-spin rear differential and it comes with a Dana 44 M220 instead of the Dana 35

Rubicon

Wrangler 4-door Rubicon

The Rubicon is the top trim level, featuring the most capable off-road equipment. The JL has a 44-degree approach angle on its two-door Rubicon edition. Ground clearance measures 10.8 inches for the Rubicon. Water fording depth measures 30 inches.

Rubicon models get the Rock-Trac system with an enhanced NV241 OR transfer case as standard,^[7] as well as a front sway-bar disconnect system and hydraulic rebound stop. The Rubicon will also feature an electronic locking differential, which allows the driver to lock either the rear differential only or both the front and rear differentials via a toggle switch located in the center of the instrument panel. It has a Dana 44 M210 axle in the front, and for the rear there is a Dana 44 M220 axle (4.10 axle ratio).^[12] The Tru-Lok electric lockers can be engaged on the fly at up to 30 mph in 4WD low-range.

The Rubicon adds off-road features to the Sport S, such as 33-inch BF Goodrich KO2 off-road tires, seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with gray-painted accents, electronic-locking front and rear axles, Rock rails, high clearance fenders and premium cloth seating surfaces. Touch sensors located on all door handles for Rubicon equipped with Remote Proximity Keyless Entry option.

Additional options include LED front headlamps with daytime running lamps (DRL's), polished aluminum-alloy wheels with black-painted pockets, Keyless Enter-'n'-Go, a steel bumper group, leather-trimmed seating surfaces, and color-keyed fender flares. The Rubicon offers a color-keyed dashboard panel.

Powertrain

The 3.6L Pentastar VVT V6 gasoline engine still remains available from the existing Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited (4-door), and is standard on all models, though has been redesigned for improved fuel economy. The engine features an Aisin AL6 six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, with an 850RE Torqueflite eight-speed automatic transmission being optional. The automatic transmission made its debut in the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2), replacing the older Torqueflite 845RE unit. The eight-speed automatic unit will feature a traditional shifter. The engine performance is unchanged from the previous model at 285 hp (213 kW; 289 PS) and 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m). This is only offered on Wrangler models sold in North America.

A 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder (Inline-4) Chrysler Hurricane engine is available on all models. Paired exclusively with the 850RE Torqueflite eight-speed automatic transmission, the new engine features a mild hybrid system branded as eTorque for improved fuel economy and off-road performance, and produces 270 hp (201 kW; 274 PS) and 295 lb⋅ft (400 N⋅m) combined. This is the only gasoline engine offered in Europe. In North America, this engine will have late availability, and all Wranglers will launch with the existing 3.6L Pentastar V6 gasoline engine.

Jeep has announced that a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 turbodiesel engine, built by VM Motori will become available in 2019–the same engine is available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK2) and the Ram 1500.^[13] It will produce approximately 260 hp (194 kW; 264 PS) and 442 lb⋅ft (599 N⋅m). The rest of the world except for North America will get a 2.2l 4 cylinder turbo diesel. North America will not get a diesel Wrangler right now.

Jeep has also announced that a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will be released in 2020.

Removable parts

Wrangler with doors removed

The front windshield can now easily be folded down, or completely removed, and is made of aluminum, as are some of the body panels (some body panels are still made of steel), as well as the hard roof, to make it easier to remove. The doors are also made of aluminum, making them easier to take off.

A labeled and fitted storage area for roof, doors, and windshield screws is located in the rear cargo area, and a tool kit that stores in a fitted area in the upper portion of the center console, is provided with a manual that depicts how to remove each exterior component from the vehicle, as well as the specific tool from the kit that is required to do so.

Roof options

All roof systems are new for 2018. The interior roll bar has been redesigned to accommodate the new roof systems. The JL will offer three roof options^[14]:

• The Sunrider soft top is a soft canvas roof, and is the standard roof option on all models. This roof has been fully redesigned, and is now easier to remove. The rear and side windows easily lift out, and the previous Velcro and zipper enclosures have been deleted. Once the rear and side windows have been removed (they can be stowed inside of the vehicle behind the rear seats), the driver is able to unlatch the roof latches, and drop the roof back, where it will stow behind the rear seats (a similar system to that of many soft top roadsters, such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata). There is a lever that allows the driver to lock the roof in place in the "down" position so the roof will not flap when the vehicle is in motion. In addition, the Sunrider soft top is now available in either black or tan, whereas it was only available in black on the Wrangler (JK).

• The Freedom Top hardtop is a color-keyed, hard metal roof.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon with color-keyed hard metal roof

Like its predecessor, the Freedom Top hardtop is a three-piece system, with two removable roof panels in the front of the vehicle, allowing the driver to remove the panels without having to remove the entire roof. The roof has been redesigned to allow the driver to easily lift and remove the roof, as it is now made of lighter aluminum. The hardtop option remains available in black or body color.

• The Sky One-Touch Power Top is a soft canvas panel that is power-retractable, and is the first of its kind on any Wrangler. The driver simply presses a switch located inside of the vehicle, and the roof folds back. The system is similar to that of the 2008-2012 Jeep Liberty (KK). The roof can be operated at up to 60 MPH, or 96.5 kmh.

In-vehicle infotainment

There are three updated infotainment systems (Uconnect 3 5.0BT, Uconnect 4 7.0, and Uconnect 4C 8.4N). The different Uconnect infotainment systems supply 5-inch, 7-inch, or 8.4-inch displays.^[15]

The base Sport and upgraded Sport S both feature the standard Uconnect 3 5.0BT system, while the uplevel Sahara and Rubicon both feature the Uconnect 4 7.0 system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is also optional on the upgraded Sport S, when equipped with the Electronic Infotainment Group. The Uconnect 4C 8.4N system is only available on the uplevel Sahara and Rubicon models, when equipped with the Electronic Infotainment II Group. SiriusXM Satellite Radio is standard on all models aside from the base Sport, where it is available as a standalone option.

An eight-speaker audio system, with dashboard and rear "sound bar" mounted speakers is standard on all models, whereas an optional nine-speaker Alpine premium amplified audio system that adds an all-weather subwoofer, is a standalone option on all models, also included with the Electronic Infotainment Group and Infotainment II Group on Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon models.

All three infotainment systems include a fully integrated and federally mandated rear-view backup camera as standard equipment. The camera is mounted to the spare tire, and can be removed if the tire is removed.

Rear passengers now get a 115 V AC household-style power outlet, as well as rear USB charging ports on Wrangler 4-door models.

Interior

The interior design was inspired by the 1954-1983 Jeep CJ-5 and 1987-1995 Wrangler (YJ) models. The majority of the interior switchgear in the JL is unique to the JL, except for some parts which are shared with other Chrysler products.

The power window controls remain in the center of the instrument panel, and the front woofers remain in the lower corners of the instrument panel. There is a new three-spoke, retro-inspired steering wheel, and a color instrument cluster display screen is available on upper-level trims.

Black cloth bucket seats are standard on the Wrangler Sport.

Safety

Safety improvements include standard side-impact airbags and strengthened B-pillars.

LED front headlamps and rear tail lamps are available, as are daytime running lamps (DRL's) on the front fenders. A blind spot monitor is built directly into the taillight housing. The rear spare tire has been moved down to increase rear visibility.

Safety ratings data is currently not available for the 2018 Wrangler JL.

Production

Production of the Wrangler 4-door began in November of 2017, while two-door Wrangler production will commence in early 2018. As with its predecessors, the JL is produced at Jeep's Toledo Complex in Toledo, Ohio, and also was produced alongside its predecessor, the Wrangler JK, which remained in production until April 27, 2018. The simultaneous sales was to ensure that dealerships could meet demand. The 2018 Wrangler JK was virtually unchanged from the 2017 model, and a WRANGLER JK decal on the front fenders distinguished the outgoing model from its successor.^[16] The plant which produced the JK will temporarily close as it receives a retooling for the upcoming Wrangler-based Jeep Scrambler.

FCA announces that the Toledo Machining Plant will assemble the power electronics module and components for the Jeep Wrangler Plug-in Hybrid which will be launching in 2020.^[17]

Marketing

A debut television advertisement for the 2018 Wrangler JL, entitled "Jeep Jurassic", first aired during Super Bowl LII. The ad is a reenactment of the classic Tyrannosaurus Rex chase scene from the 1993 movie Jurassic Park. However, instead of a 1992 Wrangler (YJ) Sahara Edition, Jeff Goldblum, who played Ian Malcom in the movie, drives a silver two-door 2018 Wrangler JL Rubicon with red accents. The commercial ends with Goldblum seated in the driver's seat of the aforementioned Jeep in a showroom, where a Jeep saleswoman asks if he would like to take the JL for a test drive, to which Goldblum replies that he has.^[18]

Pricing

On December 13th, 2017, Jeep unveiled pricing for the 2018 Wrangler 2-door and Wrangler 4-door. On sale in January, 2018, base pricing for each trim level (without options) is as follows ^[19]:

• Wrangler Sport 2-door: $26,995
• Wrangler Sport 4-door: $30,495
• Wrangler Sport S 2-door: $30,195
• Wrangler Sport S 4-door: $33,695
• Wrangler Sahara 4-door: $37,345
• Wrangler Rubicon 2-door: $36,995
• Wrangler Rubicon 4-door: $40,495

Pickup truck

The Wrangler JL line will be complemented by a mid-size pickup truck, which was scheduled to debut in late 2018 as an early 2019 model year vehicle. Jeep is considering to name their JL-based pickup truck the Jeep Scrambler (codenamed JT), as a tribute to the 1981-1985 Jeep CJ8 Scrambler. The truck will be Jeep's first since the discontinuation of the Jeep Cherokee (XJ)-based Jeep Comanche in 1992. Aftermarket pickup conversions of the previous Wrangler generations (TJ and JK), such as the American Expedition Vehicles Brute, were available for purchase until recently, and have been since 2007, as the JK-based Jeep J8 was introduced. Introduction of the Wrangler JL-based pick-up is now slated for April 2019.^[20]

Awards and Recognition

• Autotrader's Must Test Drive Award^[21]
• Northwest Automotive Press Association's Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year for Jeep Wrangler Unlimited^[22]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jeep Wrangler (JL).

• 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL (Official website)