Models
A new edition of the all-purpose Jeep Wrangler is expected to hit dealerships later this year. Unlike most of its predecessors, though, this one comes with the Moab seal of approval because, well, it’s called the Wrangler Moab Edition.
This Wrangler takes its name from being named after the Moab Easter Safari with a style that alludes itself to possessing style and rugged effectiveness.The steel bumpers are one of the first distinguishable characteristics of the Wrangler Moab Edition. The sculpted hood is also uniquely noticeable as are the rock sliders on the sills, and the number of exterior color options, including Black, White, Gecko, Dozer, Crush, and Rock Lobster.
As far as performance, the Wrangler Moab Edition is powered by the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that the rest of the Wrangler line-up comes in. Likewise, a limited-slip rear differential comes as standard for most trims, with the Sport and Sahara models having it as added options. Other standard features that come on the Wrangler Moab Edition include newly contoured seats and trim, a lever for one-handed rear-seat folding, ambient cabin lighting, and a second windshield washer nozzle.
The Wrangler Moab Edition will be available for both the two-door Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited versions. No final word on pricing yet, but expect that to be announced soon leading up to the model’s dealership debut in a few months.
The USA is celebrating its independence and Jeep is rolling out a special edition Wrangler to commemorate the occasion.
The special Wrangler is called the Freedom Edition and it’s being released as a limited-run model that’s based on the Wrangler Sport. In line with its "tribute to the military" theme, the Wrangler Freedom Edition will be made available in three special color finishes involving the three shades that make up the US flag: Deep Cherry Red, Bright White, or True Blue.
Among the exclusive features attached to the Wrangler Freedom Edition include "Oscar Mike" badges, an homage to the military lexicon of "on the move." In addition, star badges can also be found on the front hood and the rear-quarter panel while star images have been embroidered on the setbacks, which is then visually complemented by silver stitching. Likewise, silver accents can also be found on the interior, particularly on the Mopar slush mats.
As far as performance, the Wrangler Freedom Edition will be powered by a 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine, one that produces 285 horsepower.
Anybody interested in this special edition, patriotism-inspired Wrangler will need to fork over $29,090 for the two-door model and $31,595 for the four-door model. Better yet, for every model sold by Jeep, the automaker is sending over $250 to a number of charities, including the Fisher House Foundation and the I Support Foundation.
While everyone’s attention is focused over in China where the Beijing Auto Show is taking place, Jeep has decided to offer the US market a new special edition Wrangler Unlimited Altitude. The new model is based on the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara model and will go on sale in May 2012 at a price of $33,740.
The new Wrangler Unlimited Altitude will be distinguished by a body-color hardtop with matching painted center sections on the front and rear bumpers, as well as a new set of unique 18" five-spoke alloy wheels with black-painted spokes and polished wheel rings. For this special edition, Mopar has added a black fuel fill door, a matte black "Jeep" grille badge, and a black tone-on-tone hood graphic.
The interior gets red accent stitching on black leather seats, door panels, center arm rest, floor mats, and steering wheel. Vent rings, steering-wheel spokes, door pulls, passenger-side dashboard grab handle, and berber floor mats are all painted in black.
Customers can choose between Deep Cherry Red, Black, Bright White, and Bright Silver Metallic.
Jeep’s line-up of vehicles at the 2012 Easter Safari in Moab, Utah is rounding out into shape with the unveiling of two new vehicles - the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Concept and the Jeep Wrangler Traildozer - following last week’s announcement of the Mighty FC Concept, the J12, and the Wrangler Apache.
The Traildozer, in particular, is based on a Dozer Yellow 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and was co-designed by Jeep and the engineering boys over at the American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). For the project, the two collaborating heads fixed up the Wrangler with some off-road body protection, Mopar premium front and rear bumpers, and rear corner guards. Likewise, the off-roader was also given a Mopar performance heat reduction hood, a Mopar half-door kit, and a Mopar/Warn 9.5 Cti winch. Inside, the changes, minimal as they are, include an AEV ’F-1’ leather seat trim kit and Mopar slush mats. The wheels configuration includes 37" Mickey Thompson Baja Claw radials mounted on Mopar Classic five-spoke wheels, with a fully-installed AEV Dualsport RS 3.5" suspension lift.
Then there’s the most significant modification on this vehicle: the engine upgrade! For the project, Jeep and AEV installed a bolt-in 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine that produces 470 horsepower and mated it to a Getrag 238 six-speed manual transmission with the power running through Rubicon-specific Dana 44 axles equipped with 4:10 gears and electronic locking differentials.
It doesn’t do much in the way of aesthetics, but the Jeep Wrangler Traildozer is a powerful workhorse hiding in an otherwise simple body.
Chrysler’s in-house aftermarket specialist, Mopar, specializes in developing accessories for a lot of the vehicles under the Chrysler umbrella. At the 2012 Easter Safari in Moab, Utah, Mopar is showcasing what they can do to a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with their fancy accessories.
The Wrangler, which has been unoriginally tagged as the "Wrangler Mopar Accessorized," is exactly what its name suggests. Based on the Wrangler Rubicon, Mopar added a slew of their aftermarket enhancements to turn this off-road raider into one that comes chalk-full of new goodies.
Among the modifications done include a Mopar rock rails, front and rear off-road bumpers, new windshield-mounted LED lamps, a new hard-top headliner, a Warn 9.5ti XP winch, a two-inch performance lift kit, and a new set of massive 35" Goodyear Wrangler tires wrapped in Classic five-hole wheels. Inside, Mopar added Kicker dash 6.5-inch two-way speakers, all-weather mats, a locking center console box, a rear cargo cubby cover, and an “Add-A-Trunk” partition in the cargo area.
There’s not much to go around for this vehicle other than Mopar showing off what it can do to a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon if you let them get their hands on one. Nevertheless, it’s still an interesting look at "what-could-be," especially if you’re in the market for a Wrangler Rubicon.
Every year, Jeep makes it a point to attend the Easter Safari event in Moab, Utah, to show off some of their outrageous concepts. Last year, we saw a number of them in the Cherokee Overland, the Wrangler Mojave, and the Wrangler Blue Crush, among others.
For this year’s festivities scheduled on March 31, 2012, Jeep is bringing a new line-up of concepts - six in total - headlined by the Mighty FC Concept, the Wrangler Apache, and the J-12.
Details behind all the concepts have not yet been revealed because Jeep is taking the slow and steady tease route to draw up some interest in the concepts leading up to the event at the end of the month.
All in all, Jeep released three teaser sketches of the concepts they’re bringing to Easter Safari. For our money, we think that the red Wrangler is the J-12, the blue Wrangler is the Apache, and the huge pick-up is the Mighty FC Concept.
Be sure to head back here because as soon as all the concepts are unveiled, we’ll be running our takes on all of them individually. For now, though, consume these teaser sketches, and let us know what you think of them.
This week’s episode of Top Gear USA brought us back to the one segment format. The trio of Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust, and Ruttledge Wood had the challenge of proving which was the toughest off-roader in America by subjecting three of the best 4x4 vehicles to a series of tests.
Adam opted for a 1994 Ford Bronco with a 351 HP V8 and Ruttledge chose a 1989Chevrolet K5 Blazer with a 350 HP V8. Tanner was the only one with an inline six in his 1983 Jeep Renegade. All three of them were dropped off in the middle of the Mojave Desert to sweat it out for 400 miles as they cruised to Vegas, dealing with the 134 degree weather. By the way, Tanner’s Jeep had no air conditioning. Yikes!
The whole point of this challenge was to find the best 4x4, so to put the vehicles through the test and put the guys through hell, the first 350 miles of the trip had to be made without their tires ever touching asphalt. What happens after this was made known is entirely predictable and grueling.
Hit the jump for details on Top Gear USA: Season 2 Episode 4.
The 45th Moab Jeep Easter Safari is set to open on April 19, 2011 and as has been the case in recent years, Jeep and Mopar will be on hand to present a number of new customized vehicles for the attending public to swoon over.
This year, a total of six vehicles will be displayed, one of which is a tuned-up Jeep Cherokee - Liberty here in the US - that has been christened as the Overland. Based on the 2011 Cherokee, the Overland has been set up with a 2.8-liter CRD 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine with a Selec-Trac II 4x4 system. In addition to the imposing powertrain, the Overland was also dressed up in a zebra safari paint pattern and fitted with an ARB 3-inch suspension lift and Old Man Emu shocks, as well as a set of Mickey Thompson 265/75-R16 MTZ tires that have been mounted on steel wheels. Mopar also added an ARB air locker in the rear differential and on-board air compressor to ensure increased traction for the hulking SUV.
Likewise, Chrysler’s aftermarket company also gave the Overland a number of underbody protection equipment, including skid plates for the SUV’s front suspension, transmission, and transfer case. You’ll also find a host of other items like front and rear tow hooks, slush mats, cargo tray liner, sill guards and a new sport pedal kit.
The 45th Moab Easter Jeep Safari isn’t scheduled until April 16, 2011, but even this early, Jeep is already giving us a look at what to expect when the annual event commences in a little over a week’s time.
The annual tradition for Jeep and Chrysler’s aftermarket company Mopar has become a must-attend event for Jeep and Mopar fans alike. This year, the event is going to have six new concepts, including the monstrous and imposing Jeep Wrangler Blue Crush.
In what Jeep describes as an off-terrain monster that combines “high-speed off-road racing and rock-crawling capability," the Wrangler Blue Crush’s powertrain is anything but a tweeting little bird. Sitting under the utility vehicle’s hood is a Mopar 426 cubic-inch HEMI V8 engine with an output of 540 horsepower and mated to a 545RFE performance transmission and a gear-drive transfer-case.
Apart from the hulking engine and powerful performance capabilities, the Blue Crush also sports a baja-style full cage, short aluminum bumpers, a special off-road suspension system with internal bypass shocks, a front stabilizer bar, full hydro-steering, and in case you haven’t noticed yet, a set of 39” tires that are as imposing as they are useful in allowing the off-road vehicle to navigate rocky and uneven terrains.
There’s absolutely nothing cute and funky about this beastly off-roader. The Jeep Wrangler Blue Crush means serious business.
UPDATE 11/07/2011: The Jeep Wrangler Blue Crush was displayed at the current SEMA Show and we were there to take some live shots. Find them in the picture gallery and let us know what you think about this extreme Wrangler.
Every year, Jeep and Mopar hold a special event for fans of the two brands. Now on its 45th year, the Moab Easter Jeep Safari has become an annual convergence of some eye-catching Jeep concepts, all of which have been made specifically for the event.
The 45th Moab Easter Jeep Safari is scheduled for April 16th, 2011, but with more than a week left before the event begins, we’ve already gotten a few sneak peeks on the six concepts that are expected to appear on the show.
This year, the event will feature three customized Jeep Wrangler models with one being given the designation as the ‘Renegade’. Just like the Blue Crush and the Pork Chop, the Renegade comes with its own unique features courtesy of Chrysler’s aftermarket company, Mopar.
Of the many modifications given to the Wrangler, the Renegade model now sports a powerful 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine that produces 475 horsepower and mated to a six-speed manual transmission. In addition to the improvements done on the off-roader’s powertrain, Mopar also gave the Renegade a bevy of new items, including a heat dissipating hood, a new fuel door, sill guards, a bikini top, rock rails, slush mats, a half-door kit, a new winch-mounted front bumper, and a set of 35” Mickey Thompson Baja Claw radials that have been mounted on AEV Pintler wheels.
It may not be as jarring as the Blue Crush or as peculiar as the Pork Chop, but the Renegade still holds a commanding and intimidating presence by the mere sight of it. The fact that it’s tailor-made for rough and tough terrain is a true indication of the off-roader’s capabilities.
Easter Sunday isn’t scheduled until April 24th, 2011, but that didn’t stop the organizers of the 45th annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari from holding the event a week earlier on April 16th, 2011 in Utah.
In what has become an annual tradition for Jeep and Chrysler’s aftermarket company Mopar, the two brands have used the Moab Easter Jeep Safari event to introduce a line of customized Jeep concepts to the gathered crowd in attendance.
This year, Jeep and Mopar are introducing six new concepts to the event, one of which is the quirky-named Wrangler ‘Pork Chop’. Mopar took what began as a 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport and shaved off some weight by dropping many elements found on the standard model, including the doors, the tailgate, the bumpers, the carpet, the sway bars, and the top, among other things.
In addition to ridding itself of what apparently is 850 lbs worth of excess baggage, the car also got some new touches, including a custom roll cage, reshaped fender panels, a set of bright red lightweight Sparco ‘Chrono Road’ reclining bucket seats, a newly modified suspension system, a lowered windshield, and a set of Mickey Thompson 35” Baja Claw radials mounted on lightweight E-T Vintage V wheels.
Just by looking at it, the custom Jeep actually looks really neat. The only problem we have is we don’t know why they ended up calling it ’Pork Chop’.
The 2011 Grand Cherokee is one of Jeep’s crown jewels, a luxury SUV that has stood the test of time since it was first introduced in 1992. Now on it’s 18th year, the Grand Cherokee remains one of Jeep’s hottest selling models.
Now that Jeep is celebrating its 70th anniversary, it only seems fitting that when the company decided to roll out special edition models commemorating their 70 years in existence, the Grand Cherokee would be chosen as one of them.
Joining the Grand Cherokee in this prestigious line-up is the Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Liberty, the Jeep Patriot, and the Jeep Compass. Similar to all the 70th Anniversary models, the special edition Grand Cherokee received a lot of interior upgrades and will come in three different color options: Bronze Star, Bright Silver, and Black.
Anybody interested in owning any one of these SE models will be happy to know that Jeep is scheduled to roll them out to dealerships no later than April of this year.
Details on the Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition after the jump.
In celebrating the brand’s 70th anniversary, Jeep has decided to release something special for all of its customers.
What better way to do that than to release a special edition model for five vehicles in its current line-up? The company is releasing a 70th Anniversary Edition for the Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, and Wrangler SUVs. All of the anniversary models will be rolled out to dealerships by the coming months and will be available in three different color schemes: Bronze Star, Bright Silver, and Black.
The only downside with these SE models is that most of the special edition features were given to the SUV’s interior, leaving little else for the exterior and nothing on the performance side.
But hey, a special edition model is a special edition model. Jeep is turning 70 years old this year and they’re bringing on the year-long celebration on a very high note.
Whether the brand has more in store for us in 2011 is another matter altogether. From the looks of things, though, we wouldn’t be surprised if they do have more surprises for us as the year rolls along.
Details on the Liberty 70th Anniversary Edition after the jump.
How does a man who is the middle of a five-year, $250 million contract to play soccer in America only drive a car that costs ‘only’ $40,000?
We pose that question after photos of Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham surfaced with him behind the wheel of a Jeep Wrangler in Beverly Hills, recently. According to the tabs, Beckham was on his way home to his sprawling mansion after picking up his eldest son, Brooklyn, 11, from school.
We certainly know that this isn’t the only car in the Beckham household – they probably have a million of them at their estate – but it’s a little comforting to see one of the most recognizable faces in the world driving an imposing, everyday off-roader that costs a little less than one of his wife’s bags in one of the most luxurious neighborhoods in the world. And he looks comfortable doing it, too.
Sort of makes you like Beckham, even for just a little bit. That is, until you realize that he is David Beckham, at which time, all those feelings of envy and jealousy come flooding back in.
Photos courtesy of X17Online
With the launch of the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee upcoming, Jeep might already be looking further into the future. The company hasn’t offered a pickup truck in North America since 1992, but they are currently debating the idea.
Mike Manley, president and CEO of Jeep expressed interest in a compact and midsize truck in an interview with PickupTrucks.com.
“That’s a segment that I’m very curious about. I know it’s had a rough time here in the U.S., but globally it still seems to be an important sector.”
“I know there’s a lot of elasticity in the Jeep brand globally, so we’re not limiting our search for new-vehicle opportunities or new markets,” Manley said.
Manley seemed very open about the idea of competing with the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.
Yet, this isn’t the first time that trucks have been brought up by Jeep. Remember the Jeep Gladiator concept from 2005. When the press got their hands on it, the truck got nothing, but rave reviews.
Jeep won’t have it easy though. Chinese auto manufacturer Mahindra is already preparing a truck launch in the United States and, with rising gas prices, trucks might not be the best area to explore.
In any case, don’t expect any further comment from Jeep, just keep hoping that something will come along very soon.
Either Jeep is trying to catch on to the female demographic or they’ve just decided to use their advertising on promoting well-kept hair.
Either way, the new Jeep Wrangler commercial is perplexing to us, given the fact that the brand has always been synonymous with the words ’rugged’ and ’adventure’.
Apparently, the folks behind the ad decided to try a completely new angle for their commercial: girls fresh from a day at the salon riding a Jeep without their hairs getting all messed up.
That’s one way to hit your core demographic Jeep.
The new Jeep Patriot with a price tag of under $15K.