A lot of the same, but a lot of key differences too.
There’s a lot riding on Jeep with the launch of the new 2018 Wrangler, having to balance the requirements of today (and tomorrow) while staying true to the Wrangler recipe that first debuted in 1941 as the Willys Jeep. And while the impending model has yet to receive its full reveal, its entire owners’ manual has found its way online thanks to a really unfortunate leak from (we assume) within the Fiat-Chrysler offices.
Several important bites of information have been gleaned from the leak, like the availability of a non-removable power-retractable top on some models, along with things like active safety features (blind spot monitoring, among others) as well as the available engine range for the Wrangler in its home market. And for this information, we have the chaps at JLWrangler Forums to thank.
What’s confirmed is the offering of the 2.0-litre turbo-four petrol engine, as well as the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 motor, and no mention of turbodiesels (no surprise there). No outputs unfortunately, but we do know that the turbo-four is rated to tow up to 907kg, while the 3.6-litre can haul a little over half a tonne. And should you be hauling, you’ll be happy to know that the next-generation Wrangler will come equipped with an electronic system engineered to stop trailers from wandering.
The cabin of the Wrangler has been significantly reworked (if images in the manual are too be believed), featuring a far more upmarket presentation over the presently-utilitarian design adopted. This should bode will considering that the Wrangler is now more of an emotional purchase rather than an entirely-sensible one, which is likely why Jeep was so adamant in maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the model, with few really notable changes with this full-model change.
Thankfully, the cabin’s rework does incorporate some more modern conveniences, like a 7.0-inch and an 8.4-inch UConnect infotainment screen that can display a myriad of information, especially off-road data like steering angle, vehicle altitude/longitude/latitude, and axel status, among others.
There’s adjustable electronic stability control for the new Wrangler, a necessity for something with as much off-road ability as this, along with autonomous emergency braking supported by a system that helps optimise braking in slippery conditions. It’s suggested that speed-adaptive steering will also feature, while cabin comfort is catered for by a climate control system that should feature as standard across the most popular variants.
For the latest-generation Wrangler, it’s expected to retain the two- and four-door variants, while also adding a four-door ute body style as well to maximise appeal in markets like ours.
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