2018 Jeep Wrangler Will Have a Manual Transmission After All
When Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reported earlier this year that the demand for manual transmission option requests on Jeep Wranglers hit an all-time low, most of us figured that would signal the end of the good ‘ole clutch pedal for the iconic off-roader.
Thankfully, spy photos posted on JL WranglerForums.com tell a different story than we were led to believe. Shots of a 2018 Jeep Wrangler test mule outfitted with a new 6-speed gearbox were posted by the forum and have quickly gone viral.
One of the reasons I mentioned it’s a new and not an old gearbox is because if you pay close attention to the shift knob (and if the knob isn’t misleading), one can notice the reverse gear is on the upper left and not on the bottom right like it is now.
If this is in fact representative of a production Jeep Wrangler, not only does it confirm there will be an optional manual transmission, but that the current NSG370 gearbox will be scrapped in order to make room for the new Mercedes-Benz derived 6-speed manual.
Rumors about turbocharged, V6, and even diesel engine options for 2018 are still roaring like wild fire, but nothing has graduated from rumor-level to be considered seriously.
Kudos to Jeep for sticking with a manual and delivering for stick enthusiasts!