You probably don’t think about the rear window of your Wrangler until it’s covered in mud. That’s when you look back over your shoulder at it and the voice in your head says, “That was fun. I want to do it again.” There’s nothing wrong with that. FCA appears to be giving the back glass of its Jeep off-roading legend plenty of thought, according to some recent patent application photos.
They show an undeniably Wrangler-esque vehicle (the next-generation model, perhaps?) with a rear pane that flips up and can be folded flat against some rubber rests on the roof and secured with a hook. In order to be able to do that, the glass panel’s struts would allow drivers to disconnect them.
Allpar.com says, “The patent application states that the reason for including this system is to allow Jeep Wrangler owners to enjoy the open air feeling while the roof is attached, while allowing owners to be able to haul large cargo, such as lumber.” Wranglers give us the freedom to experience nature on our terms; a design like this falls right in line with that kind of capability.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait to see if this rear window makes it to production as an option, as standard equipment, or at all.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
