Jeep Wrangler 4xe Offers 375 horsepower, Hours of All-Electric Off-Roading

Wrangler 4xe combines incredible efficiency without any compromise in the expected Jeep capabilities.

This morning, the 2021 Wrangler 4xe was introduced as the first model to showcase the modern electrification program. We knew that the Jeep brand has been working on a collection of electrified vehicles, but many people expected them to be watered-down, focusing more on range and being eco-friendly than offering traditional Jeep capabilities. However, the 4xe package for the Wrangler introduces improved fuel economy numbers and all-electric driving without compromising any of the Trail Rated abilities. As a result, this will soon be the most off-road-capable hybrid electric vehicle on sale in the North American market.

“Our Jeep 4xe vehicles will be the most efficient, responsible and capable that the brand has ever created,” said Christian Meunier, Global President of Jeep Brand – FCA. “We are committed to make Jeep the greenest SUV brand. The electrification of the Jeep lineup will allow commuters to travel solely on electric power, delivering an efficient and fun on-road experience and offering an ability to enjoy even more Jeep capability off-road in nearly complete silence.”

The Wrangler 4xe will be built at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Ohio starting in December 2020 and it will be sold globally, with unique charging ports for the various markets. Pricing for this model will be announced when we get closer to the vehicles arriving in dealerships.

4xe Power

Let’s get right to the meat of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe story. This package features a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine coupled with a 17-kWh electric motor setup featuring two motors and a 400-volt battery system from Samsung. The combination of the turbocharged gasoline engine and the electric assist system is a total system output of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. For comparison, the standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine offers 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, so the hybrid system adds a significant amount of power.

The Wrangler 4xe drivetrain features a full-time automatic four-wheel-drive system with a 4:1 ratio transfer case and an 8-speed automatic transmission with a “motor generator unit” mounted at the front in place of the torque convertor. There is also a motor generator unit mounted to the front of the engine, so the drivetrain is features electric assist at the front of the engine and at the front of the transmission.

The package uses a pair of clutches to combine gas and electric power, with one clutch between the gasoline engine and electric motor while another is located between the electric motor and the transmission. The clutch between the engine and motor controls the type of power sent through the transmission while the second controls the amount of power sent to the wheels.

This drivetrain helps the Wrangler 4xe sprint from a stop to 60 miles per hour in roughly six seconds, but more importantly, this new plug-in hybrid Jeep has a total range of around 400 miles while being able to drive around 25 miles on electric only. The Wrangler 4xe is rated at 50 MPGe with help from the unique 2-high transfer case mode.

So this is the most fuel-efficient Wrangler to date while being the first to offer all-electric driving, but those unique capabilities do not come with a great reduction in off-road capabilities. In fact, the instant torque delivery of the electric drive system makes the Wrangler 4xe a better off-road toy and when the transfer case is set to 4-low, the Jeep team promises hours of all-electric driving. You can drive around 25 miles at speed on paved roads, but at low speed in tight quarters, there is little need for the gasoline engine when the battery is fully charged.

‘Jeep Wrangler 4xe Offers 375 horsepower, Hours of All-Electric Off-Roading’ continued…

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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