Smaller Engine and Lighter Body Being Considered for New Wrangler

Now, we certainly don’t want to get folks too alarmed here, but the buzz circulating on the Internet about future plans for the Wrangler should raise a few eyebrows.

Apparently, to fend off contenders vying for the same space as the iconic SUV, Jeep is considering making the new one with a lighter body, more transmission gears, or a smaller engine, according to a USA Today report.

Yup, that’s right, and while the idea of more gears doesn’t necessarily scare me, talk of making the next Wrangler due out in 2017 with a lighter body and less power makes me a little nervous.

Of course, the driving factor in all this is that Jeep is looking for a way to improve the Wrangler’s gas mileage for the new model, which is a critical part of the brand’s new global strategy. I’d strongly advise the Jeep team to approach that with caution because a few MPGs certainly isn’t worth jeopardizing the legacy of the Wrangler.