A couple of weeks back, FCA released an update on its business plan (http://www.fcagroup.com/…/FCA_2014_18__Business_Plan_Update…). In covering the plan, the Detroit Free Press said Jeep is moving the production of the Wrangler to a plant in Toledo that makes Cherokees currently (http://www.freep.com/…/fca-build-more-jeeps-rams-…/79393200/). The Cherokee is closer in size to the four-door, so it would make sense that the 4D Wrangler be made in that facility.

But I noticed that page 17 of the FCA plan lists notes on regulatory compliance with emissions standards, and lists ONLY the 4-door Wrangler. Is it possible that FCA is getting ready to ditch the 2D altogether? The 4D outsells the 2D by a decent margin, so what if the rumors that the 2D will get some extra length to add the longer drive train are wrong and Jeep is just planning to drop the 2-door and focus on the longer four-door for the JL?

 

It doesn't mention the current 2 door wrangler either so I doubt it. Their CO2 emissions are and will be nearly identical to they're probably just lumped together. Nothing to indicate the 2 door is going anywhere. Just because it doesn't sell as well as the 4 door doesn't mean it doesn't sell well too. It's still a money maker for FCA.

 

Well, now. If I'm a product manager for FCA (and BTW, I work in this field for a tech company...), I would have to consider not only whether the 2 door is a money making product, but whether it is worthwhile to develop another generation if it differs from the 4dr.

There is some cost associated with building two different versions of the Wrangler, and if it appears that most potential Wrangler 2dr buyers would still buy a 4dr if the 2dr were not available, then it's a no-brainer to kill the 2-door rather than developing a new version of it. That's one inventory item vs. two. It's a huge money saver in terms of overhead and inventory etc. No longer will you have to estimate how many of one vs. the other will sell, etc.

If I were making the decision at FCA, I would vote to kill the 2dr Wrangler. My gut tells me most potential buyers will be more likely to buy a 4dr Wrangler than they will be to buy some competitor's product if a 2dr Wrangler is not available. And that's a lot less retooling needed and design work etc. for what is in some respects a different vehicle.

FCA is already retracting some cars from the market and trying to reduce the overall number of unique products they produce. I wouldn't doubt it that they may choose not to release a JL or whatever next-gen in 2dr.

Just my gut feeling. Who knows what these guys will actually do.

 

I don't think so, but time will tell.

The reason I say that is because the internet was buzzing with a couple of hacked up test mules spied in JK clothing not too long ago, in both 2-and-4-door configuration. It was believed these were powertrain and chassis test mules for the new JL. Photographs show they're definitely different than a JK underneath.

2017 Jeep Wrangler Spied: We Look Underneath ? News ? Car and Driver

 

There are so many rumours, it is hard to know what to believe anymore. I've heard that they intend to get rid of the soft top and replace it with a modular hard top.

Hopefully they sell the brand before they ruin it. I'd be really unhappy if I lost the two door option.

 

But would you be unhappy enough to go buy something else instead? If so, what? Spend double on a LR Defender, presuming they bring them back as planned? Or ... what? Is there a 2-door short wheelbase 4WD on the market in the USA besides the Wrangler?

 

I don't think it's a simple matter of being upset enough to buy a competing product. Jeep has offered a two door model since WWII. It's upsetting to think a piece of the brands history and heritage could be lost. I would then do everything in my power to keep my two door forever but it would upset me to know that into the foreseeable future no new two door option would be presented.

I would at this point with all other options on the market indeed purchase a four-door Wrangler before I purchased a competing product. However, that does very little to negate the fact that I would be upset if they killed off the two door.

 

Yeah, I get that. But that's not a viable business reason for FCA to offer the 2door when...

...even the die-hard 2-door lovers will still buy a 4-door.

 

Finding raw data on the sales split seems tougher than a simple Google search at the moment, but my best guess from something I saw on AllPar and some numbers from 2007-2012 that 4-doors outsell 2-doors about 2:1 or maybe a little more.

There are over a million Wranglers in production since 2006..based on the production ratio, I would think that there's still a very justifiable business case to keep the 2-door in production for the JL Wrangler.

 

Not if those buyers are [projected to be] willing to buy the 4-door as an alternative. In that case, it's a major money saving for FCA to only offer the 4-door.