Let's Talk About the 2018 Wrangler
2017 has been alight with news and hype surrounding the upcoming Jeep Wrangler. Now that we're in 2018 here's a rundown what we can expect.
1. We've finally got the full scoop on the 4th Generation
Recently at the LA Auto Show, the 2018 Jeep Wrangler was finally revealed in all of its glory, including its full list of specs. While it will still be a month or so until hitting dealerships nationwide, the fact alone the full scoop's gone public is reason enough to be excited for now. The Wrangler has been hyped over the course of the year; now that we're finally on the cusp of the new era, now's a great time to talk about it.
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2. The preceding hype campaign has been massive
Over the course of 2017, we were given small doses of info at a time concerning the new Wrangler. A couple of months ago Jeep even teased a few pictures just to keep us wondering. Although there's been a lot of excitement, we think it was clear to everyone what we could expect. The Jeep will always have its distinct look; the engineers just needed to make sure to offer enough improvements to justify the switch. Of course, this only marks the beginning of the 4th Gen. It's exciting to see what might come up over the next few years. At least now people don't have to play detective over every little tidbit that Jeep fed us. We've been given full specs and a firm understanding of what the 2018 Wrangler has to offer.
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3. Some things about the 2018 Wrangler are new...
The new Wrangler is ever so slightly larger than the 3rd Generation model. Of course, there are upgrades across the board for such a momentous evolution, but the visible differences are actually pretty minimal. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is a new change, for starters. This engine's 270 horsepower is actually in part with the outgoing generation's V6, but this new design will be quicker to deliver energy. Improved handling and better performance test scores have been reported as well in moderate amounts.
4. ...but much remains the same
You're always going to see a Jeep for what it is. It's had a long-lasting appeal in part because they've been so conservative with visible changes. That is not at all a bad thing (cough Porsche 911 cough). You can remove the doors, top and windshield as always. It's bound to handle comparably to Wranglers of recent years. In other words, it'll act exactly as you'd like it to. Their engineers' goal here was to tweak details and refine the Wrangler, never to reinvent it. When you consider how much another longstanding brand like the Chevy Corvette has been overhauled, there's a different kind of comfort in knowing the Jeep stays the same. In that sense, it's like the auto design equivalent of a cup of hot cocoa.
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5. A grander interior
Part of Jeep's recent design philosophy has been to maximize the comfort people feel while inside of one. The Jeep's exterior already has a strong identity, but given the brand's rugged off-roading legacy, there are definitely ways an urbanized Wrangler stood to gain in creature comfort. Commuters are going to have a cozy time with the improved upholstery, as well as the inclusion of the Uconnect infotainment system-- a much-grieved omission from past Wrangler years.
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6. Diesel and hybrid options will be available
The Wrangler is the default "classic" version that people think of as a generic Jeep, but even it is getting updated in accordance with the modern age. Consumers have been gravitating towards increasingly efficient vehicles; reserving the option to get a Jeep equipped with a diesel engine or a hybrid powertrain means more power to the purchaser. Electrified Jeeps are an interesting prospect as well; there's actually a full EV Jeep being released in 2018 from Bollinger Motors. As far as Jeep themselves go, their 3.0 EcoDiesel V6 will be available on the Wrangler in 2019, and it's looking like the plug-in hybrid will go on sale the following year.
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7. What lies in store for the new generation?
The more things change, the more they stay the same. It's exciting that they're officially moving to the next generation. Even so, there's nothing about the 4th Gen that changes the character of the Jeep. Those who love them will continue to do so. The detractors will remain out of the loop. You know, though, for a perennial classic like the Jeep, a change would feel like a sort of sacrilege. The new Wrangler never needed to be something new. It needed to be the same-- only better, and that's exactly what they managed to accomplish.
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