Hurricane Force: Jeep Wrangler's Turbo Four Could Make Nearly 300 Horses
It’s not the engine you’d want for rock crawling, but it’s just the ticket to please commuters and the Environmental Protection Agency.
A source tells Automotive News that a high-output 2.0-liter four-cylinder under development by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will first appear as an option on the next-generation Jeep Wrangler.
The aluminum block engine is code-named Hurricane (a nod to Jeep’s engine heritage), and is said to make in the neighborhood of 300 horsepower, with torque figures being anyone’s guess.
Produced at FCA’s Trenton Engine Complex alongside the Pentastar V6, the new mill reportedly features direct injection, variable valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger.
The new engine is one of several ways FCA plans to make the next-generation Wrangler — due to appear next year as a 2018 model — friendlier in the area of fuel consumption. A myriad of engine choices are rumored to join the lineup, including a diesel and hybrid, but a turbo four seems the likeliest bet for Day 1 availability.
The capable Pentastar returns as the model’s mainstay engine.
Other mileage-making efforts include adding an optional eight-speed automatic transmission and adopting lighter aluminum architecture. Any advances in the area of aerodynamics will have to be subtle, as the Wrangler’s traditional boxy shape is revered nearly as much as the U.S. Constitution.
Offend the Jeep purists, and you’ve got a revolution on your hands.
[Image: FCA US LLC]
More by Steph Willems
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Along with most midsize rwd/4wd SUVS, the Wrangler finally requires V8 power, so why skirt it? The next generation promises to be an even bigger pig, and anything but a V8 means any small engine "economy" is gone from always having your foot in it, pushing the thing through the wind with high RPM or constantly spooled up turbo. Too much wind resistance including the ladder frame, axles, suspension, T-case, flat nose, shoebox cab, plus off road tires. A diesel would be completely laughable, besides pricey. Time to get real. It doesn't have to be a HEMI, but maybe a 280 hp 4.6 V8. Let Europe have Wranglers with weenie engines off Alfa Romeos.
All these comments about torque. Ugh. You get rocm crawling torque via the low speed transfer case. Unless you are running very built axles a normal Rubicon's MT crawl ratio of 73:1 will provide more than enough torque to get over anything. More torque without building elsewhere will break stuff. About the only valid comment I see is from gtemnykh. Throttle response is key as no turbo will give very consistent throttle response as torque changes with load. The "lack of low end torque comments" make me think people only off road on the internet or are ham footed "more gad is better" drivers.
Frankly, I do not see why anyone would want a 300 hp engine in Wrangler. I have 201 hp engine and it's plenty in a Wrangler of about the same weight (e.g. not in YJ). That said, if the throttle calibration allows to ignore all that power easily, then I would not say no to improved fuel economy.
"Any advances in the area of aerodynamics will have to be subtle, as the Wrangler’s traditional boxy shape is revered nearly as much as the U.S. Constitution" ..and there is the gorilla in the room. Fool with the mechanics how you will, but this is still a walk-in Freezer on wheels.