It’s been rumored and reported on for months, but we now know what the 2018 Jeep Wrangler will look like.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spiced up Halloween — and made Wrangler aficionados’ day — by confirming in photos the design of the two- and four-door JL Wrangler. Purists should breathe a sigh of relief.
FCA also released a brief press release late Tuesday, but it’s sparse on any details that can’t be seen in the photos. That means no confirmation of powertrains, transmissions, or specifications. The only truly key detail that’s been confirmed is the available fold-down windshield, but then again, that’s one feature that was almost certain to carry forward from the previous Wranglers.
Jeep’s statement also confirmed there will be a lot of available door, windshield, and roof combinations. That, too, isn’t a shocker.
Alas, there was nary a mention of the Wrangler pickup truck.
It’s unclear why FCA chose to release these pictures on Halloween while many of us were either trick or treating, partying, or watching the World Series, but it likely coincides with Mopar releasing a bunch of aftermarket parts for the 2018 Wrangler as part of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show taking place in Las Vegas this week.
At first glance, the pics show styling that favors evolution over revolution. The JL Wrangler looks a lot like the current JK Wrangler, but with more slope to the hood and a more-rounded grille.
It looks like the front windshield folds down much more easily, and the A-pillar stays in place when the windshield is folded. Turn signals move to the front fenders and a vent appears behind the front fenders.
One photo appears to show a manual transmission, manual transfer case, and hand-activated emergency brake. The trim in that pic looks to be a Rubicon.
We’ll learn the rest of the details at the end of November when FCA officially unveils the Wrangler at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. Maybe we’ll learn more about the pickup’s timeline at that point.
[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
New Wrangler is new.
Nice teaser shot, but the real news will be confirmation of drivetrains and the pick-up. The JL is pretty much just more of the pattern set by the JK.
Now if they’d just make the JL in 2-door Unlimited form like the TJ Unlimited, CJ-8, or CJ-6, I’d be sold – as long as the wheelbase was somewhere in the middle between the 2-door and 4-door JL, and it could be had with the diesel.
It’s…a Jeep!
well, if it ain’t broke.
The Jeep fans, who really, really love their Jeeps; will go on about the subtle differences. For the rest of us; it’ll be like listening to golfing or hunting stories; it’s still a Jeep.
What else do you want it to be? An F150, Malibu, Tacoma, 911, Z, Altima arc. are all still the same as before with subtle changes made.
Not if the A-pillars are fixed regardless of windshield position! #MakingAStand
What’s cool about the new design is that putting the windshield down is now only a matter of flipping some levers rather than removing bolts.
The windshield is raked further back but as @danio has pointed out, you don’t need to unbolt that plate at the bottom of the A-pillar.
As a former JK owner, it would be great if FCA has devised a new set up for the front and rear fender flares. The plastic ones require a lot of care to keep looking black and not faded black plastic. I found vegetable oil to be the most cost efficient product to maintain a black sheen.
Based on the photos some subtle changes which are not surprising. The JK sells well and really does not need a wholesale makeover to keep people coming back. I would be delighted with some safety enhancements, quieter ride, & a more powerful perhaps less thirsty mil up front. Of course, a Scrambler option as well.
I plastidipped my flares. Held up really well, and looks a LOT better.
Looks to me just like Wrangler of today
Yay for rounder Jeeps.
If you took a late 70s Catherine Bach and dropped her next to that concept she’d still recognize it as a Jeep.
Heck I’d say if you showed it to “Willie and Joe” (Bill Mauldin – look it up) they’d still recognize that as descended from their GP.
They should consider just stamping the model year alongside the trim badge so those of us who are not aficionados will know when a new one comes out.
Ooooo like wine!
Chateau le Toledo Wrangler Vintage 2018.
The Bronco is dead in the water.
Of course, its a Ford. DUH!!
Well, unless they have a big azzed Aussie snorkel on the thing.
Yes that’s most of it. Ford doesn’t know how to make a successful vehicle without relying heavily on fleet sales. And with all the recent missteps and the attempt to take on an icon like he Wrangler, it really has failure written all over it. Ford exited the true SUV market years ago when they introduced the dismal Taurus based Explorer that went right above the dismal Edge.
It has fail written on it because it’s a Ford, right?
Just how idiotic can you be? Ford says its coming out with a new Bronco. No details released, except where it’ll be built. BUT, we don’t need to know anything about it, the fact that its a Ford alone means its rental fleet garbage.
That dismal Explorer is the best selling vehicle in its class, and the Edge sells very well also. Is it impossible for a company to build a crossover and, separately, a good BOF SUV? Better get that memo out to Jeep and Toyota STAT!
“The only truly key detail that’s been confirmed is the available fold-down windshield…..”
The doors also appear to be removable. That’s quite important, and never a guarantee in the era of crash safety and electronic complications within the door itself.
The other noticeable change (though it may be an optical illusion) is the shrinking greenhouse. FCA is probably reducing frontal area to improve fuel efficiency, but it’s taking away from the Wrangler’s inherent rollover safety. If front seat passengers no longer have a foot between the rollcage and the seat back, additional overhead protection will be required. For hardcore offroad drivers, additional overhead structure was always required, but now relatively relaxed offroad drivers may want to reinforce the cage.
As always the devil is in the detail. Wranglers need to be easy to work on and have relatively reliable systems. Hiding fasteners and adding superfluous pieces will send people into a rage. Hopefully, FCA consulted the Jeeple during the entire process. They don’t need another Cherokee KL problem.
I could be wrong but the new Wrangler looks like the current model.
Why mess with success?
Wrangler, like the 911 (and to a lesser extent, Mustang and Camaro) is best when left to the same basic formula, gradually changing with each new generation while becoming more modern in the process without losing its identity.
This looks interesting. I hope the seat goes low enough, so my head clears the roll cage. It didn’t on JK, but on JK it was relatively easy to rectify with a hacksaw and a welder.