Jeep Wrangler JK Production Ends Friday; Model Will Cheerfully and Capably Dig Its Own Grave

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Amid all the hoopla surrounding the new 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, you’d be forgiven for not realizing there are still versions of the old model rolling off Jeep’s Toledo assembly line. But not for long.

Assembly of the Wrangler JK, introduced for the 2007 model year, carried on alongside its updated near-twin after the JL entered production last November, but that line grinds to a halt on Friday, April 27th. The model isn’t wanted anymore, and there’s an awfully lucrative vehicle that needs the space.

If you’re interested in reading a condensed history of the third-generation Wrangler — a model born at a troubled time, but one which turned the Wrangler into a respected resident of upper middle class neighborhoods across North America — Automotive News‘ Larry Vellequette penned a good one earlier today.

The Wrangler JK, especially in four-door Unlimited guise, helped more than any other vehicle in making Jeep FCA’s most valuable brand. Even the Chinese can’t wrestle it away from CEO Sergio Marchionne’s grasp. After adding a family-friendly four-door to the mix, Wrangler sales instantly soared — from roughly 65,000-80,000 annual units in the years preceding the JK’s launch to 119,243 in 2007. The JK crested the 200,000 mark in 2015.

Over the course of production, the Unlimited model overtook the two-door in sales, with its current volume now double that of its shorter-wheelbase sibling. With so many families getting into Wranglers — families who undoubtedly have a unibody car or crossover as a second vehicle — as much driving refinement and interior modernization as possible went into the JK’s successor. Improvements in curb weight, aerodynamic drag, and fuel economy were also top of mind.

Once the JK clears out of Toledo, Jeep will embark on a months-long retooling effort. Replacing the old model is one which will surely carry the largest price tag of any Wrangler: the Wrangler pickup, aka the Scrambler. The four-door model rides atop a stretched Unlimited frame and starts production late this year. As far as we know, customers will be able to choose an optional diesel V6 engine and soft top, making this model both capable and fun. It’ll be a hit at cupcake shops shoppes in gentrifying neighborhoods everywhere.

Availability starts in 2019.

[Images: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Jackson the cairn Jackson the cairn on Apr 24, 2018

    "The model isn’t wanted anymore, and there’s an awfully lucrative vehicle that needs the space." Even with +$2500 MSRP pricing, it seems likely the per-unit margin on the JK is greater at the moment, while the development costs for JL are amortized. Why else would OEMs continue to produce the previous model for a year or so?

  • Gtem Gtem on Apr 25, 2018

    I honestly sort of expected (and genuinely hoped) that they'd continue selling the JK for a while yet as a "Classic/Heritage" or specifically as a "JK" alongside the new one, at a reduced cost obviously. But I suppose that would eat into JL sales in a very big way.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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