Overshadowed lately by a brace of upcoming full-size SUV stablemates, to say nothing of its reborn Ford Bronco rival, the plug-in Jeep Wrangler remains the next big introduction for the off-road brand.
Teased on and off throughout the year, the Wrangler plug-in hybrid, known officially as the Wrangler 4xe (a moniker greeting all hybridized Jeeps), has appeared with an arrival date in tow. Best to get this introduction out of the way before a busy 2021.
A tweet from Jeep Tuesday shows the Wrangler 4xe perched on the edge of a cliff, viewed from above. Its hood appears to be that of a Rubicon Recon, though the power bulge is outlined in blue: a go-to color signifying the presence of auto-motivating electricity. “Coming December 2020,” the brand claims.
This jibes with previous announcements from Jeep and Fiat Chrysler that claimed the ’21 Wrangler PHEV would be on the market by the end of the year. Jeep’s date reveal comes a few days after the release of yet another video depicting the model’s silent running mode, this one cheekily closed-captioned for the hard of hearing. There’s no engine roar, just the sound of gravel spit out from underfoot.
Expected to appear on loftier trims, the exact nature of the hybrid powertrain is not known, though Mopar Insiders claims that a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder will mate with an electric motor contained within the vehicle’s ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The manufacturer of that tranny claims the unit is capable of providing up to 31 miles of all-electric driving.
Depending on battery size and load, the Wrangler could propel itself up to 74 mph on electrons alone, ZF suggests.
Having a hybrid version of the Wrangler on the market, and a plug-in one at that, would be a feather in Jeep’s cap for however long Ford takes to bring a hybrid Bronco to market. We know there’s one on the way, but, given the fact that reservation holders aren’t expected to start receiving the first Broncos until early next year, Jeep will have won the race. In the process, earning itself some much-needed green cred.
A full reveal of the Wrangler 4xe shouldn’t be far off.
[Images: Jeep/Twitter]
More trouble for Tesla, as FCA brings more and more PHEVs to market, particularly on high volume models, the fewer compliance credits they will need to buy.
Tesla isn’t far from profitability without the credits, and they’re not standing still, either.
As for FCA credits, it will be a very long time before they dry up due to their product mix.
Well rumors are that the Hellcats are expected to go away sooner rather than later, but yeah they really need a PHEV pickup to kick the credit habit.
No worries, Tesla is getting lot of greenbacks from Amazon and Ford through courtesy of Rivian.
I just turned in a Jeep with the 2.0T. I drive it about 2000 miles and it averages about 23mpg on the highway – better than I expected. The driving character might be better as a hybrid, launching the 2.0T from a stolidity was not a good experience. That vehicle essentially makes zero power at idle and needs a second or two to spool up and make some torque. If I bought one I’d pay extra for the V6 or maybe get the E-torque if that’s an option. It should also help with launch and make start/stop more seamless. The start/stop function on the 2.0 was anything but seamless, it was incredibly annoying. My wife asked if there was something wrong with the car.
“That vehicle essentially makes zero power at idle and needs a second or two to spool up and make some torque.”
That sucks for a vehicle intended to live at idle and just off idle crawling.
It sucked trying to pull out of a driveway into traffic. The thing just sat there and wouldn’t move for a like 2 full seconds. After that the 2.0T makes a tremendous amount of torque. Passing on the highway is effortless, put your foot down and you’re at 90 before you realize it. But at idle with your foot off the gas there is nothing available to push you forward when he light turns green, it needs a moment to compose itself and make power.
A hybrid would get rid of that off idle bog. An EV would make a great off-roader since the torque would be instantaneous. 4 independent electric motors for each drive wheel would be awesome.
I actually don’t think it’s the engine, I think it is the way FCA tunes the electronic throttle. A hybrid version might help but it might not totally solve it either.
“A hybrid would get rid of that off idle bog.”
With hybrids, my experience is just the opposite.
Why can’t they make a full-on Wrangler and a charger trailer?
Dumb question – is it pronounced FOUR-EX-EE or FOUR-BY-EE?
Ideal stalker vehicle – I need one of these. Ooops out loud voice?
It just doesn’t seem right to me. But, then again, I think any off roadish vehicle should have a mt. Using a clutch in tough situations is a dying art form.
Reminds me. Back in the early seventies we (my family) lived in Quito, Ecuador for two years. (If you ever get the chance, go there; it is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.) One day we were out driving on a two(ish) lane cobblestone road at at least 10,000 feet. We stopped and picked up some of the local (I see we have a politically correct spell checker here; ok, then) aboriginal denizens who were waiting by the side of the road. When my father went to start up again he had a problem. We were pointed up a very steep section of the road, at that altitude the Land Rover 110 had about 50 HP, and try as he might it was impossible to get off the brake onto the throttle and get enough revs to get the thing moving. So, I reached over with my hand and held the throttle down so it could build some revs, and away we went.