Jeep Shows Off Special Editions, Takes Place in Octogenarian Club

Eighty years of anything is a lot, with life and marriage – and the occasional fruitcake – being heartily celebrated if they ever make it that far. There have been a few car brands to mark this milestone as well; Jeep is the latest to join the club.

Rather than rent the local banquet hall for a party, however, they’ve decided to do what carmakers tend to do best in times like these: Roll out a few special editions.

All six of the Jeep models will be available in the new 80th Anniversary Edition for the 2021 model year. The brand says these machines will include a distinct design inside and out, featuring unique wheels, grille accents, and a smattering commemorative badges.

If you’re trolling dealer lots, or checking out a run list at the 2061 Barrett-Jackson auction, look for wheels that have been dipped in a Granite Crystal finish and special insignia denoting their octogenarian status. Even though all the vehicles shown in these press photos are painted a depressing grey, customers will be able to order 80th Anniversary Editions in a wide variety of colors including the fabulously-named Snazzberry, a hue which pops up on the Wrangler and Gladiator for 2021.

Interior trim decked out in Light Tungsten accents and some gunmetal-colored addenda. Whether one gets cloth or leather seats depends on the model selected. No matter the vehicle, it’ll be optioned up enough to include the rather excellent 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system and, in some cases, active driver aids like adaptive cruise control.

For the uninitiated, Jeep Wave is no longer simply two fingers held aloft off the steering wheel when one Jeep driver passes another. It is also now the name of a customer care program that includes no-charge maintenance for three years. “We are expanding our Jeep Wave customer care program across the entire Jeep vehicle lineup,” said Jim Morrison, who is the head of Jeep in North America and not the totally-didn’t-fake-his-death lead singer of The Doors.

This means that, beginning with the 2021 model year, Jeep Wave will be included across the brand’s line of vehicles. Those shopping 2020 models might do well to hold off on their purchase for a few weeks.

Jeep 80th Anniversary special-edition models will arrive in showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2020.

[Images: Jeep/FCA]