There’s an all-new model of the iconic Jeep Wrangler on the way, and according to reports it will be a lot more economical than before.
For a start, you can expect its ageing 2.8-litre diesel engine to be replaced with a much more economical line-up of motors, allied to an advanced eight-speed automatic gearbox. Not only would a broader spread of gears be perfectly suited to serious off-roading, but taller ratios should also improve motorway refinement and running costs beyond the current model’s 31.4mpg.
There have also been reports that Fiat Chrysler is working on a turbocharger four-cylinder petrol engine dubbed “Hurricane”, capable of producing around 300bhp, which could debut in the Wrangler. This would likely be a replacement for the Pentastar 3.6-litre V6, with more power and better fuel economy, but it’s unclear if this would be sold in the UK, where diesel engines are more popular.
But, what about the Wrangler’s notoriously brick-like aerodynamics? Well, Automotive News quoted Brit Mike Manly, head of Jeep, saying: “You have to be very careful with the aero of Wrangler, because at the end of the day, it needs to be recognizable as a Wrangler.
“To some extent that restricts you on some of the aero that you can do. But with weight and a number of the changes that we've made, you're going to see that we've really pushed that vehicle forward in terms of its fuel economy."
Spy photos circulating the internet back up these claims, with the windscreen clearly more raked than before. It’s also know that the frame underpinning the Wrangler will be lighter than before, and some Aluminium will also be used to help save weight.
