by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
The sting-gray Wrangler appeared from the shadows Thursday morning just like so many others have done over the years at press conferences around the world.
Only something was different about this one. Something noticeable for its absence.
Something quiet.
As the Wrangler moved on stage inside Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Conner Center just off 8-Mile road in Detroit, there was no rumbling engine or any kind of exhaust growl echoing off the walls. Just a soft squeak of tires against the floor and birds chirping in the background as the vehicle moved into place.
For this is a whole new generation of Wrangler. Not a redesign, really, but a reemergence from traditional into electric.
FCA Thursday introduced the first ever eco-friendly, gasoline-electric Jeep Wrangler that the brand said will provide plenty of horsepower and torque, while delivering absolute and quiet open air freedom. The roll out also included a first look at Jeep’s newest vehicle, a re-imagined Grand Wagoneer.
This hybrid Wrangler will also exchange its 4x4 badging for the brand’s new 4xe version which all of the lineup’s electrified vehicles will carry.
“Our Jeep 4xe vehicles will be the most efficient, responsible and capable that the brand has ever created,” said Christian Meunier, Global President of Jeep Brand. “We are committed to make Jeep the greenest SUV brand. The electrification of the Jeep lineup will allow commuters to travel solely on electric power, delivering an efficient and fun on-road experience and offering an ability to enjoy even more Jeep capability off-road in nearly complete silence.”
Jeep initially displayed the 4xe electric Wrangler earlier this year at the Consumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas, but did not release any vehicle information at that time. And before Thursday, the only thing really known was Jeep planned to enter the electrified Wrangler into production by year’s end.
All that changed inside the Conner Center as FCA finally provided details.
The 4xe hybrid Wrangler will boast a combined 375 horsepower and a staggering 470 lb-ft of torque which makes it more robust than the standard Wrangler power offerings. Actually, those figures exceed all of the lineup’s non-hybrid engines—including the 3.0L EcoDiesel that delivers 442 lb-ft of torque. Plus, all that power will be available almost instantly thanks to the electric setup, meaning it will no doubt be a favorite with off-road drivers who demand extreme power at low speeds.
This new Wrangler will also be more efficient as Jeep said the vehicle will get 25 miles of nearly quiet, zero-emission, all-electric range which equates out to about 50 miles-per-gallon before the gas engine becomes active. Jeep believes this will make it even more attractive to the mileage-conscious daily driving crowd, as will its reported six second, zero to 60 miles-per-hour time.
Powering the hybrid Wrangler will be an electric motor at the front of its 2.0L turbocharged inline-four cylinder engine, and another mounted at the front of its eight-speed automatic transmission. Jeep said both would be powered by a 400-volt, 17-kWh, 96-cell lithium-ion, nickel manganese cobalt battery pack that is encased in an aluminum housing and will sit beneath the back seat. It is accessible, the brand said, by flipping up the Wrangler 4xe's redesigned bottom seat cushion.
While Jeep did not announce charger compatibility or charging times, it did show off the charging port which is located on the front left cowl. This design should make it easier for drivers to pull in to a charging station, rather than having to back into place. The charge port also includes LED indicators to display charge status, while an LED battery level monitor is positioned at the top of the instrument panel.
For those worried about the vehicle's capability off pavement, Jeep said the electrified Wrangler will be just as happy in the dirt and on the rocks as its gasoline-only counterpart. All non-Rubicon 4xe Wranglers contain a pair of next-generation Dana 44 axles, 20-inch wheels, Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case with a 2:71 low-range gear ratio, full-time four-wheel drive, 10.8 inches of ground clearance, and the ability to ford up to 30 inches of water. Additionally, Jeep said all its 4xe's high-voltage components are sealed and waterproof. Also available are a Trac-Lok limited-slip rear differential that provides extra grip and capability in low-traction situations, such as driving over sand, gravel, snow or ice.
Rubicon editions add the Rock-Trac 4x4 system that includes a two-speed transfer case with a 4:1 low-range gear ratio, Tru-Lok electric front- and rear-axle lockers, electronic sway bar disconnects, 17-inch wheels on 33-inch tires and an impressive crawl ratio of 77.2:1.
All Wrangler 4xe models will wear a Trail Rated badge and offer an approach angle of 44 degrees, breakover angle of 22.5 degrees and departure angle of 35.6 degrees.
The Jeep’s Electric mode will be one of three ‘E Selec’ settings that can be activated via buttons mounted to the instrument panel. Jeep said these are designed so drivers can “tailor the hybrid powertrain to best suit each trip, whether it is filling the needs of most daily commuters in pure-electric operation, a night on the town or quietly exploring nature off-road.”
When Electric mode is selected, the powertrain operates on electric power only until the battery reaches a minimum state of charge, or the driver desires even more torque—which will then engage the 2.0L gasoline engine.
Besides Electric, there is a Hybrid mode which blends both gas and electric sources but prioritizes battery power until it reaches a minimum state of charge. The third mode is eSave, which basically relies on the gasoline engine for propulsion, thus saving the battery's charge for later use.
Another plug-in hybrid Wrangler feature is regenerative braking that blends the traditional friction brakes with the maximum amount of regenerative braking from the electric motor when the brake pedal is depressed. Jeep said this should extend the life of the vehicle’s brake pads.
Additionally, Jeep said the four-wheel-drive system will assist in maximizing energy recovery when braking and all that electricity created will feed back to the battery pack to maintain or increase its state of charge.
The 4xe Wrangler even has a Max Regen feature that, when engaged, allows for more assertive regenerative braking when the vehicle is coasting (zero throttle input) which generates more electricity for the battery pack. When selected, this Max Regen feature remains enabled until the driver manually chooses to disengage.
From the outside, the 4xe Wrangler can be distinguished from its brothers by special Electric Blue accents. On the top-end Rubicon edition, that cool hue is also applied to the front and rear tow hooks as well as around the exterior badges and hood decal. The vehicle’s interior duplicates that aesthetic, with Electric Blue seat stitching and trim panels.
Jeep has not yet announced pricing for the 4xe model, but has said it will be offered in the familiar base, Sahara, and Rubicon trim levels. It will also most likely cost somewhere above the regular Wrangler's current starting price of $29,790 when it reaches dealer showrooms sometime early next year.
Besides Thursday’s 4xe Wrangler reveal, Jeep also showed off a concept version of its newest vehicle edition, the Grand Wagoneer, for the first time.
The re-imaging of the popular nameplate, which lived from 1962-1991, is designed and engineered to capture an audience not traditionally associated with normal Jeep buyers—the high end luxury crowd—and FCA expects it to compete with vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade and Land Rover Range Rover
“It’s clearly the return of a premium American icon,” Meunier said. “(Grand) Wagoneer will expand to become a portfolio of vehicles that will redefine American premium while delivering a unique customer experience.”
The company had promised to resurrect the Grand Wagoneer name for nearly a decade as a way to better compete in the highly profitable large SUV segment.
While FCA did not lay out pricing specifications on the Grand Wagoneer, many industry experts believe it will approach $100,000, which would make it the most expensive regular production vehicle in Jeep’s stable.
Currently, the only other Jeep to top that amount is a fully-optioned Grand Cherokee Trackhawk — a low volume, high-performance version that includes FCA’s Hellcat V8 engine.
Jeep said it expects the Grand Wagoneer to enter production sometime in 2021.
