By: Matt Konkle
Turns out, Alcoa really can’t wait for tomorrow like its 1970s slogan implied. At least, one of its employees apparently can’t anyway.
The unidentified employee, according to JL Wrangler Forums, leaked an internal company memo to the forum site Friday detailing Alcoa as the company of choice by Jeep to supply aluminum for the 2018 Wrangler JL hood and doors.
According to the JL Wrangler Forums post, Alcoa will provide its newest high form alloy material – code named C6A1 – as well as 6022 (a heat treatable low copper aluminum alloy for parts like doors and hoods) and A951 (a pre-treatment aluminum bonding technology) to Jeep for use on the new Wrangler’s inner front and rear door panels, as well as the inner and outer portions of the hood.
Alcoa, the same company that provides aluminum to Ford for its F150 series truck, touts itself as a global leader for the past 125 years in lightweight metals technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
Alcoa would neither confirm nor deny the report when asked for comment, per Jalopnik.com.
The company is based in New York, but its Farmington Hills (Michigan) Aerospace and Automotive products group will handle the project, according to the JL Wrangler Forums post.
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne announced earlier this year that the 2018 Wrangler would, in part, contain aluminum in a bid to reduce weight and reach federally-mandated fuel regulations. However, Friday’s memo release, if true, would be the first information about where the aluminum is actually going.
The 2018 Wrangler redesign will be its first full-out overhaul since 2007 and is highly anticipated by legions of Jeep lovers.
While numerous camouflaged spy shots exist of the vehicle going through its ‘training’ paces, FCA is not expected to release anything concrete about the new Wrangler until January 2017.
FCA has said it expects the Wrangler JL to hit showrooms in late summer 2017.