Jeep has been an American icon for almost 80 years. But the car world is changing fast. Here’s why the Jeep Wrangler will be good, and what future models may look like.
How has the Jeep Wrangler lasted so long?
The Jeep Wrangler is an anomaly in the automotive world: its basic format has been extremely successful for 80 years as its outdated technology is part of its appeal. And this SUV is just gaining momentum.
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Back in World War II, Allied forces knew they would need a flexible 4 × 4 to transport troops across Europe’s broken infrastructure. The specifications requested by the military were similar in size and capability to a modern tile. But the best 1940s Detroit could do was Willys Jeep.
The mighty little jeep was crucial to winning the war. When Willys offered a post-war civilian version, veterans and others intercepted it.
Willys merged with AMC, which was acquired by Chrysler Corporation, which became part of Stellantis. The company made only minor adjustments to the successful Willys Jeep. The resulting Jeep Wrangler sells as well as ever. In addition, some Jeep Wrangler models hold their value better than anything else on the road.
Is the Jeep Wrangler future-proof?
Being obsolete has always been part of the Jeep Wrangler’s charm. Its layout may not make it the most efficient SUV, but it offers a unique and in-demand driving experience. Wrangler’s basic concept will be as appealing to future generations as it is today.
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The modern Wrangler is the result of step-by-step improvements to the original Willys Jeep. Like a truck from the 1940s, it has a heavy step frame, an awkward solid front axle and a part-time 4WD. It is also one of the last vehicles you can buy with a manual transmission.
The result may not be the fastest or most agile vehicle on the highway. It is also not very fuel efficient. But the terrain is stable and capable. The full frame and the solid front axle allow the Wrangler to bend over technical terrain without problems. A detachable top and manual transmission put a jeep driver even more in touch with the experience of navigating a track.
Decades after engineers designed “better” vehicles, the Wrangler is still in demand. It’s going nowhere, anytime soon. Jeep will continue to build Wranglers, although it will slowly add plug-in hybrid and then fully electric powertrains to its lineup. Used incinerators will retain their value and eventually become a sought-after platform for restorations.
What will future jeeps look like?
Jeep unveils every year new prototypes at Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The 2022 series includes a fully electric Wrangler and several plug-in hybrid prototypes. They can be a preview of Jeep’s future.
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2021 Jeep Wrangler Magneto was an early all-electric Jeep concept from Stellantis. It is an electric vehicle with a full battery (unlike a charging hybrid 4xe) and also very much a Jeep. It has a traditional solid front axle and part-time 4WD layout. Instead of a Pentastar V6, it has an electric motor connected to its manual transmission.
Magneto may not be the most advanced electric car available, but it is the most “jeep”. Companies like Rivian are exploring four-engine drive systems, and perhaps Jeep will offer such technology eventually. But Wrangler has resisted many other technological advances, and if it ever replaces its internal combustion engine with an electric one, we doubt much else will change.
Then find out why electric 4×4 will be better terrain, or find out the story of the jeep in the video below:
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