Back in February, the Jeep® brand expanded its off-road capability by offering the new Gladiator Mojave, the first Jeep vehicle to carry the brand’s newly minted Desert Rated badge. The new Desert Rated lineup of Jeep vehicles was announced back in June 2018 at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Capital Markets Day event. At that event, the press got a sneak peek at one of the upcoming Desert Rated vehicles, the Cherokee Deserthawk. The Deserthawk badge will adorn all of the future Desert Rated Jeep models, except for one – the Wrangler Mojave.
According to sources close to MoparInsiders, Jeep fans will get a Wrangler featuring the same technology behind its Gladiator sibling. Sources are saying that both the two-door and four-door Unlimited models, will have their own Mojave edition in the 2021 model year.
Expect the Wrangler Mojave models to feature a lot of the same specifications as the Gladiator, including the specially-tuned FOX™ 2.5-inch internal bypass shocks with external reservoirs and industry-exclusive FOX front hydraulic jounce bumpers. A reinforced frame, one-inch front suspension lift, with stronger axles with cast-iron steering knuckles, and wearing aggressive off-road tires will be part of the package. Expect a 1/2 inch wider track providing additional stability and allowing for packaging of the larger shocks.
As far as the exterior, the Wrangler Mojave models will wear the performance hood from the Gladiator. The higher-clearance fender flares from the Rubicon, orange tow hooks both front and rear, as well as a new silver-colored front skid plate, add a more aggressive look to the Mojave model. A set of new side rails, designed specifically for the Wrangler Mojave models will be standard equipment as well.
Inside the Wrangler Mojave models, you can expect much of the same from the Gladiator model. More aggressive bolstered front seats in either black or steel gray, Copperhead Orange accent stitching and vent accent rings, as well as a competition-inspired leather-wrapped steering wheel. An available forward-facing off-road camera allows obstructions in the desert to be easily seen as well.
Unlike the Gladiator-variant, our sources are saying that the new Wrangler Mojave, would be more than likely powered by either a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with Electric Start Stop (ESS) for those with a speed manual transmission or with mild-hybrid e-Torque technology with a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. The 2.0-liter turbo delivers 270 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque on both versions.
The proven Command-Track 4×4 system that features a two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio, and heavy-duty third-generation Dana 44 front and rear axles with a 4.10:1 axle ratio and standard electronic-locking rear differential would also carry over. On the Gladiator model, the Command-Trac 4×4 system is used to provide higher 4LO (low range) operating speeds for climbing sand dunes and other challenging desert events.
We can expect the Jeep brand to show off the upcoming Wrangler Mojave later this year and will join the lineup in the 2021 model year. The Wrangler Mojave models will join two other new Deserthawk models next year. If it is anything like the Gladiator Mojave, we can expect a price to be on par with the 2.0-liter turbocharged Wrangler Rubicon models.
It wouldn’t be the first time Mojave’s name has been on the Wrangler. In 2011, the Jeep brand released a Wrangler Mojave which was a desert-themed special edition that was more of a styling statement and far from the high-speed off-road capable desert and sand runner, that the Gladiator Mojave has shown us.
