The Jeep® brand has released another teaser video of its upcoming 2021 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4xe. Jeep has been hard at work on its new electrified Wrangler offering for quite some time and it looks to launch right around the same time that the new 2021 Ford Bronco will enter production. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Wrangler will not only allow the iconic Jeep to be sold in certain areas around the globe where emissions restrictions put a damper on off-road vehicles but will also enable even more off-road capability than ever before.
Originally shown off at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January, Jeep has released little to no details about the electrified off-roader. However, thanks to our “inside” sources, we have learned several new things about the Wrangler 4xe over the last few months.
Available in only the Unlimited (four-door) configuration, the Wrangler Unlimited 4xe model will utilize the 2.0-liter turbocharged (GME-T4) inline-four-cylinder with the eTorque system, instead of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 as many people thought from the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The system will be paired to a new ZF-sourced 8-speed plug-in hybrid automatic transmission, which is based on ZF’s current 8HP automatic transmission architecture that is a majority of the rear-drive FCA lineup.
The new 8-speed hybrid transmission doesn’t include the standard torque converter found on most transmissions but has an electric motor system instead. ZF states that the transmission can power a vehicle up to 31 miles (or 50 kilometers) or up to 74.5 mph (or 120 kph), depending on the size of the battery used in the vehicle. This could mean that the Wrangler Unlimited 4xe would meet a majority of owner’s daily driving needs without having to use gasoline. It also would put the Wrangler Unlimited 4xe in a similar electric performance territory as the other 4xe models.
We also have learned that the new electrified powertrain will be available throughout the Wrangler Unlimited lineup, thanks to recent spy photos. For Rubicon models, the video shows us that the new 4xe models will receive blue tow hooks and blue accents around the Rubicon decals.
Our sources have also indicated that the Wrangler Unlimited 4xe will be shown on September 3rd to its dealer body. While we don’t know if the brand plans on showing it off with the new Grand Wagoneer that is also scheduled to be unveiled on that date, we do know that it will be arriving in early 2021 in the North American market. From then on, it will slowly be released globally. The Wrangler Unlimited 4xe will join the new 6.4-liter Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, which will also launch in 2021.
