The upcoming Jeep Wrangler Truck (codenamed JT) or called the Jeep Scrambler on the internet, is one of the most talked about upcoming products. Not only does it give Jeep its first pickup in the Jeep lineup since production ended in 1992 with the Jeep Comanche, but it also gives FCA US its first midsize pickup since the Dodge Dakota stopped being produced after the 2011 model year. With the midsize truck market growing since GM launched its new Canyon and Colorado twins in 2015, other automakers are getting back into the segment. Ford announced it is jumping on the midsize truck bandwagon for the North American market, launching a North American-specific version of its successful global Ford Ranger in the first-quarter of 2019.
For the past year, several prototypes of the all-new Wrangler truck have been spotted around the Metro Detroit area. However, in the past few weeks several of the trucks have been spotted doing testing in various parts of the country including California and West Virginia. While originally some insiders said there will be one platform length, but two cab configurations (four-door short box and a two-door long box); we have only seen the four-door version.
We do know it will share the same front end styling as the new 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, as well as the much of the same interior components. The rear suspension of JT will be closer to what is found under the Ram 1500 models, than the JL Wrangler. Where the shocks on the Wrangler JL are mounted to the rear of the axle, the Wrangler truck will be mounted to the front. The lower-mounted anti-roll bars, coil springs along with a Panhard bar are very similar to what is found on the Ram 1500. However, it does still look like it uses the axles from the Wrangler JL.
Two engines will be available for the JT. The FCA US 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine which delivers 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque and features Engine Stop-Start (ESS) will be standard equipment. The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine will be optional and is rated at 260 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque, and is equipped with Engine Stop-Start (ESS). An eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard for the EcoDiesel model.
Leaked documents from FCA showed that the JT will have a base and premium trim models. It also showed that the base trim with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with get a 3.45 axle ratio. Premium trim models equipped with the 3.6-liter get 4.10 axle ratio and both trim levels for the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel get a standard 3.73 axle ratio. Max Trailer weight is rated at 6,500lbs. That’s 3000lbs more than the Wrangler JL and on par with other midsize pickups.
It has been stated that the JT will also feature a removable roof, just like the Wrangler JL. This will be the first convertible pickup, since the 1988-1990 Dodge Dakota convertible.
FCA CEO, Sergio Marchionne told the press at his annual press conference at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit that the Jeep truck would carry a higher sticker price than vehicles in it’s class and would have a target of 100,000 units annually. He also mentioned that a name had not been yet picked for the vehicle.
Now that the Wrangler JK production wrapped up two weeks ago at the FCA US Toledo Supplier Park, in Toledo, Ohio; updates to the assembly line are currently underway for the new Jeep pickup, which will launch in the first-quarter of 2019 and should be reaching dealerships around April.
