Chrysler Australia upgrades the Jeep Wrangler
SYDNEY – March 5, 2012: Jeep is off to a flying start in 2012 with a revitalised Wrangler range focussing on performance, eco-friendly technology and refinement to further strengthen the iconic vehicle's impact in the Australian off-road 4WD segment.
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler, in short-wheelbase Wrangler and long-wheelbase Unlimited form, benefits from changes aimed at giving the highly respected off-roader even more impetus in the Australian new-car market where Jeep is showing strong, sustainable sales growth that is accelerating in 2012, with January sales running 175 per cent higher than for the same month in 2011.
Of chief significance in 2012 is the Wrangler’s adoption of the efficient new Pentastar 3.6-litre V6, already available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which produces much greater power and torque than the previous 3.8-litre engine, giving improved performance and fuel economy as well as lower exhaust emissions – not to mention greatly enhanced driving pleasure.
With a maximum power output of 209 kW it adds a substantial 63 kW over the previous engine, while the torque figure rises spectacularly too, from 315 Nm to 347 Nm.
Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in the Sport two-door Wrangler is reduced from 11.2 seconds in the six-speed manual transmission version to a swift 8.1 seconds – an astonishing 27.7 per cent improvement.
Speaking of transmissions, the Pentastar V6 Wrangler is now available with the W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission with adaptive electronic control, or Electronic Range Select (ERS) driver-interactive manual control to further enhance the driving experience, as well as the Wrangler's overall refinement. This efficient, smooth-shifting transmission replaces the previous four-speed unit and combines with the new V6 engine to produce outstanding results in terms of performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures.
For example, the five-speed automatic two-door Wrangler Sport equipped with the new 3.6-litre Pentastar engine accelerates to 100 km/h in the same 8.1 seconds as the manual transmission version, while fuel consumption and emissions figures are virtually identical – the six-speed manual’s combined figure is 11.2 L/100km, while the automatic is 11.3 L/100km. CO2 emissions are 259 g/km and 263 g/km respectively.
The Wrangler continues with the torquey and economical, Euro V compliant 2.8-litre CRD turbodiesel that, in five-speed automatic form, winds out a hefty 460 Nm of torque. The CRD’s power output was upgraded from 130 kW to 147 kW last year and it continues to offer the five-speed automatic as an option over the standard six-speed manual transmission. A Stop/Start function is standard with the CRD in manual format.
The 2012 Jeep Wrangler range includes short-wheelbase Wrangler Sport and Rubicon variants, as well as the long-wheelbase Wrangler Unlimited which is also available in Sport and Rubicon form.
All variants (except the Rubicon) offer the choice of the new 3.6-lite petrol V6 or the torquey 2.8-litre CRD turbodiesel with either five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
The Jeep Wrangler’s four-wheel drive credentials are legendary.
With the part-time Command-Trac two-speed transfer case supplying drive to either the rear wheels or all four wheels and a tough, separate chassis featuring live axles front and rear as well as long-travel coil-spring suspension, the Wrangler is immensely capable in the toughest off-road conditions.
Wrangler is also available with Brake Lock Differentials (BLD) integrated into the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) that further extend off-road capabilities through the selective use of braking force on individual wheels to spread torque evenly when operating in low-traction situations.
For even more extended off-road capability, the heavy-duty Rubicon model comes with remote-locking front and rear differentials, heavy-duty Dana axles front and rear, electronically disconnecting sway bars, beefy Rock- TracŪ transfer case, a 4.10:1 axle ratio, heavy-duty rock rails, Freedom Top and premium audio system.
2012 also brings new options for the Rubicon model, including a body-coloured three-piece hardtop, leather-trimmed seats, heated in the front and including height adjustment and map pockets behind the front seat backrests, as well as body-coloured fender flares.
The Wrangler colour range for 2012 includes Dozer, Crush and Gecko clear-coat and Black Forest Green and Winter Chill Pearl - all hues that complement the Wrangler’s indisputably serious off-road persona.
Standard features in the 2012 Jeep Wrangler include:
“With impressive sales from star performers such as the new Compass and the segment-dominating Grand Cherokee, Jeep is off to a spectacular start in 2012 – a beginning that will be given even more substance with the new Wrangler, “ said Clyde Campbell, the Managing Director of Chrysler Australia Pty Ltd.
“The extra refinement introduced by the new Pentastar V6, teamed with the five-speed automatic transmission, is part of the ongoing development of a core model in the Jeep range. The driver in particular will appreciate the punchy response and overall smoothness of the Wrangler's new petrol engine,” he continued.
Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 engine
The highly efficient, economical
and powerful 3.6-litre Pentastar petrol V6 was introduced to Australia in
the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee model, and now makes its appearance in the
2012 Wrangler.
The 60-degree 24-valve V6 incorporates advanced features including a high-pressure die-cast aluminium cylinder block, double overhead camshafts on each cylinder bank and Quad Variable Valve Timing (VVT) to deliver much higher performance than the previous 3.8-litre engine, along with improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.
The new V6, with its lighter, more compact construction and advanced engine management systems, imbues the 2012 Wrangler with a greater sense of urgency that contributes to greater feelings of refinement and driving pleasure.
Power output is 209 kW at 6,350 rpm, while 347 Nm of torque comes in at 4,300 rpm with 90 per cent available from 1800 rpm – all substantial advances over the previous 3.8-litre petrol engine.
In all Jeep Wrangler variants, the smaller-capacity Pentastar V6 brings significant advances in every respect over the larger 3.8-litre engine, underlying Jeep's ongoing drive for increased efficiency, driveability and lower CO2 emissions in all its powerplants.
2.8-litre CRD turbodiesel engine
The Jeep Wrangler is also
available with the 2.8-litre four-cylinder CRD turbodiesel upgraded last
year to deliver 147kW at 3,600 rpm and 460 Nm of torque between 1,600 and
2,600 rpm (in automatic form - the manual transmission version produces 410
Nm of torque between 2,200 rpm and 2,600 rpm). The manual Wrangler Sport
uses just 7.1L/100km of diesel fuel on the combined cycle.
The twin-camshaft, 16-valve CRD turbodiesel also features Stop/Start technology as standard on manual versions, which benefits exhaust emissions as well as maximising fuel economy, especially in urban situations. Stop/Start shuts down the engine when the vehicle is in neutral and the clutch released, then restarts when the clutch is depressed.
The Euro V compliant engine features a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as standard, and is available with the same five-speed automatic transmission now also available with the Wrangler’s 3.6-litre Pentastar V6, as well as in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Five-speed automatic transmission
Available with both the new
3.6-litre Pentastar V6 and the 2.8-litre CRD turbodiesel in all Jeep
Wrangler models is the W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission that
combines smooth function with maximum efficiency to deliver maximum driver
enjoyment with high levels of fuel economy. The W5A580 transmission
incorporates an electronically modulated torque converter clutch, and
offers adaptive electronic control and Electronic Range Select (ERS)
driver-interactive manual control.
All versions of the 2012 Jeep Wrangler are also available with six-speed manual transmission.
Design
Jeep Wrangler
There is never any doubt that
the 2012 Wrangler is a Jeep. With the hallmark seven-slot grille, round
headlights, squared-off, flared fenders and an upright, rectangular
windshield it harks right back to the original 1941 model.
The Jeep Wrangler's flat, clamshell bonnet intersects trapezoidal fender flares, which appear as separate mudguard components – similar to some of the first civilian Jeeps. Resistant to dents and corrosion, the bolted-on mudguards are removable.
Once again replicating the original, the Wrangler features exposed hardware including bonnet latches and folding windscreen bumpers. The forged door and windscreen hinges are also exposed.
The Wrangler’s full-framed or half doors are removable, with the full-framed doors also featuring power windows and power door locks. The doors include traditional check straps.
The Wrangler comes with blow-moulded step assists mounted to the body and featuring a diamond plate surface texture. For added body protection, Rubicon models come standard with heavy-duty rock rails.
From the exposed fuel-filler cap to the externally mounted spare tyre, the rear of the Jeep Wrangler maintains its rugged appeal. The tail lights, reminiscent of the 1941 Willys Jeep, are mounted separately from the body.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Essentially identical to the standard
Jeep Wrangler from the B-pillar forward, the Wrangler Unlimited features a
radical four-door, open-air design with all the familiar Jeep-signature
design cues.
With a longer wheelbase, front-hinged rear doors, exposed B-pillar and larger sport bar, the Wrangler Unlimited doesn’t go unnoticed.
The Wrangler Unlimited has a 523 millimetres longer wheelbase with full-framed or half rear doors is encompassed by taut lines and sharp angles appearing not so much styled as constructed. The result is a design that is simple, strong and purpose-built, giving Wrangler Unlimited a military quality: upright and rugged, imposing without being intimidating.
Providing easy entry and exit, all four doors on the Wrangler Unlimited are front-hinged, with inside and outside handles, and windows that travel all the way down. Rear doors feature exposed forged hinges and open a full 90 degrees.
More open-air fun
With hundreds of different top, door and
windscreen combinations, all Jeep Wrangler models offer a three-piece
modular hardtop – Jeep's Freedom Top™ – which features
left- and right-front passenger panels and a rear panel. The left- and
right-front passenger panels may be stored inside the vehicle, while the
rear section can remain in place or be removed separately.
Jeep history
With a history going back more than 70 years,
Jeep has become an undisputed world leader in the SUV and dedicated
off-road segments. The Jeep symbol is a clear-cut statement expressing
capability, toughness, reliability and passenger comfort in all sorts of
road and off-road conditions.
Jeep CJ
The first civilian Jeep vehicle, the CJ-2A, was
produced in 1945, four years after the original military versions were
introduced.
Willys advertisements marketed the Jeep as a work vehicle for farmers and construction workers. It came with a tailgate, side-mounted spare tyre, larger headlights, an external fuel cap and many more items that its military predecessors did not include.
The CJ-3A model appeared in 1948. It was very similar to the previous model but featured a one-piece windscreen and retained the original L-head four-cylinder engine.
The CJ Model was updated in 1953 to become the CJ-3B. It had a taller front grille and bonnet than its military predecessor in order to accommodate the new Hurricane F-Head four-cylinder engine.
The CJ-3B remained in production until 1968 and a total of 155,494 were manufactured in the U.S. In 1953, Willys-Overland was sold to the Kaiser Company, which began an extensive research and development program that would broaden the Jeep product range.
Two years later in 1955, Kaiser introduced the CJ-5, based on the 1951 Korean War M-38A1, with its rounded front-mudguard design. It was slightly larger than the CJ-3B, as it featured an increased wheelbase and overall length. Improvements in engines, axles, transmissions and seating comfort made the CJ-5 an ideal vehicle for the public's growing interest in off-road vehicles.
The CJ-5 featured softer styling lines, including rounded body contours. A long-wheelbase model was introduced and was known as CJ-6. Apart from a longer wheelbase, the CJ-6 was almost identical to the CJ-5. Jeep also introduced a forward-control cab-over-engine variation to the CJ line in 1956.
The Jeep CJ-5 had the longest production run of any Jeep vehicle, from 1954 to 1984. In the 16 years of Kaiser ownership, manufacturing plants were established in 30 countries, and Jeep vehicles were marketed in more than 150 countries.
In 1951, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) declared the Jeep 4x4 a cultural icon and saluted it as one of the world’s eight automotive masterpieces. In 2002, a 1952 Willys M38A1, the military Jeep the CJ-5 was derived from, was added to MOMA’s permanent collection of significant vehicles, with the institution describing it as “the best Jeep ever built.”
In 1962, Jeep introduced the first automatic transmission in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, in the Wagoneer line (a predecessor to the Jeep Cherokee). The 1962 Jeep Wagoneer was also the first four-wheel-drive vehicle with an independent front suspension.
In 1965, a new “Dauntless” V6 engine was introduced as an option on both the CJ-5 and CJ-6. The 155-horsepower (116 kW) engine almost doubled the horsepower of the standard four-cylinder engine. It was the first time a Jeep CJ could be equipped with a V6.
In 1970, Kaiser Jeep was purchased by American Motors Corporation (AMC). Four-wheel-drive vehicles were more popular than ever and, by 1978, total Jeep vehicle production was up to 600 vehicles a day – more than three times the production at the start of the decade.
All Jeep CJs came equipped with AMC-built 304 (5.0-litre) or 360 (5.9-litre) cubic inch V8 engines. AMC equipped both the CJ-5 and CJ-6 with heavier axles, bigger brakes and a wider track.
Another first introduced by Jeep in 1973 was Quadra-TracŪ, the first automatic full-time four-wheel-drive system. Quadra-TracŪ was available in full-size Jeep trucks and wagons as well as the CJ-7.
In 1976, AMC introduced the CJ-7, the first major change in Jeep design in 20 years. The CJ-7 had a slightly longer wheelbase than the CJ-5 in order to allow space for an automatic transmission. For the first time, the CJ-7 offered an optional moulded plastic top and steel doors. Both the CJ-7 and CJ-5 models were built until 1983 when demand for the CJ-7 left AMC no choice but to discontinue the CJ-5, after a 30-year production run.
The Scrambler, introduced in 1981, was a Jeep similar to the CJ-7 but with a longer wheelbase, known internationally as the CJ-8.
Jeep Wrangler (YJ)
In 1983, the growing market for compact
four-wheel-drive vehicles still sought the utilitarian virtues of the Jeep
CJ series, but consumers also were seeking more of the creature comforts
found in passenger cars. AMC responded to this demand by discontinuing the
CJ series and introducing the 1987 Jeep Wrangler (YJ).
Although the Wrangler shared the familiar open-body profile of the CJ-7, it contained few common parts with its famous predecessor. Mechanically, the Wrangler had more in common with the Cherokee than the CJ-7. The Wrangler YJ had square headlights, which was a first (and last) for this type of Jeep. The YJ model exceeded 630,000 units.
On August 5, 1987, about a year after the introduction of the Wrangler, AMC was sold to the Chrysler Corporation and the popular Jeep brand became a part of Chrysler's Jeep/Eagle Division.
Jeep Wrangler (TJ)
The 1997 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) looked very
similar to the CJ-7. Indeed its 'retro' look was quite deliberate, but very
different from a mechanical standpoint. Nearly 80 percent of the vehicle
parts were newly designed. The TJ used a four-link coil suspension, similar
to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and featured a new interior, including driver
and passenger air bags.
The Jeep Wrangler (TJ) retained several classic Jeep features such as round headlights, a fold-down windshield (first seen in 1940) and removable doors, as well as a choice of a soft top or removable hard top. A factory-fitted sport bar was also standard.
Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited
Building on the
successful, original Jeep formula with an all-new frame, exterior and
interior design, engine, and safety and convenience features, the 2007 Jeep
Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited delivered more capability, refinement,
interior space and comfort, open-air fun, power, fuel efficiency, and
safety features.
Featuring a one-of-a-kind, four-door open-air design, the Wrangler Unlimited expanded the Jeep experience to new dimensions. With room for five adult passengers – a Wrangler first – and the most cargo space ever offered in a Wrangler, the Unlimited today combines class-leading off-road capability with everyday practicality