Jeep confirms Wrangler-based pick-up
Fiat Chrysler boss, Sergio Marchionne, has confirmed the next-generation Wrangler will be here in 2017 and there will be a Wrangler-based pick-up too.
JEEP’S GLOBAL BOSS, Mike Manley has told The Detroit News that the brand’s reveal of a sub-compact SUV at the upcoming New York Motor Show (March) will replace both the Compass and Patriot and carry one of those names forward.
“We’ve got two very good names, two well established names with Compass and Patriot that continue to perform very well,” he told The Detroit News. The problem, though, he said, is that Patriot is more popular in the US and the Compass more popular outside of the US. Decisions, decisions. That said, the US is the world’s biggest SUV market, so it’s possible it will influence the global naming of the new SUV.
Manley also confirmed there would be a Wrangler-based pick-up released when the new Wrangler is launched in 2017. It will be built alongside the main line Wrangler at Jeep’s Toledo plant.
“For more, there is a historical place in our lineup for it,” he said. Beyond this, Jeep is remaining tightlipped on details and more information is expected to be released at the company’s 2016 earnings call.
While Jeep has teased a ute version of the Wrangler for some time, see the Gladiator concept pictured above for proof, the brand, via Mopar, has also offered a conversion kit called the JK-8 Independence. There are a handful of companies in Australia already offering this conversion, one being Murchison Products in Queensland. The conversion requires a JK Wrangler Unlimited as the base vehicle and around 6-8 weeks for the conversion. All conversions come with compliance plates.
Another conversion for the older TJ Wrangler has been offered by American offroad specialist AEV, with a few examples in Australia. Here’s a demonstrator built by Jeep specialist Jeep Konection:
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7 Comments
I don’t understand why Jeep has taken so long to make a commitment to build a production Wrangler Ute. By all rights a Wrangler Ute should have been built many years ago. It would be interesting to know why Jeep has procrastinated in building a Wrangler Ute. The Wrangler has been in production since 1986.
Would this be the very first production ute that Jeep has ever built in it’s 70 years history??? Be nice to know. I think that they had a truck many years ago.
Jeep is Jeep. They took ages to bring out a four-door Wrangler and now look at how well it sells. The ute could go the same way. I doubt it would be a heavy duty workhorse in the style of the Defender though.
Is it made in the USA? Or any slave market like the rest of them Australian sold trucks? If it is made in America, I will take one!
Not yet known.
Robert, I’m a little confused 🙁 In the article Isaac has written “It will be built alongside the main line Wrangler at Jeep’s Toledo plant.”, which is in Ohio 🙂
Sorry, it’s been clarified..Jeep’s whole manufacturing is somewhat up for grabs as they wrestle with high costs for USA building vs the need to build in the USA to keep their main customer base happy. Looks like it will be USA-built.
Thanks for your reply. Maggie Dee will be happy to know that it is to be built in the USA. There is something ionic about Jeep, that being built in the USA is important. Similar to a Ferrari being built in Italy. The all new Wrangler will be something to look forward to seeing in 2017.