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NEXT-GENJEEP WRANGLER

The new JL has a tough act to follow

More so than many manufacturers, Jeep follows the a! ermarket to monitor enthusiasts trends. " e global popularity of the

AEV Brute pickup conversion, introduced in 2006, helped persuade Jeep to reintroduce a vehicle with a bed.

(Photo Courtesy of American Expedition Vehicles)

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STORY BY TOM MORR

Over the past 76 years, the bobtail Jeep has had many imitators but no enduring same-league competitors. Global civilian Jeep sales exploded when the JK model appeared in 2007. The four-door JK

Unlimited in particular extended the vehicle’s appeal to active families and adventure-minded people, from college students to doctors to retirees. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is in a unique situation with the JK’s successor, known as the JL Wrangler. Currently, JK orders exceed the factory’s capacity. So FCA is offering both the JK and JL for the 2018 model year during the transition to JL-only production.The JL is expected to be revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late November. The vehicle will reportedly be more evolutionary than revolutionary.Industry insider Rick Péwé, editor-in-chief of the all-Jeep magazine Jp, provided some insights. “The JL will be a real Jeep,” he said, “solid axles and a tub-on-frame configuration. We also know that body materials will be a prime area of difference. For

weight savings, some parts formerly formed from sheet metal will be replaced by aluminum. The JL will also have a modular soft-top/hardtop system, possibly with power actuation at some point. The 3.6L V-6 will carry over in 2018 models. A diesel engine will be offered as soon as the 2019 model year. Also, the pickup version, known as the JT, is scheduled to debut as a 2019 model.”For off-road enthusiasts, a diesel JL (possibly the 3.0L EcoDiesel from the Grand Cherokee) is welcome news. To comply with increasingly stringent fuel-economy standards, FCA is also considering a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which could possibly be part of a hybrid powertrain system in the 2020s. Other rumored mechanical changes include a stronger Dana front axle and efficient electrohydraulic steering.The upshot: The 2018 model year could be the best ever for Wrangler buyers. New JLs are scheduled to hit dealerships in December, and existing JKs will be made for at least part of the model year. Finally, Jeep will offer special-edition JK packages to ensure that the model continues to sell faster than it can be made.

Jeep concept vehicles provide hints about the new JL. ! e Safari Wrangler has “windoors” and a panoramic roof,

clues that materials other than sheet metal might be used for various JL body panels. (Photo Courtesy of Jeep®)

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Jeep and FJC have been extremely private about releasing vehicle photos, renderings or vehicle specs for the all-new

2018 Jeep Wrangler JL. Automotive journalists and Jeep enthusiasts have been trying to piece together what the new

JL might look like using bits of information collected over the past few years. We’ll follow the breadcrumbs to the L.A.

Auto Show in December, where the Jeep Wrangler JL is expected to be o! cially unveiled. (Photo by SpiedBilde)