By “all signs point to yes” we mean “the one picture they shared shows that it’s probably happening”. The Jeep Wrangler could stand to have some upgrades but the top of the list is more power. In a teaser the company revealed what looks to be a Wrangler with a hood scoop with the number “392” on the side.
The 6.4-liter 392 HEMI V8 referenced by the number “392” is a power plant that first came to market in 2011 and currently delivers 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque in the 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack.
Those numbers are well above what the Wrangler currently offers. The 2020 Wrangler comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The available turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque Both engines can be optioned as a mild-hybrid.
Four-door Wrangler models are now available with Jeep’s 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 engine that is rated at 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.
A eight-speed automatic transmission is standard with the 2.0-liter and available on the 3.6-liter gasoline-powered V6. A different eight-speed automatic transmission comes mated to the EcoDiesel V6. The 3.6-liter V6 comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission.
Jeep recently announced that the Gladiator will be sold with the same EcoDiesel V6 as the Wrangler for the 2021 model year. If Jeep is indeed adding a HEMI option for the Wrangler, it may only be a matter of time before that engine could be added to the truck lineup.
Also, a Wrangler plug-in is expected by the end of the year.
Whatever the teaser means, it’s likely a pre-emptive strike against the inevitable comparisons between the forthcoming 2021 Ford Bronco and the Wrangler. AutomotiveMap will have a full compliment of articles featuring the models starting at 8 p.m. ET on Monday.
