EcoDiesel confirmed for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL).

Along with some spy shots of a heavily camouflaged Wrangler which the sources assume are of the 2018 JL platform wrangler, it has been confirmed that America will finally be getting a diesel option for their Jeeps!

Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

It has been confirmed that the 2018 JL will have the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel as an option. While no numbers have been mentioned, if it is anything like the Ram 1500 then there won't be anything to complain about. The current 3.0 EcoDiesel puts out 240 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque. That is more than enough to get you moving through those backwoods trails. The Ram 1500 gets 29 MPG on the highway so maybe we can look forward to a Wrangler that gets decent gas mileage? 

                                                                             Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

One thing that we can tell for sure from the photos is that there is 100% solid axles in both the front and rear so we can put that IFS rumor nonsense to bed. The most notable differences that can be seen in these photos is the sharper angle on the windshield slope and the wider front fender flares, although it is hard to say that this will be what the final iteration looks like. 

Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

Photo courtesy of Truck Trend and SpiedBilde

I personally can't wait to get into one of these when they come out! Especially when you consider that when the diesel is available so will the Pickup version. See you at the dealership!

Why the new Jeep Pickup Truck will NOT be based on the Wrangler

All Jeep lovers rejoiced last year when FCA announced that they would be adding a production model pickup truck to it's line up. The going theory/rumor was that it would be based on the Wrangler platform. Lending further credence to this rumor was the statement from Jeep stating that the new truck would be developed alongside the Wrangler in the Toledo, Ohio factory. 

There are two reasons why I truly believe the new truck will not be based on the Wrangler.

1. Jeep already sells the JK-8 kit, which is a package offered to the Wrangler that adds on a short bed. This is offered at any Jeep dealership already.
2. Jeep has already stated earlier this month that the new truck, already in development, won't be a spin off of an existing vehicle from Jeep and will in fact have it's own distinguishable identity.

Of course this is all my own personal opinion and speculation since Jeep and FCA have released no details about the new truck. There are however a couple things that Jeep has said that may add a little more to this discussion. Last week when Jeep release the photo's and information about the Jeep Safari Concepts one thing that was stated was the fact that every concept, while not slated for production, could in fact be created using the existing Mopar Off Road catalog. If you take a look at the Crew Chief 715 and the Renegade Comanche, both have a bed that is different from the JK-8 kit.

The Jeep Crew Chief 715 concept

The Jeep Renegade Comanche concept

A Wrangler with the JK-8 kit installed

You'll notice that while there are some similarities, the differences are quite unmistakable. The reason I bring this up is simple, if all of the concepts can be built and the bed is different than the JK-8 kit then maybe this is a glimpse into what we can expect from the new Jeep truck. Who know's. What do you think? Let me know in the comment's down below.

What does FCA have in store for us at the 50th annual Jeep Easter Safari?

I know, I know...

Jeep isn't a European car manufacturer so why would I be writing about it? You ever see that movie Six Degrees of Separation? Jeep is part of Chrysler, which is owned by FCA, which stands for what? Fiat Chrysler of America, so technically they are an Italian car manufacturer. It's thin, but it is holding water... kind of. But we'll go with it anyway.

It is no secret that I am a Jeep person. I park my 2008 Commander in the driveway right next to my W212 E Class. I try and keep abreast of what FCA is doing with my beloved brand and try to stay updated on what is coming down the pipes.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Jeep Easter Safari in Moab, Utah and the 75th anniversary of the Jeep brand in general. Each year at the Easter Safari Jeep unveils it's newest concepts, some of which end up in production or at the very least end up leading to a new production. Last year we got to see the Jeep Chief which was a new take on the original Cherokee, the Jeep Wrangler Africa which is an Overlanders wet dream come true, the Grand Cherokee Overlander, the JK2A Staff Car which is an obvious throwback to Jeep's WWII beginnings, The Red Rock Responder, the Cherokee Canyon Trail, and the Renegade Desert Hawk. All of these, even the Renegade, were nothing short of spectacular, so what could Jeep possibly do to top it this year? We will have to wait until March 19th to find out, but in the mean time Jeep has given us one small teaser to go on.

Is this going to be a 707 HP Wrangler? While it is highly unlikely that we will ever get a Wrangler with the Hellcat drive train, but one can certainly dream. I mean, after all, we are getting a Hellcat driven Grand Cherokee labeled the Trackhawk, so maybe we will. Who knows.