There's arguably no single vehicle as important to the identity of any particular brand more than the Wrangler is for Jeep. The Jeep Wrangler IS Jeep and it can trace its history back more than 70 years to World War II when the first GPW started rolling off the production line for the military. With tougher fuel economy standards, the next-gen Jeep Wrangler -- set to arrive in 2016 -- could be the most difficult update yet, and according to Jeep chief Mike Manley, there's a chance the Wrangler's beloved solid axles may not live on to the next generation.
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Manley, in a recent interview withAutomotive News, told the outlet that he couldn't promise that the Wrangler's solid axle and coil-link suspension would live on to the next-generation. "We're already in an environment where it's a challenge to produce a vehicle in that way, and it's going to get harder," Manley said. "What I can tell you is that the vehicle is absolutely fundamental to our DNA, and it's going to become progressively harder to make sure that the vehicle meets all of the standards that are required for it."
Development of the next-generation Jeep Wrangler began earlier this year, with the brand looking for ways to reduce the SUV's weight. With a lower curb weight and some electronic aids, the Wrangler could conceivably be more fuel-efficient and just as capable as it's ever been.
Since updating the Jeep Wrangler is such an important project, Manley knows the pressures on: "Frankly, I know that if I screw up the next Wrangler, then I probably wouldn't be able to leave my house for a long time."
If the next-gen Jeep Wrangler is just as capable as the current model, would it really matter if the SUV lost its solid front- and rear-axles, or coil-spring suspension? Would it still be a Wrangler if the windshield didn't fold forward anymore? What do you think? Tell us what traits the next-generation Wrangler needs to keep, and what it can afford to lose in the comments below.
Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)
I generally like writing—especially when it’s about cars—but I hate writing about myself. So instead of blathering on about where I was born (New York City, in case you were wondering) or what type of cars I like (all of ’em, as long as it has a certain sense of soul or purpose), I’ll answer the one question I probably get most, right after what’s your favorite car (see above): How’d you get that job? Luck. Well, mostly. Hard work, too. Lots of it. I sort of fell into my major of journalism/mass communication at St. Bonaventure University and generally liked it a lot. In order to complete my degree senior year, we had to spend our last two semesters on some sort of project. Seeing as I loved cars and already spent a good portion of my time reading about cars on sites such as Motor Trend, I opted to create a car blog. I started a Tumblr, came up with a car-related name (The Stig’s American Cousin), signed up for media access on a bunch of manufacturer’s websites, and started writing. I did everything from cover new trim levels to reviewing my friends’ cars. I even wrote a really bad April Fool’s Day post about the next Subaru Impreza WRX being Toyota-Corolla-based. It was fun, and because it was fun, it never felt like work. Sometime after my blog had gotten off the ground, I noticed that Motor Trend was hiring for what’s now our Daily News Team. I sent in my résumé and a link to my blog. I got the job, and two weeks after graduation I made the move from New York to California. I’ve been happily plugging away at a keyboard—and driving some seriously awesome hardware—ever since.
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