Jeep Wrangler Pickup Spotted for the First Time
Four-door pickup is hiding behind lots of camo
It's finally here. Our spy photographers have spotted the new Jeep Wrangler pickup, wearing some serious off-road tires.
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The prototype sports the same four-door body style as the Wrangler Unlimited. Jeep has done a pretty good job concealing the pickup with camouflage, but we can tell the grille looks different than other models in the lineup. The automaker has separated the vertical slats into two sections, reinterpreting the tried-and-true Jeep front fascia. Only time will tell if the production version ends up adopting this look.
In these photos, the pickup looks a bit awkward, likely because of the positioning of the camo. We doubt this is the final design anyway. The tires will likely be replaced, and the body should end up looking more cohesive. The placement of the truck's rear wheels in the wheel well signal we aren't looking at the final version of the bed.
Jeep hasn't offered a pickup truck since 1992 when it ended production of the Comanche. Many times since then, Jeep has hinted it wants to get back into the pickup game. The Gladiator concept whetted our appetites in 2005, followed by the J-12 concept that hit the 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari. Last year, Fiat Chrysler toyed around with the idea of a Jeep-based pickup, but noted it wasn't a top priority at that time. Finally, at this year's Detroit auto show, Jeep CEO Mike Manley confirmed a Jeep Wrangler pickup is on the way.
The Jeep pickup will likely enter production sometime in the second half of 2018, and it will be based on the next-generation Wrangler SUV. All models in the new Wrangler lineup will ride on a new chassis that features lightweight materials, including a touch of aluminum. Expect the Wrangler to offer multiple engine options, including a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, 3.6-liter V-6, and a turbodiesel. Rumor has it Jeep may also bring out a plug-in hybrid version.
When it goes on sale, the Jeep Wrangler pickup will compete with the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Honda Ridgeline. We hear it will go into production in the third or fourth quarter of 2018, likely arriving as a 2019 model.
Photo Source: Chris Doane Automotive
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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