| Jeep Wrangler | |
|---|---|
 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Sahara edition | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Jeep[a] |
| Production | 1986–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact SUV (2-door) Mid-size SUV (4-door) |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Chassis | Body-on-frame |
| Related | AIL Storm |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Jeep CJ |
The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986, and currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was unveiled in late 2017 and is produced at Jeep's Toledo Complex.
The Wrangler is a direct progression from the World War II Jeep, through the CJ (Civilian Jeeps) produced by Willys, Kaiser-Jeep, and American Motors Corporation (AMC) from the mid-1940s through the 1980s. Although neither AMC nor Chrysler (after it purchased AMC in 1987) have claimed that the Wrangler was a direct descendant of the original military model — both the CJ Jeeps and the conceptually consistent Wrangler, with their solid axles and open top, have been called the Jeep model as central to Jeep's brand identity as the rear-engine 911 is to Porsche.[1]
Similar to the Willys MB and the CJ Jeeps before it, all Wrangler models continue to use a separate body and frame, rigid live axles both front and rear, a tapering nose design with flared fenders, a fold-flat windshield and can be driven without doors. Also, with few exceptions, they have part-time four-wheel drive systems, with the choice of high and low gearing, and standard open bodies with removable hard or soft tops. However, the Wrangler series was specifically redesigned to be safer and more comfortable on-road, to attract more daily drivers,[2] by upgrading its suspension, drivetrain, and interior, compared to the CJ line. The suspension on all Wranglers included trackbars and anti-roll bars, and, from the 1997 TJ onwards, front and rear coil springs instead of the previous leaf springs.[3]
From 2004 on, the Wrangler has been complemented with long-wheelbase versions, called Wrangler Unlimited. 2004-2006 models were longer versions with 2 doors. In 2004 only automatic transmission-equipped “Unlimited” versions were sold. In 2005 both an automatic and manual 6-speed (NSG-370) were offered. Since 2007, the long-wheelbase Wranglers were four-door models, offering over 20 in (508 mm) more room. By mid-2017 the four-door models represented three-quarters of all new Wranglers on the market.[4]
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- ^ Kim, Robert (27 October 2019). "Kaiser Jeep CJ-5 – Transcendent Independent". Curbside Classic. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Jeep Wrangler: The Real Thing or Compromise?". 4-the-love-of-jeeps.com. 1995-03-21. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ Lee, Christian (2007). High-Performance Jeep Wrangler TJ Builder's Guide. CarTech. pp. 74–75. ISBN 9781932494266. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ DeMuro, Doug (June 2017). "Every Single Two-Door SUV Has Failed". Autotrader. Retrieved 2017-09-23.