The 2018 Jeep Wrangler will feature aluminum doors and hood, reveals a leaked internal memo.
In January, Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), confirmed that the long-rumored 2018 Jeep Wrangler. During the 2016 North American International Auto Show, Marchionne confirmed that the next-gen Jeep Wrangler was in the cards and it will be launched in late 2017. Marchionne says that the next-gen Jeep Wrangler will be the best thing the company has made.
"I'm serious, it's a phenomenal vehicle. It cures all the ills, whatever few ills the old Wrangler had. Well... it's a significant step in performance, it's a phenomenal step in architecture, it's a great vehicle. And I've think we've updated design without hurting its history, which is really really important to us," said Marchionne.
In 2016, Marchionne revealed that the 2018 Jeep Wrangler will be made of heavy dose aluminum, but he did not confirm full specifications. However, a JL Wrangler forum user and Alcoa (aluminum supplier) employee leaked an internal bulletin, which confirms aluminum doors and hood for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler.
"A team in the Farmington Hills (Michigan, USA) Aerospace and Automotive Products group is leading a new profitable growth opportunity with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler program. The next generation Jeep becomes the first to utilize our C6A1 high form alloy; we are currently the only supplier of this high form product," says the internal bulletin. "Alcoa will also supply 6022 and A951, including front and rear door inners, hood outer and inner."
Details of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler remain scarce, but speculations estimate that the next-gen Wrangler will be available in pickup version and with new engines.
If rumors are to be believed, then the base model of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler will include an upgraded version of the current 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine. The 2018 Jeep Wrangler is also likely to have a version with 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder "Hurricane" gasoline engine, which will be more powerful than the 3.6-liter unit.
The use of aluminum will reduce the weight of the vehicle but it may increase the repair cost for customers. Reports suggest that although Alcoa will provide materials for making doors and hood of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, another company may supply the other aluminum parts used in the SUV.
The FCA is yet to confirm more details of the upcoming SUV and car lovers will hope that the company will reveal more specifics about the 2018 Jeep Wrangler during the upcoming North American International Auto Show in January 2017.
