The 2018 Jeep Wrangler has been spotted in India, at Goa, for the first time and the latest avatar of Jeep’s iconic SUV is likely to hit the country’s market in the second-half of this year. The all-new Wrangler was unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor show in November last year and it continues with the traditional Jeep styling.
Upfront, the new Wrangler's grille has been tweaked slightly, with the outermost slats now curving with the shape of the headlights, similar to the older Jeep CJ5 range. The SUV now features larger full-LED headlights, with LED daytime running lights placed on the fenders. Moving on to the sides, the profile is unmistakably Wrangler. However, there are subtle changes like the belt line now being lower by about an inch, helping Jeep create a larger glasshouse for the new model.
The new Wrangler's interior is leagues ahead than that of the outgoing model’s, with a greater emphasis on quality. The cabin, however, retains the original Wrangler styling bits like the round air con vents.
Jeep’s iconic SUV also sees some length added to its wheelbase, along with longer front and rear overhangs on the four-door model; this makes it much bigger on the inside with more room for the front and rear passengers. The added length at the back has also resulted in the rear seat moving a bit backward for additional legroom.
The Wrangler sees the addition of two four-cylinder options – a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel – that will be aimed at international markets. It is possible the SUV for India could be offered with the new powertrains. The gearboxes on offer will be an eight-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual. In pursuit of better fuel-economy, all 2018 Jeep Wrangler models will feature start-stop technology.
The new Wrangler will continue to be manufactured at Jeep's Toledo facility in the US and will be sold in India as a fully-imported unit, just like the outgoing car.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Suraj Viswanathan
