Jeep's new-for-2007 Wrangler range will debut Down Under with a four-door model priced from under $35,000. That's the surprise of the new range which kicks off (more predictably) with a two-door at $30,990 -- just $1000 up on the outgoing range.
The new Wrangler has been a runaway success in the USA. It boasts an all-new platform which is larger, delivers more interior space, more safety features as well as a revised range of engines.
The brand's first-ever four-door Wrangler is priced from $34,990. Boasting a longer (plus 523mm) wheelbase and room for five plus gear, the four-door is dubbed the Unlimited.
Also a first for a Wrangler -- at least in civilian trim -- is the new range's offer of a diesel engine -- 2.8-litre common-rail turbodiesel unit with 130kW/400Nm (410 for the manual transmission version).
The standard engine across the range is a 146kW/315Nm 3.8-litre petrol V6. Manual (five and six-speed boxes) and auto gearbox options are offered -- in the case of the latter a four-speeder for the petrol and five ratios for the turbodiesel.
Three trim levels of Wranglers will be offered in both two and four-door (Unlimited) versions. The Base model is the Sport, next up is the Renegade with the Rubicon Jeep's off-road 'hero' models boasting uprated running gear to please the rock-crawling brigade.
Gerry Jenkins, managing director for the Chrysler Group in Australia said enabling customers to "go anywhere, do anything" at a great value was a prime consideration in the development of the 2007 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited.
"Australians are already in love with the Wrangler -- we are the biggest market in the world for the four-wheel drive icon outside of North America -- it suits our thirst for adventure and freedom, and there's just nothing else like it on the market," said local Chrysler-Jeep boss, Gerry Jenkins.
"The new Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited take rugged capability and refinement to new levels providing tremendous value to a range of customers, and with our sharp pricing we expect the love affair to prosper," said Jenkins.
The 2007 Wrangler's chassis (for more click here) is all-new and retains the body-on-frame basics. Also retained are the Jeep's traditional removable doors, exposed hinges, fold-down windscreen and 'convertible' tops.
What is also new is the upgrades in basic equipment and safety gear. At the basic soft-top Sport level standard equipment includes Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM), four-wheel-disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), four-wheel brake traction control (4BTC), Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System, driver and front passenger multi-stage front airbags.
Convenience and dress-up items include cruise control, aircon, fog lamps, keyless entry, power front windows, 16-inch alloys, full-size spare, skid plates for transfer case and fuel tank and a six-speaker sound system.
Optional on the Sport is four-speed automatic transmission, half doors and front seat mounted side airbags.
The step up to the Renegade is a $2000 premium ($2500 on the Unlimited) but adds around $4000 worth of value, claims Jeep. This includes dual top with 'Sunrider' soft-top and 'Freedom Top' three-piece modular hard top, deep tint glass, six-disc CD/DVD player, Infinity premium speakers with subwoofer and tubular side steps.
The Rubicon level "features all necessary hardware to conquer the world's most extreme trails, right out of the box," says the US offroad brand.
In addition to standard features on the Sport the Rubicon model includes electric-disconnecting front sway bar, Rock-Trac 4:1 part-time transfer case, heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles, Tru-lok locking front and rear differentials, 4.10 axle ratio, rock rails, 17-inch machined-cast aluminium wheels with upgraded rubber and interior changes.
The new Jeep Wrangler range goes on sale in Australia next month.
Jeep Wrangler (two-door) pricing
- Jeep Wrangler Sport 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 5-spd manual - $30,990
- Jeep Wrangler Sport 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 4-spd automatic - $32,990
- Jeep Wrangler Sport 2.8-litre I4 Diesel 6-spd manual - $34,990
- Jeep Wrangler Sport 2.8-litre I4 Diesel 5-spd automatic - $36,990
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 5-spd manual - $39,990
- Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 4-spd automatic - $41,990
Wrangler options pricing
- Premium Paint (Sport and Rubicon) - $300
- Renegade Pack (Sport only) - $2000
- 6-disc CD (Rubicon only) - $600
- Dual Top Group (Rubicon only) - $2000
- Half Doors - $250
- Front Seat-mounted Side Airbags (Sport and Rubicon) - $600
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (four-door) pricing
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 5-spd manual - $34,990
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 4-spd automatic - $36,990
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 2.8-litre I4 Diesel 6-spd manual - $38,990
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 2.8-litre I4 Diesel 5-spd automatic - $40,990
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 5-spd manual - $43,990
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 3.8-litre V6 Petrol 4-spd automatic - $45,990
Wrangler Unlimited options pricing
- Premium Paint (Sport and Rubicon) - $300
- Renegade Pack (Sport only) - $2500
- 6-disc CD (Rubicon only) - $600
- Dual Top Group (Rubicon only) - $2500
- Half Doors - $500
- Front Seat-mounted Side Airbags (Sport and Rubicon) - $600
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