CES 2020: Jeep Wrangler plugs in

The Jeep Wrangler used to be a 4x4. But now it’s a 4xe as the legendary off-road machine jumps on the electrification express.

Confirmed at the Los Angeles motor show in November, the new Wrangler plug-in hybrid made its global debut this week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas alongside two previously revealed PHEV models, the Renegade and Compass.

Visually, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe revealed at CES bore few differences from the Rubicon four-door on which it was based, other than blue tow hooks up front, blue badging and a small recharging plug port below the base of the A-pillar.

And technical details are scarce, with engine and battery size, and fuel efficiency and price still unknown.

Its stablemates, the Renegade and Compass PHEVs, are powered by 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engines combined with an electric motor. Their EV range is around 50km.

Jeep says it will provide more details on its three new PHEV models at the Geneva, New York and Beijing motor shows this year.

All three models will be released in overseas markets this year but none are expected on sale in Australia any time soon.

A Jeep Australia spokesperson wouldn’t comment on the Wrangler 4xe’s local prospects, telling carsales.com.au "Unfortunately we can't make any comment at the moment".

Jeep's global boss Christian Meunier recently hinted the Wrangler PHEV may well be offered to Aussie buyers who want to go bush in silence (at least for a few kilometres) – eventually.

"I think it will be interesting to see first how electrification for Jeep succeeds in Europe, in China and in the US, because these are the big markets where we are going to be really aggressive and offensive," he said at the Gladiator launch in New Zealand late last year.

"I am very confident it will work well … and when we do it's very obvious many other markets are going to follow, including Australia," he added.

Globally, Jeep says it will offer an electrified version of every model it sells by 2022.

In Australia, Jeep will soon announce a new business plan designed to resurrect interest in the brand and achieve sales of 50,000 units per year under new Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Australia boss Kevin Flynn.

In 2019, Jeep sold just 5519 vehicles – down almost 25 per cent on the 2018 tally of 7326.

While a hybrid version of the Jeep Wrangler is unlikely to sell in large volumes, it would provide the brand with a green hero model to offset gas guzzlers like the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk performance flagship.