Jeep changes mind: Wrangler will not be all-aluminium
US car-maker’s boss back-pedals over claims Wrangler would shun steel for lighter aluminiumJeep boss Sergio Marchionne has told The Detroit News that his company has changed its mind over the decision to ditch the steel and make the all-new next-generation Wrangler out of aluminium.
Originally, aluminium was being considered for the replacement for the iconic off-roader for efficiency reasons -- a decision heavily influenced by Ford’s decision to make its new F-150 ute out of the lighter metal.
Switching to aluminium would entail huge changes for the Wrangler and involve shifting production from its current factory in Ohio in the US to somewhere with manufacturing expertise in aluminium.
Speaking to The Detroit News, Marchionne admitted: “Because of the difference in cost, not just the new material but the actual assembly process, I think we can do almost as well without doing it all-aluminium.”
Adding to his comments, Marchionne said that there still would be a “large amount of aluminium” in the next-gen Wrangler, which is expected to be launched in 2017.
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