LA MOTOR SHOW: New Jeep Wrangler revealed

The new 'JL' Jeep Wrangler hard-core off-roader will launch in Australia in late 2018 with an evolutionary exterior underpinned by substantial mechanical changes.

But we won’t get the complete package as some new technology - including a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and overhauled 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel - either isn’t available or has been ruled out for Australia.

Instead we will get an updated version of the current Pentastar 3.6-litre petrol V6 and a new 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine to replace the current 2.8-litre oil-burner.

The only transmission choice expected here is Jeep parent FCA’s 850RE eight-speed automatic transmission – a new six-speed manual appears unlikely - and the only 4x4 drivetrain on offer will be the new Selec-Trac full-time system, which comes with low-range and automatic front axle disconnect for fuel savings during 2WD High running.

Which means the Command-Trac and Rock-Trac part-time systems currently employed by Wrangler will not be available in Australia.

The new Wrangler also misses out on Autonomous Emergency Braking, although the local distributor, FCA Australia, is trying to rectify that situation.

Without AEB, the Wrangler will have almost no chance of gaining the maximum five-star ANCAP independent crash-test rating.

To be unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show (Thursday) Australian time, Jeep claims the first new Wrangler in more than 10 years has been subject to nearly 6.3 million kilometres of testing. Local testing in Australia early in the new year will add to that total.

The fundamentals of the Wrangler package remain as previous. There is a three-door short wheelbase four-seater and a five-door long wheelbase five-seater, known as the ‘Ultimate’ in Australia.

It is expected the three current model grades badged ‘Sport’, ‘Rubicon’ and ‘Overland’ will continue to be offered here.

Built in Toledo Ohio, the new Wrangler is slightly bigger than its JK predecessor, up to 91kg lighter and claimed to be more fuel-efficient. Jeep is also touting its nine per cent aerodynamic efficiency improvement, although a 0.454 Coefficient of drag (Cd) means it still has the wind resistance of a brick.

Aluminium panels and components, including the now mandatory windshield frame, have played a role in lightening the Wrangler, although outside the Americas the bonnet reverts to steel. The ladder frame chassis alone accounts for 45kg of the weight savings.

Crucially, Jeep is also claiming the Wrangler is more capable off-road, pointing to improved approach, break-over and departure angle numbers and a 77:1 crawl ratio, versus the old 59:1 ratio. The most off-road focussed model, the Rubicon, comes standard with massive 32-inch rubber.

Wading depth at 760mm remains unchanged, while the braked towing capacity is also expected to be unaffected at up to 2300kg.

The JL’s core ladder frame chassis and live-axle coil suspension are new and Jeep is claiming better on-road dynamics, but the same engineering fundamentals apply as before. The steering has swapped from hydraulic to electro-hydraulic assistance but continues as a recirculating ball set-up. Turning circle for the Ultimate model has been reduced from 13.1m to 12.4m, while the three-door remains at around 10.5m.

Exterior design features the famous signature seven-slot keystone grille, but the grille-top has been swept back and the folding windshield given more rake to aid wind resistance. Windows are also bigger and LED headlights are offered with higher models.

There are two hard-tops and two soft-tops, including a new Power-Top which retracts at the push of a button. Jeep says the Wrangler is more user-friendly, via easier roof removal and a new-design windshield requiring only four bolts to be unscrewed rather than the previous 26.

Inside there is more rear-seat passenger space because of the wheelbase stretch – itself driven by the need to fit the longer eight-speed auto – and an all-new dashboard design highlighted by the fourth-generation Uconnect infotainment system touch screen which, for the first time, includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

While AEB is currently missing, Jeep is touting more than 75 available active and passive safety and security features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, a reversing camera with dynamic gridline, electronic stability control with electronic roll mitigation and four airbags.

FCA’s after-market and performance brand Mopar will also offer more than 200 accessories for the Wrangler, of which 113 are earmarked to come to Australia. Ninety-five per cent of Jeeps sold in Australian are accessorised. The figure is 98 per cent in the USA.

The new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel makes 147kW and 450Nm.

And the updated Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine, which is now fitted with start-stop, produces 213kW and 353Nm in its North American tune. In the JK in Australia, the outputs are currently rated at 209kW and 347Nm.

The updated 194/600Nm VM Motori 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is not available outside North America, while the new 200kW/400Nm 2.0-litre petrol turbo is being offered in international markets, but is understood to have been ruled out locally by FCA Australia.