SPY PICS: Jeep pick-up draws near

Jeep hasn’t had a pick-up in its US range since the Cherokee-based Comanche went out of production in 1992, and remains without a player in Australia’s booming one-tonne workhorse class – the world’s third-largest ute market.

That will all change after the iconic off-road brand reveals what’s expected to be called the JT Scrambler at the Los Angeles motor show in November.

Based on the new JL Wrangler off-roader that’s due here later than expected in early 2019, the all-new Jeep dual-cab 4x4 pick-up is expected to enter production as a 2020 model in January, before Australian sales commence later next year.

To be gifted with the new long-wheelbase Jeep Wrangler Unlimited’s four-door, five-passenger cab, the upcoming heavy-duty ute is destined to compete directly against the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara with proper off-road capability, big towing capacity and strong turbo-diesel power.

These spy pics – complete with garbage-bag cladding – snapped recently in the USA, follow rendering published recently and show new perspectives of the Scrambler, including the long, extended tray with a significant overhang that is clearly aimed at maximising tray space.

The Scrambler, like the JL series Wrangler wagon models that lose about 90kg in weight, is expected to make extensive use of aluminium, especially in the body panels.

Also like the next-generation Wrangler, it will come with a relatively refined interior tizzied up with nicer trim and driver-friendly tech such as the company’s new Uconnect infotainment system.

Engines are likely to carry over from the Wrangler, which will be again be produced with a 3.6-litre petrol V6, a new 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four for Europe and a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel offering around 150kW/450Nm.

In Australia, only the latter might be available, but with both manual and automatic transmissions.

The driveline, complete with an eight-speed auto gearbox and dual-range capability, is sure to replicate that of the Wrangler, so full off-road Selec-Trac 4x4 dual-range capabilities will underpin the Scrambler.

Apart from the obvious visual differences, the Jeep Scrambler has the opportunity to differ from its more conventional competition via elements such as the removable roof (and folding windscreen) already seen on Wrangler.

Whether it will happen in the Australian market is unsure, but US observers are suggesting the Scrambler will be offered not only in four-door, five-passenger form, but also as a single-cab pick-up based on the short-wheelbase Wrangler.