Jeep boss Mike Manley says a plug-in hybrid Wrangler was “inevitable.”
At the ongoing Los Angeles Auto Show, Jeep confirmed that the new-generation Wrangler will be offered as a plug-in hybrid in 2020.
According to Manley, an electrified model was always on the cards for the latest Wrangler, Motor Authority reports.
“Electrification was always on the books for Jeep—it was inevitable.
“Obviously our engineers were focusing on fuel economy benefits by having a plug-in, but also, because of the way you can control the power and torque, you can improve the capability,” Manley said.
The boss failed to divulge any details about the powertrain, including whether or not it will share components with the setup of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.
“There are (problems) if you don’t think about things in advance—for sure. Packaging the batteries are very, very important, not just because you want to make sure that they’re not intrusive to the consumer space.
“For a vehicle like Wrangler, we also want to make sure that we maintain Wrangler’s balance. When we were working on this platform we wanted to make sure that it was future-proofed…and so it was an important part of this Wrangler,” Manley said.
From launch, the new Wrangler will be available with FCA’s Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 delivering 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 268 hp and 295 lb-ft. Before the plug-in hybrid lands in dealerships, a 3.0-liter diesel will be added to the range.
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