Jeep owner inadvertently receives 2018 Wrangler hood from scrapyard
After an apparent mix-up, FCA may be looking for a new scrapyard to which to send prototype parts. JLWranglerForums.com member Redrockjk recently purchased a used Wrangler hood
from a yard near the FCA proving grounds. When he ordered it, he
thought it was from a 2014 model, and while it looked very similar to
his current hood, after installing he discovered something unusual. It
was too long.
From what we can see in the photos from JLWranglerForums.com, the leading edge of the hood sticks out roughly two inches from the top of the Wrangler's
grille. The greater length is also clear when the hood is placed next
to its likely predecessor. The receivers for the exposed latches are
also too far forward to be used on a current Wrangler. Redrockjk also
said there wasn't a VIN or a part number anywhere on the hood. As if
those details weren't a big enough red flag, Redrockjk reported that the
used parts supplier contacted him to ask for the hood back.
We reached out to Jeep
to see if they could confirm if this is a hood for the next-generation
Wrangler. Unsurprisingly, the company had no comment at this time.
Considering the details, and the proximity of the scrapyard to an FCA
proving ground, there's a better than zero chance this is from a
pre-production 2018 Wrangler sent to the yard to be scrapped.
No word on whether the hood was aluminum, as has been rumored.
Except for the length, the part fits pretty well on the current model.
The hood vents present are also similar to those found on some current
models. It's one more piece of evidence that the next Wrangler won't
stray far from a proven formula.
(AutoBlog.com)
Showing posts with label wrangler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wrangler. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
There's Some Interesting Alternatives Suggested
Want a Porsche Cayman? Get a Subaru BRZ
The Porsche Cayman is one of the most rewarding cars to drive that’s on sale today. With fantastic chassis balance, immediate steering response and a sweetheart of an engine, the Cayman has a fun-to-drive factor that’s off the charts. But, it also costs more than $50,000 for the cheapest model.
For half the price, there is the rear-wheel-drive Subaru BRZ. Sure, it gives up 65 hp to the Cayman, but it still offers a great chassis, fantastic steering and that all-important rewarding driving experience. And hey, it even has a horizontally opposed engine like the Cayman.
Want a BMW M4? Get a Ford Mustang GT
The BMW M4 Coupe is a fast four-passenger coupe with great handling. Powered by a 425-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the M4 blends high-speed with sophistication. But this all comes at a price, specifically $65,700.
Those interested in the performance of an M4 but in a more affordable package might want to check out the Ford Mustang GT. With a 435-hp V8 engine, the Mustang is also rear-wheel drive, can be had with a manual or an automatic transmission and is capable of carrying four people. It may lack some of the sophistication of the M4, but the new Mustang is a far cry from the crude solid-axle Mustangs of old. Best of all, the Mustang GT starts at a price of just $32,395, about half the price of an M4!
Want a Mercedes-Benz G-Class? Get a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a highly capable off-road monster that can go places most other vehicles wouldn’t dream of. Locking differentials, a proper two-speed transfer case and high ground clearance, the G-Class is ready to climb a mountain. But being a Mercedes-Benz, it’s also luxuriously appointed and the cheapest G-Class starts at an eye-watering price of $119,900.
If off-roading is all you’re really interested in and you can forgo the G-Class’ luxurious interior and fire-breathing V8 engine, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is for you. Starting at a price of just $27,695, the Wrangler has a deep military history and a retro boxy look like the G-Wagon and will easily keep up with the Mercedes-Benz SUV on the road path less taken.
Complete list (AutoGuide.com)
Saturday, September 19, 2015
That's A Damn Good Question
Why Doesn’t The Jeep Wrangler Have Any Competitors?
So it’s not like nobody has tried to create a Jeep Wrangler competitor. But in the end, they’ve all failed for two simple reasons: number one, you can’t topple the king. And number two, nobody really cares about this as much as Jeep does. We’ll take each reason individually.
REASON ONE: You can’t topple the king.
Let’s say Ford came out with a Jeep Wrangler competitor tomorrow, and let’s say they called it the Ford Cowboy. And let’s also say that it offered all the same stuff as the Jeep Wrangler, including amazing off-road capabilities, and a 2- or 4-door body style, and modern technology, and a roof that feels like it’s going to fly away like a family pet in a tornado when you’re going more than 70 miles per hour.
Do you think Wrangler enthusiasts would embrace this car? Hell no. They would embrace it about as well as BMW enthusiasts have embraced the Cadillac ATS, which is to say they don’t even notice it because they’re too busy sending text messages as they drive down the interstate.
So in order for Ford to topple the Wrangler, which has an entrenched name and tons of brand loyalty, they would have to devote years of marketing, and tons of effort, and lots of work just to get where the Wrangler already is right now. And this would further be nonsensical because…
REASON TWO: Nobody really cares about this as much as Jeep does.
Let’s say you’re Toyota and the FJ Cruiser is getting older. You have two choices: you could let it die, which would cost nothing, and would alienate people who will probably end up buying a 4Runner anyway. Or you could spend millions of dollars and devote years of market research and engineering effort and dozens of employees to give it a costly redesign and grab, what, maybe 20,000 extra sales?
If you’re Toyota, the choice is easy: you sell 40 zillion cars annually. You do not need the headache that goes along with a unique marketing strategy for a vehicle like the FJ Cruiser, especially when you’re only going to sell it to a small number of people. When Toyota cancelled the FJ Cruiser, the lost sales were merely a blip on the Giant Toyota Radar Screen, sort of like when an elephant steps on a Micro Machine.
But to Jeep, the Wrangler is all they’ve got. I mean, yeah, sure they have the Cherokee, and the Grand Cherokee, and a couple of compact crossovers with interiors made out of stuff that Target wouldn’t put on the shelves. But the Wrangler is the car everyone knows Jeep for. Ditching the Wrangler wouldn’t be a blip to Jeep. It would be a loss of the brand’s identity. So unlike Toyota, Jeep is willing to devote the money and the time and the marketing and the employees to redesigning the Wrangler and keeping it fresh.
Whereas Nissan looks at the Xterra, and they look at the market, and they say to themselves: number one, we know we’ll never be better than the Wrangler in the eyes of the consumer. And number two, we won’t really miss the sales.
And this is why Xterra and FJ Cruiser fans are currently driving around in orphaned vehicles, while Wrangler fans are driving around in a car that will remain popular forever. Let’s hope they remembered to latch the roof.
(Jalopnik.com)
So it’s not like nobody has tried to create a Jeep Wrangler competitor. But in the end, they’ve all failed for two simple reasons: number one, you can’t topple the king. And number two, nobody really cares about this as much as Jeep does. We’ll take each reason individually.
REASON ONE: You can’t topple the king.
Let’s say Ford came out with a Jeep Wrangler competitor tomorrow, and let’s say they called it the Ford Cowboy. And let’s also say that it offered all the same stuff as the Jeep Wrangler, including amazing off-road capabilities, and a 2- or 4-door body style, and modern technology, and a roof that feels like it’s going to fly away like a family pet in a tornado when you’re going more than 70 miles per hour.
Do you think Wrangler enthusiasts would embrace this car? Hell no. They would embrace it about as well as BMW enthusiasts have embraced the Cadillac ATS, which is to say they don’t even notice it because they’re too busy sending text messages as they drive down the interstate.
So in order for Ford to topple the Wrangler, which has an entrenched name and tons of brand loyalty, they would have to devote years of marketing, and tons of effort, and lots of work just to get where the Wrangler already is right now. And this would further be nonsensical because…
REASON TWO: Nobody really cares about this as much as Jeep does.
Let’s say you’re Toyota and the FJ Cruiser is getting older. You have two choices: you could let it die, which would cost nothing, and would alienate people who will probably end up buying a 4Runner anyway. Or you could spend millions of dollars and devote years of market research and engineering effort and dozens of employees to give it a costly redesign and grab, what, maybe 20,000 extra sales?
If you’re Toyota, the choice is easy: you sell 40 zillion cars annually. You do not need the headache that goes along with a unique marketing strategy for a vehicle like the FJ Cruiser, especially when you’re only going to sell it to a small number of people. When Toyota cancelled the FJ Cruiser, the lost sales were merely a blip on the Giant Toyota Radar Screen, sort of like when an elephant steps on a Micro Machine.
But to Jeep, the Wrangler is all they’ve got. I mean, yeah, sure they have the Cherokee, and the Grand Cherokee, and a couple of compact crossovers with interiors made out of stuff that Target wouldn’t put on the shelves. But the Wrangler is the car everyone knows Jeep for. Ditching the Wrangler wouldn’t be a blip to Jeep. It would be a loss of the brand’s identity. So unlike Toyota, Jeep is willing to devote the money and the time and the marketing and the employees to redesigning the Wrangler and keeping it fresh.
Whereas Nissan looks at the Xterra, and they look at the market, and they say to themselves: number one, we know we’ll never be better than the Wrangler in the eyes of the consumer. And number two, we won’t really miss the sales.
And this is why Xterra and FJ Cruiser fans are currently driving around in orphaned vehicles, while Wrangler fans are driving around in a car that will remain popular forever. Let’s hope they remembered to latch the roof.
(Jalopnik.com)
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