Upcoming Jeep Wrangler Spied Ahead Of Launch

•  Hardcore Rubicon variant gets a host of mechanical changes to improve off-road capabilities.
• India will get the Unlimited and Sahara variants first, with the Rubicon likely to follow later.
• Fourth-generation Wrangler is expected to come by the third quarter of 2019.

It is no secret that the 2019 Jeep Wrangler is set to be launched in India soon. It has also been spotted testing here multiple times in both the Unlimited and the Sahara trims. But now, what we have here are fresh spy shots of the upcoming Jeep Wrangler in its full-blown hardcore Rubicon trim. The fourth generation of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in its 3-door guise was spotted without any camouflage outside a Jeep dealership.

Jeep is a household name for off-road fanatics all over the world and the Wrangler sits at the apex of Jeep’s lineup when it comes to hardcore mud plugging. Although it looks similar to the other variants, the spied Rubicon variant is actually the most hardcore version of the Wrangler available. It is named after the Rubicon Trail in California, which happens to be one of the toughest off-road trials in the US. The spied 3-door version of the Rubicon was also seen sporting ARAI stickers, confirming the fact that it is on test.

The boxy and brute design has been carried over through various generations and the latest JL generation Wrangler doesn't look any different. Jeep has made subtle changes to the boxy SUV: For example, it now features LED headlamps and redesigned bumpers and alloy wheels along with the iconic seven-slat grille. The rear section also gets a redesigned and beefy looking bumper with LED tail lamps.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The spied Wrangler Rubicon also gets slightly different bumpers from the Sahara variant, ‘Rubicon’ decals on the hood, and off-road tyres with aggressive tread pattern. While the interiors haven’t been spied, the new Wrangler sold abroad features some goodies like an LCD instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control and a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

But the most crucial improvements lie deep underneath that rugged body. The SUV has an approach angle of 44 degrees, while the breakover and departure angles stands at 27.8 and 37 degrees respectively. Ground clearance of the fourth generation Wrangler is rated at 276mm, whereas water-wading depth is an impressive 762mm.

The Rubicon variant gets additional off-road features over the Sahara variant which is expected for our market. It comes with Rock-Trac 4x4 system, front/rear locking differentials, Dana 44 heavy-duty axles, and a front sway bar disconnect system. There is no official confirmation as to when the Rubicon will make its way to our dealerships, but expect it to follow some time after the Sahara.

As for the engines, we can expect a 3.0-litre V6 diesel that churns out 263PS/600Nm, and the 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine that produces a healthy 289PS/352Nm. Both engines are likely to be paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox in India. The current generation Wrangler in India uses a 2.8-litre diesel making 200PS/460Nm and the 3.6-litre V6 petrol churning out 283PS and 347Nm of torque.

Jeep has been around since three years in India, with the Compass being the most popular SUV. Jeep will also be launching the more focussed Compass Trailhawk soon. The fourth generation Wrangler is most likely to be launched around Q3 2019, with the Sahara and Unlimited editions coming in first. The Rubicon variant might follow a little later.The current Wrangler is priced from Rs 58.74 - Rs 67.60 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). The fourth generation Wrangler, when launched in India, is expected to be priced at a premium over the current version. 

Also Read:
BMW To Pull The Plug On 3 Series Gran Turismo Soon