The Most Powerful Jeep Wrangler Goes On Sale In The United States

Off-road enthusiasts in the United States are in for a treat as the most powerful Wrangler goes on sale. Priced from $73,500 (Rs 53.74 lakh approx), the Wrangler 392 Rubicon packs in Stellantis’ full-fledged 6.4-litre V8 petrol engine that’s capable of giving supercars sleepless nights. It costs a whopping $24,070 (Rs 17.60 lakh) more than the top-spec model, roughly equivalent to the on-road price of the new range-topping Mahindra Thar automatic! 

Nevertheless, the Wrangler gets a first-mover advantage against the Ford Bronco, its closest rival, which is offered with a turbocharged V6. The Wrangler’s 6.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 motor puts out 470PS of power and 637Nm of punch. It drives all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. 

The V8-powered Wrangler is quick, covering 0-100kmph in 4.5 seconds, but a V8 engine needs to have character (read: sound). Its active dual-mode exhaust should have you ready for a treat as it automatically opens the valve when you’re pushing hard. You can also manually open the valves via a button in the cabin. Then, there’s the off-road hardware. 

It sits taller on a two-inch lift kit on Fox shocks which should help with better approach and departure angles. The super low 48:1 crawl ratio means you won’t even have to touch the brakes while crawling down on a steep incline; the engine braking will have you covered. It also gets electronic locking differentials, transferring power to the wheel with the most amount of grip. 

But the most powerful Wrangler needs to look distinct, right? Well, the large hood scoop and the increased ride height are the first distinct giveaways. The keen-eyed will also notice the bronze accents around the badges and the bronze wheels with off-road specific tyres.  

It’s a similar theme on the inside with an all-black cabin featuring bronze accents. It also gets 11 extra features over the standard model, including a leather interior, LED lighting, remote proximity entry, and advanced safety features. 

The chances of seeing a V8-powered Wrangler in India are bleak, but we hope Jeep brings in a few units for enthusiasts under the 2,500 import rule. Here, the Wrangler’s prices are set to go down as Jeep has commenced local assembly of the standard model. It’s set to be launched on March 15.