Story & photos by Patrick P. Tulfo
THE all-new Jeep Wrangler has finally landed in the country and now boasts of a lot of new features that will surely make Jeep aficionados and would-be-buyers drool. Auto Nation Group CEO Jonathan Francis C. Ang in his opening remarks said,” The Jeep brand is a well-recognized around the world, and there is no vehicle that represents the essence of Jeep the same way the Wrangler does. Its comeback is also timely for us as we mark our 15th anniversary with the brand as its official importer and distributor in the Philippines.”
Although it continues to retain its styling that made it an icon since its introduction in 1941. The latest iteration now features a wide and lowered beltline that is fitted with wider windows compared to the previous model for better overall visibility and panoramic view in the open.
The trademark seven-slot iconic grille still dominates the front, but it’s now slightly swept back at the top for better aerodynamics. The grille, which intersects with the round headlamps, has become the symbol of this SUV.
The rear on the other hand now features new square modern LED tail lamps, which is slightly raised and not integrated in the design to accommodate an important technological feature of this model-blind spot monitoring.
But its key selling point is obviously centered on the how easily the aluminum doors and hinges, swing gate, hood and fenders can be removed to transform it into an open SUV, currently the only one in the market so far. In a demonstration it only took less than 20 minutes to accomplish this. The windshield can also be easily folded down while retaining the rearview mirror in its place. The body-colored sports bar, which is welded to the body now has grab handles.
The interior, meanwhile, retains the signature Jeep design elements but now uses soft-touch, high-quality materials and the state-of-art technological features makes it on a par with what other SUVs in the market are offering.
The heritage-inspired center console now integrates all the basic functions, such as the new media center, which contains charging and connectivity ports, climate and volume control knobs, engine start/stop button plus the gear shifts, parking brake and the transfer—making it easily accessible to the driver.
The center console also has the third-generation u-connect system, which features a 5-inch screen display that has a drag and drop menu. The 3.5-inch instrument cluster on the other hand displays reconfigurable information such as tire pressure, speed to name a few.
The adjustable steering wheel also features an integrated control for audio, voice and speed to make sure that drivers will keep their eyes on the road.
The all-new Wrangler offers two engine options for buyers with the 2.0-liter in-line four turbocharged engine with electronic start/stop function that promises better fuel economy and the tried and tested 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine.
Vince Gavino, sales and marketing head for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM of Auto Nation Group explained: “We are introducing the best-in-class 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine on the all-new generation Jeep Wrangler mated with an eight-speed automatic as an option to the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, which Jeep fans and aficionados have grown to love. The combination of the 2.0-liter engine with an eight-speed transmission offers optimal engine output, improve highway economy and reduced noise and vibration, giving you worry-free journey in any adventure, be it in the city or the most challenging of terrains.”
The all-new Wrangler is now available for preorders and reservations at all Jeep dealerships nationwide (Edsa Greenhills, Alabang, Clark Pampanga and Cebu) at the following price points; all-new generation Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport is priced at P3.590 million, and the Wrangler Sport is priced at P3.390 million. You can also visit their web site for information at https://www.jeep.com.ph.