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Know Your Jeep

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​A few years after WWII, civilian jeeps (CJs) were sold to the public as an alternative to the standard automobiles of the day. These early recreational vehicles were designed very similar to the military Jeeps before them. The Wrangler’s predecessor, the CJ-7, was introduced in 1976, and the basic exterior design has remained consistent over the years. However, there have been tweaks with each iteration of Wrangler.  Here are a few details to help anyone spot the platform code of a Jeep Wrangler:

The CJ-7 arrived 10 inches longer than the CJ-5 chassis. This Jeep’s body style was less curvy, more squared off. The CJ-7 square doors were the first offered in steel with roll-down windows. The front grill setup featured round headlights and the same grille as the CJ-5. Since aftermarket upgrades for this model are plentiful, it may not be easily recognized.

The YJ is the first “Wrangler” and was introduced in 1987. Its square headlights make the YJ stand out from the others. The grille shape remained square yet the vertical bars gained a slight angle. During the YJ years, the Jeeps had a diagonal sport bar until the “family bar” was added in 1992.

The 1997 TJ Wrangler arrived with a return to round headlamps and looked more like the CJ-7. Jeep squared up the front fenders, and these new style fenders included signal and marker lights, removing the driving lights from the grille area. The TJ’s grille features a slight bend, just past the halfway point, on the grille slats. In 2004, the Wrangler grew its wheelbase and gained cargo room to offer the “Unlimited” 2-door version.

The JK Wrangler’s grille slants backward a bit more than the TJ’s did. The hood size was reduced, and the overall body sloped slightly more. The headlights kept their round shape and new round turn signals were set beneath them. The large, plastic bumper now offered the option of integrated fog lights. With the 2007 introduction of the JK, Jeep now offered a Wrangler with four doors. It’s also called the “Unlimited.”

​The 2018 JL body reverts to the direction of the CJ’s profile. The newest Jeep’s headlamps not only share the front end with the grille but now actually seem to hone in on the grille’s space, reshaping the last bar or each side of the grille. Jeep kept the big bumper but restyled it slightly to feature the standard fog lights.

​Check out the entire graphic here: https://sams4x4.com/n-6-wrangler-spotters-guide.html

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2019 Scrambler ? Yeah!!!

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​Despite the fact that we're now familiar with the evolutionary design of the JL/JLU Wrangler, the Scrambler prototype remains fully covered. Even so, we can see that the front fascia details fall in line with our expectations.

The latest unofficial details on the matter talk about the 2019 Jeep Scrambler set to enter production in November 2018, with this set to be brought to the world at the Toledo Assembly Complex where the current JK Wrangler is produced - here's a review of the offroader.

The blue-collar aura of the vehicle doesn't mean you won't be able to enjoy your drive. For one thing, customers will be able to choose between three top versions, namely a three-piece hard top finished in black, a similar roof coming in the color of the body, along with a black Sunrider soft top.

As with the regular Wrangler, you'll also be able to remove the doors of the pickup.

Nevertheless, since we've only seen four-door Scrambler prototypes, we're not sure whether the automotive producer will also offer a two-door version of the machine.

The engine range is expected to include an updated version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, a rumored turbo-four and the eagerly anticipated 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 used on the Grand Cherokee. Nevertheless, the model spied here seems to be the V6, but it's pretty difficult to tell, since the test driver is eager to conceal the aural details from the vlogger filming the prototype.

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Courtesy of Sams 4x4