Skip to main content

Next-gen Jeep Wrangler rumored to pack an EcoDiesel engine, 8-speed automatic

Difference between four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive
America’s iconic off-roader, the Jeep Wrangler, is due for an upgrade. With the next generation version around the corner, there’s lots of discussion as to what features the next iteration will bring, what things it should have, and what stuff should stay the same. Nothing is known for sure, but a recent rumor suggest that the Wrangler might get hitched with FCA’s latest diesel engine.

According to an anonymous source inside FCA who spoke to Autoblog, the upcoming wrangler will be offered with the company’s much lauded 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel engine, that will also be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This will give the Jeep an underwhelming-sounding 240 horsepower, but it more than makes up for it with 420 pound-feet of torque. After all, the Jeep will be used for towing, climbing, and scrambling in and out of ruts, so the more twist, the better.

Related Videos
Jeep Wrangler

Combined with the eight-speed transmission, it should offer better fuel economy than its gasoline counterparts, such as the pair does in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500.

This news isn’t wholly surprising as, apart from making a lot of sense, there’s been talk of a diesel Wrangler for some time, it as simply a matter of waiting until a refresh.

Like all rumors, we’ll have to wait for some sort of confirmation, but unlike most, this one feels quite plausible.

Editors' Recommendations

Cruise’s robotaxis have driven 1 million miles fully driverless
A driverless Cruise car in San Francisco.

General Motors-backed Cruise revealed this week that its fully driverless cars have now traveled more than a million miles, mostly on the streets of San Francisco.

The achievement comes just 15 months after the company’s first fully driverless ride, during which time it also launched San Francisco’s first paid driverless robotaxi service.

Read more
Tesla Model 3 maintenance costs: What can you expect?
A Tesla Model 3 electric car.

One of the big promises of electric vehicles is that they require less maintenance than a gasoline-powered car, and thus cost less over time. That’s largely because EVs have a whole lot fewer moving parts. When you don't have an engine, you don't have to worry about oil changes, spark plugs, or exhaust systems, to name just a few examples.

The Tesla Model 3 is no different in that regard. While Tesla cars notoriously suffer from issues like panel gaps and other factory defects, Tesla covers these repairs under warranty, as long as you buy the car from Tesla itself. After that, there are few costs associated with maintenance at all. Here’s a rundown of the maintenance costs you can expect as a Tesla Model 3 owner.
Tesla Model 3 maintenance

Read more
What’s the difference between Tesla Autopilot and Full Self-Driving?
A Telsa Model 3 drives along a road.

Cars are quickly changing. Companies are increasingly adopting new technologies to roll out fully electric models. At the same time, those companies are investing heavily in the sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence that will eventually make cars fully self-driving.

Tesla was early to both of those things. Tesla’s entire lineup of cars is electric, and right now, it actually offers two autonomous modes: “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving.”

Read more