Jeep Wrangler to go alloy

Two execs at the very top of the Jeep tree have all but confirmed the next-generation Wrangler will move to aluminium construction.

In two separate but related statements, Jeep CEO Mike Manley and his boss, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles chief Sergio Marchionne, have each given hints that the company is well advanced with the decision to eschew the Wrangler’s tradition steel construction.

Marchionne’s comments came as part of an answer regarding the future of the Toledo Ohio plant, where the existing Wrangler, and now the Cherokee, is currently built.

The FCA CEO stated the Wrangler would always be built in the USA but admitted its production may move from Toledo on the basis that the plant is not suitable for the construction of an aluminium-rich vehicle.

“One of the things that we're debating and we continue to have heated debates about is whether this thing [Wrangler] requires to go to a material other than steel. And so the Ford discussions that have gone in the past about the F-150 going aluminium are going on inside our house now,” Marchionne explained.

“If the solution is aluminium then I think unfortunately Toledo is the wrong set-up to try and build a Wrangler because it requires a complete… reconfiguring of the assets which would be cost prohibitive.”

Marchionne said that the Wrangler will almost certainly need to undergo considerable change to meet future emission and other targets.

“The evolution of their [Wranglers] architecture will entail a significant change in the way in which the Wrangler is built…

"We need to preserve… all of its capabilities and certainly we need to modernise it because of the fact that we collectively believe that we need to bring significant improvements to both the make-up of the car, its interiors, the performance and the amenities that are associated with driving the vehicle itself,” he said.

“We also… firmly believe that we need to downsize the engines that are going to the Wrangler just in terms of displacement and then increase the capabilities by putting turbos in and doing other things to that engine.

“This requires a complete rethink of the architecture,” he stated.

Jeep boss Manley said there were other benefits of moving to aluminium, as Land Rover has with the Range Rover.

“The final decision certainly isn't made but we’ve got a very clear idea on the things we have to do in terms of how the vehicle performs rather than the materials we use,” Manley explained.

“That is going to involve all of the levers you can pull to continue to drive fuel economy while retaining its [off-road] capability.

“Obviously from a shape perspective Wrangler is not going to change a huge amount so your ability to use aero [dynamics to improve consumption] is there but you have to look at every single lever and that includes weight.

“Aluminium has a number of [other] benefits as well for a vehicle like Wrangler because that would lower its centre of gravity and improve its capability and other things.

“It’s top of mind certainly,” Manley stated.