LA MOTOR SHOW: New Jeep Wrangler -- 10 things you need to know

The Jeep Wrangler is an off-road icon and the latest generation has just been unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show.

We’ve reported the big news about the JL Wrangler here but there are lots more details that make it a cool vehicle.

Here’s 10 of them…

Timeless design

New-generation Wranglers only come along every 10 years or so, which means the design department has had plenty of time to ponder the JL’s looks. Jeep design chief Mark Allen says serious work began three years ago.

To make sure his designers understand the culture of the vehicle they are designing, he takes them to off-roading mecca Moab in Utah each year.

<a href="https://motoring.pxcrush.net/motoring/general/editorial/Jeep-P018_Wrangler-Group-003.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-csn-inline-image wp-image-230242" src="https://motoring.pxcrush.net/motoring/general/editorial/Jeep-P018_Wrangler-Group-003.jpg?height=427&width=640&aspect=fitWithin" alt="" width="640" height="427"></a>Evolution not revolution

Allen is philosophical about the need to make the Wrangler’s design, erm, evolutionary.

“A Porsche 911 has to look like a 911 and a Wrangler has got to look like a Wrangler,” he said.

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Opening doors

Wrangler doors remain removable and a nice new touch is that the Torx bit size required to unscrew the hinges is stamped in the doors. Jeep also supplies the tool itself.

New lift-assist handles under the arm-rests also help you left the door off the hinges.

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Fighting words

The biggest battle between design, engineering and manufacturing was the folding windshield. The designers wanted to keep it and the rest didn’t.

The designers won, although the windshield frame including A-pillars now stays upright to comply with the latest roll-over protection.

By the way, windshields were originally folded on Jeeps to make them easier to ship.

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Star power

Have a look at LED headlights on the new Wrangler and see if you can figure out where the inspiration for the shape of the low-beam component comes from.

Times up… Yep, Electrobinoculars as used by rebel troops in the movie series Star Wars.

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A hole new perspective

Fitting a reversing camera proved a huge challenge because of the full-size spare wheel/tyre fixed to the swing gate.

In the end, it was mounted in the middle of the spare. And yes, the Mopar accessory tyre cover does have a hole so the camera can continue to do its thing.

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Back to the future

The dashboard of the JL was inspired by the horizontal flow of the early Willys MB, CJ and YJ.

“They all had a very linear format to them,” said Jeep interior design chief Chris Benjamin. “They all had a very sleek appearance and as designers it is something we are attracted to.”

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Saluting the past

Jeep designers love inserting geeky retro details into their vehicles and the JL is no different.

The airbag cover on the steering wheel boss has an original MB steering wheel motif, there is an MB silhouette on the gear-shifter and an information plaque on the tailgate also inspired by the MB.

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Wind blocker

Jeep is very proud of improving Wrangler’s aerodynamic efficiency by nine per cent to a still brick-like 0.454 coefficient of drag.

It achieved that improvement via such things as smoothing out the underbody, raking the windshield more and adding a spoiler to the rear.

Even the small breakover in the signature keystone grille helped by allowing the wind to stay attached to the body.

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Alfa influence

As we’ve reported separately a significant amount of the JL’s new tech won’t make it to Australia.

That includes the 200kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine from the new Global Medium Engine architecture that debuted with the Alfa Romeo Giulia.

In its North American spec this engine includes ‘light hybrid’ 48-volt functionality. In export markets — not including Australia — it misses out on that but gets idle-stop.