Jeep gives Wrangler a rev up

THE JK Jeep Wrangler has received equipment upgrades, detail changes and a cheaper and more widely optional off-road package under the latest minor upgrade.

The optional Off-road Group is now available on both petrol and diesel models for $1500. Previously this option was available on diesel models only and cost $3000.

The package includes electronically-controlled rear axle differential lock, a 3.73 axle ratio (for manual and automatic) and electronic front sway-bar disconnect.

Inside, all models now have a drop-in bin added to the full centre console and a storage net added to lower centre stack.

The MyGiG media system has been upgraded from a 20GB hard drive to 30GB and is now called Uconnect Multimedia.

Two exterior colours have been changed as part of the upgrade. Sunburst Orange replaces Rescue Green and Deep Water Blue replaces Steel Blue.

A Mopar hardtop freedom panel storage bag is now included with all hard tops.

This is the second time Jeep has revised the Wrangler since its arrival in 2007 in two door and Unlimited four-door models.

In June 2008, the Wrangler received a tyre pressure warning lamp, 17-inch alloy wheels standard across the range, the 2.8 CRD with automatic transmission benefited from increased torque to 460Nm (2.8 CRD with manual transmission remained unchanged at 410Nm), the 3.73:1 axle ratio replaced the 4.10 ratio on automatic models, the Unlimited models received an increased capacity fuel tank, to 85 litres, a new colour added called Detonator Yellow was added and Dual Top became standard on Rubicon and Rubicon Unlimited.

The Wrangler is available in two model grades, Sport and Rubicon, in two-door and four-door models, with either a 3.8-litre 12-valve petrol V6 or a 2.8-litre common-rail turbo-diesel.

The 3.8-litre V6 petrol develops 146kW of power at 5000rpm and 315Nm of torque at 4000rpm. It is linked to a six-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic.

The 3.8-litre V6 Sport manual consumes an average of 11.5L/100km and outputs 273 g/km C02 (Sport auto: 8.8L/100km and 275g/km) while the Rubicon manual averages 12.5L/100km and has a C02 output of 296g/km (Rubicon auto: 11.6L/100km and 275g/km).

The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel develops 130kW of power at 3800rpm and 410Nm of torque at 2000-2600rpm (auto: 460Nm at 2000-2600rpm).

A six-speed manual is standard with the 2.8 CRD while a five-speed automatic is optionalThe 2.8T CRD consumes an average of 6.9 L/100km and C02 output is 215g/km (auto: 7.9L/100km and 248g/km).

The Wrangler (two-door) and Wrangler Unlimited (four-door) come standard with dual front airbags, ABS brakes, ESC, air-conditioning, power windows, central locking, 17-inch alloy wheels, AM/FM CD/DVD audio system with auxiliary input and six speakers, underbody skid plates, The Wrangler Rubicon and Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon have a lower ratio transfer case, 4.10 axle ratios, a heavy-duty front differential, sway bar disconnect, unique 17-inch alloy wheels, Stain Repel fabric seats and body protection side rails. The Rubicon is available only with the V6 petrol engine.

The four-door Unlimited benefits from increased seating capacity from the two-door model’s four to five and has an 85-litre fuel tank, 15 litres more than the two-door.

The changes introduced this month can do nothing but help the Wrangler, with its sales in decline. Wrangler sales are down 32.9 per cent to the end of September compared with last year in a segment that is down just 13.1 per cent overall.

The upgraded 2009 Wrangler is available from Jeep dealerships this month.

Jeep Wrangler range pricing
Sport 3.8L V6	$31,590
Sport 3.8L V6 (a)	$33,590
Sport 2.8L I4 Diesel	$35,590
Sport 2.8L I4 Diesel (a)	$37,590
Rubicon 3.8L V6	$40,590
Rubicon 3.8L V6 (a)	$42,590
Unlimited Sport 3.8L V6	$35,990
Unlimited Sport 3.8L V6 (a)	$37,990
Unlimited Sport 2.8L I4 Diesel	$39,990
Unlimited Sport 2.8L I4 Diesel (a)	$41,990