New Wrangler from $31,000

CHRYSLER Group Australia has announced full pricing, including a $30,990 entry price, and specifications for Jeep’s redesigned Wrangler off-roader range - more than a month ahead of its official release Down Under.

Due to make its local debut at the Melbourne motor show on March 2 alongside Jeep’s first compact SUV, the all-new Compass, the new Wrangler line-up will also comprise a four-door Unlimited derivative for the first time, priced from $34,990.

Both Wranglers and the Compass will go on sale following their national media launch on March 12-13, but CGA has not released pricing for Compass, which will be Jeep’s first representative in the super-competitive small soft-roader segment, targeting the likes of Honda’s new CR-V and Toyota’s top-selling RAV4.

Compass’ harder-core sister model, the all-new Patriot, is claimed to be a rival for compact off-roaders like Nissan’s X-Trail, and will go on sale here in the third quarter of 2007.

By the end of this year, the two new Wrangler models, along with Compass and Patriot, will have swollen Jeep’s Australian range from four models to seven (including the Cherokee medium SUV, the Grand Cherokee luxury SUV and the Commander seven-seater).

Meantime, 2007 will also see sister brands Dodge and Chrysler release the Avenger medium sedan and its Sebring clone respectively in August, as well as the Nitro (in July) - an all-new medium SUV from Dodge.

For now, however, the redesigned version of Jeep’s iconic Wrangler will open at a price that’s just $1000 higher than the current model’s entry-level 130kW/296Nm 4.0-litre Sport variant. Australia is already the world’s largest Wrangler market outside the US and CGA managing director Gerry Jenkins expects the model to continue the tradition.

"The new Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited take rugged capability and refinement to new levels, providing tremendous value to a range of customers and with our sharp pricing we expect the love affair to prosper," said Mr Jenkins.

Claimed to offer more space, comfort, versatility, convenience, off-road capability, on-road refinement, power, fuel efficiency, safety and, for the first time ever in a civilian vehicle, diesel power, the new Wrangler range will also comprise the long-wheelbase open-air Wrangler Unlimited four-door five-seater, priced from an extra $4000.

The base powertrain in the range will be a new 146kW/315Nm 3.8-litre petrol V6 mated to a six-speed manual transmission, while a new 130kW/400Nm 2.8-litre common-rail turbo-diesel with six-speed manual transmission will also carry a $4000 premium.

Automatic versions of both entry-level petrol and diesel Sport variants (a five-speed transmission for diesel vehicles but only a four-speed self-shifter for petrol variants) will add a further $2000 to the price for both model lines, including for the flagship V6-powered Wrangler Rubicon variant, which carries a $9000 premium over the base-level V6.

A mid-range Renegade pack will also be available for Sport variants, priced at $2000 for the two-door and $2500 for the four-door.

Left: Wrangler Unlimited, Rubicon and Compass (below).

For $30,990, the base Wrangler Sport features ESP stability control, Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), four-wheel brake traction control (4BTC) and four-wheel disc brakes.

There’s also air-conditioning, Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System, twin multi-stage front airbags, cruise control, foglights, power door locks with keyless entry, power front windows, soft-top, 16-inch alloy wheels, skid plates for transfer case and fuel tank, easy access tip-and-slide seats, a driver’s seat height adjuster, folding rear seat, mini floor console, locking glovebox, compass, temperature gauge, 12-volt auxiliary power outlet, tilt-adjustable steering wheel and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3 sound system.

Jeep Wrangler Sport options include a four-speed auto, half doors and seat-mounted front side airbags.

For $32,990, the Jeep Wrangler Renegade adds a claimed $4000 worth of extras including a "dual top with Sunrider soft-top and Freedom Top 3-piece modular hard-top", deep tint glass, six-disc CD/DVD player, Infinity premium speakers with subwoofer and tubular side steps.

Priced at $39,990, the hard-core Wrangler Rubicon manual takes the Sport’s features and adds electric front stabiliser bar de/activation, a Rock-Trac 4:1 part-time transfer case, heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles, Tru-lok&reg locking front and rear differentials, 4.10:1 axle ratio, rock rails, 17-inch machined-cast aluminium wheels with 225/75 Goodyear All Terrain tyres, Infinity premium speakers and subwoofer, and stain/odour-resistant seat fabric. Along with the Sport’s options, a six-CD stacker is also optional for the Rubicon.

The new Wrangler is manufactured at Chrysler Group’s Toledo plant in Ohio (USA). Vital statistics include an overall length of 4223mm (4751mm for the four-door), V6 kerb weights ranging between 1745kg and 1855kg (Unlimited: 1875-2050kg), diesel kerb weights ranging between 1805kg and 1975kg (Unlimited: 1955-2105kg), a 10.36-metre turning circle (Unlimited: 12.25 metres), cargo capacity of 490 litres (Unlimited: 1310 litres) and towing capacity of 1600kg (Unlimited: 2300kg).

Based on a new frame that features a 2424mm wheelbase (2947mm for the Unlimited, whose three-position rear bench seat is claimed to offer more hip, shoulder and leg room, as well as cargo space), the 2007 model’s new body and interior continues with Wrangler hallmarks such as solid axles, removable doors, exposed hinges and a fold-down windscreen.

Combined with the removable and convertible roof, Jeep claims Wrangler dozens of different top, door and windshield combinations, and the new range will come in nine exterior paint colours.

2007 Jeep Wrangler pricing:
Sport 3.8 petrol (6M)	$30,990
Sport 3.8 petrol (4A)	$32,990
Sport 2.8 diesel (6M)	$34,990
Sport 2.8 diesel (5A)	$36,990
Rubicon 3.8 petrol (6M)	$39,990
Rubicon 3.8 petrol (4A)	$41,990

2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited pricing:
Sport 3.8 petrol (6M)	$34,990
Sport 3.8 petrol (4A)	$36,990
Sport 2.8 diesel (6M)	$38,990
Sport 2.8 diesel (5A)	$40,990
Rubicon 3.8 petrol (6M)	$43,990
Rubicon 3.8 petrol (4A)	$45,990

Wrangler options:
Premium Paint (Sport and Rubicon)	$300
Renegade Pack (Sport)	$2000
Six-CD stacker (Rubicon)	$600
Dual Top Group (Rubicon)	$2000
Half doors	$250
Front side airbags (Sport and Rubicon)	$600

Wrangler Unlimited options:
Premium Paint (Sport and Rubicon)	$300
Renegade Pack (Sport)	$2500
Six-CD stacker (Rubicon)	$600
Dual Top Group (Rubicon)	$2500
Half doors	$500
Front side airbags (Sport and Rubicon)	$600

Read more:

Jeep unveils a four-door Wrangler!

Jeep uncovers all-new Wrangler

Jeep's first soft-roader hits US showrooms