2018 is gearing up to be a big year for Jeep enthusiasts: the highly-anticipated Jeep Wrangler is set to premiere in the middle of that year, and now FCA may start providing hybrid versions of both Jeep and Ram models in 2018. No further news was given, but specualation has it that FCA will produce mild hybrids, according to Daily Sun.
In order to go about this venture, a possible parts-sharing initiative between the 2018 Jeep Wrangler and 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid could be in the works. But Daily Sun explained why this might not be the case, given that the smaller Jeep Wrangler may be unable to have batteries placed below the passenger seat.
The fact that the Jeep Wrangler will need to be suited for off-roading could also derail part-sharing efforts, because having batteries stationed below would put it in danger of being damaged when the Wrangler drives on rugged terrain, as it is designed to do. The incentive to go hybrid for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler are still high, however, as more motorists become invested in vehicles with better fuel ecomony, lighter treading and even making more environmentally conscious decisions.
Mercedes-Benz may be setting a good model for the future Jeep Wrangler, as its upcoming line of inline-six engine contains a 48-volt setup suitable to the Wrangler. The Chrysler Pacifica has adopted a full hybrid setup, another notable vision of the Jeep to strive toward, but it may not have all the resources for such a system quite yet.
The new Jeep Wrangler, depending on the month of its debut, may actually not be available to the public until 2019. In the meantime, anxious Jeep drivers have the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk to look forward to: a more powerful, high-performance upgrade to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, according to Road and Track. It will debut at the New York International Auto Show next April.
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