Chrysler-Fiat Press Conference: Diesel Jeep Wrangler Coming in 4th Quarter 2010

While I'm a big fan of clean diesel, I'm not sure how I feel about this specific application.

This is great news, there are a lot of people that have been asking for this and to get it too market so soon is a plus.

Generally speaking, torque is what you want in an off-road vehicle, rather than just power. If they don't screw it up much it'll be a great car and the one jeep I'd be tempted to buy.

This makes me and every other Jeep owner very, very happy. I own a 1999 TJ and feel it is an honest raw vehicle. I can't wait until this diesel comes to America. I'll be buying one. As well as hundreds of other loyal Jeep fans.

This was a no-brainer and long overdue, good call Fiat

+100 337. About time.

Seriously about time. SUV's could use the extra range and torque. I've been seriously hoping the US would get a Diesel SUV I can get well under 40k.

It's a smart move, especially if Land Rover does decide to sell the next gen Defender in the US (and I think they will).

"Seriously about time. SUV's could use the extra range and torque. I've been seriously hoping the US would get a Diesel SUV I can get well under 40k."

Didn't Jeep (with help from Daimler) already do that once?

I also agree with zoomzoom. Don't diesels sip very little at idle? Is diesel really the first place you want to put a start/stop system in?

@brn: CRD versions of both the GC and Liberty were available at one point. Hopefully the masses soften a bit to the idea of diesel.

YAY!

brn: The diesel has never been available in the Wrangler. I think you may be able to buy it in kit form right now and you can get it through AEV in their j8 milspec Jeep Wrangler. I don't know if you wanted that much info, but I'm a little giddy about this news. I'm a fiat fan now. I might eat lasagna for dinner tonight in honor of them!

I'd trade in my 02 Wrangler for a diesel version. Finally someone over at Chrysler sees the light.
For off roading, low end torque is what is needed. The huge bonus of much better fuel economy is icing on the cake.
Cannot wait.

Nice that they confirmed it finally but what diesel will it be?

I'd like to see the wrangler available with 3 engine choices.

3.8 V6 for entry levels models .

V8 for loaded up models.

Diesel for everyone else.

It's the perfect engine for a true off roader.

Perfect sense in the Jeep! Go Diesel!

YES!! Looks as if someone is finally listening to the people.

A 40mpg diesel Jeep Rubicon? Why not! -Two thumbs up, WAY UP!!

On 11/4 Powell_Jr said:
" The diesel has never been available in the Wrangler."
Technically this is only true for the North American market.
Everywhere else in the world you can get a diesel Wrangler for less than the 3.8L Petrol version.
I can't wait to get my 2011 JKL diesel.

It is amusing how Chrysler is in trouble yet they own Jeep. I had a 1987 Jeep Wrangler with a 4.2 litre 6 and automatic transmission. It was black on black and amazing here in Canada. The heater did not keep up and the fuel economy was awful (hwy was always a joke) but I loved it. It got me through winters in Wpg. and some epic summers in Victoria. I sold it for a Porsche but in 5 years of owning it, I sold it for $200.00 less than I paid for it (had it painted and swapped rims for better ones but still!!!). When it came time in 2001 for my Mother to get a vehicle here in Calgary, we got her a 4.0 TJ sport with auto and so far, barring a heater switch issue, the vehicle has been great (minus the fuel economy). Now, back to Chrysler; it is nothing short of a miracle that they have not messed up Jeep. The name has such a great history and loyal following but Chrysler has come so close to burying what made it special. I always loved that when blizzards arrived, I could still get out and about in my Jeep. It was great but the old school YJ was basic inside, not special and the TJ did not deliver anything extra either. It was this lack of realization of what they had on their hands (a true "cool" vehicle) that drove me away. Chrysler also did not supply it with a diesel to extend it's range. The interior was not ever made unique to Jeep. It was stock Chrysler looking. It needed to be divorced from Chrysler products, an entity unto itself. If Chrysler delivers a diesel in the Wrangler, I will have a second look at owning a Jeep. I hope the hard top is lighter and easier to remove. I hope there is a Jeep "feel" to the vehicle, I hope it has long range tanks and sounds like one too. I have to admit that the Rubicon looks the part from the outside....at least we know that the Fiat 500 has a special interior to match it's exterior styling. Perhaps the Italian influence will play a part here.....

One more from the Canadian; the hinges. The design, although faithful to Jeeps of old, is poor to the point of being insulting. Could they not have seated couplers in there to prevent the two parts from grinding together and chipping off the paint? If this has been rectified in later models and I have not noticed; apologies all around.

One more from the Canadian; the hinges. The design, although faithful to Jeeps of old, is poor to the point of being insulting. Could they not have seated couplers in there to prevent the two parts from grinding together and chipping off the paint? If this has been rectified in later models and I have not noticed; apologies all around.