When they laid out their future product plan in a 12-hour press conference in Detroit two months ago, Chrysler-Fiat officials said the alliance would start selling a diesel Jeep Wrangler with an auto start/stop feature in the fourth quarter of 2010. Little did we know they were talking about Europe. Not the U.S. At a press conference in Detroit. Oh, right. Of course not. We should have known.
Kudos to the Toledo Blade (and Autoblog) for getting the clarification on this detail from Michael Manley, president of the Jeep brand.
As compensation, the Wrangler will possibly, apparently get a version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 later this summer.
Toledo Blade via Autoblog
stephen987 says:
02:58 PM, 01/14/10
Too bad. A diesel might actually make the Wrangler borderline sensible.
estreka says:
03:13 PM, 01/14/10
Shame. A diesel Wrangler would quiet a lot of the critics.
bankerdanny says:
03:26 PM, 01/14/10
Typical short-sighted thinking.
I understand that the US is still not big market for diesels. I rarely see a Toureg diesel, for example.
But the Wrangler/CJ has always occupied a unique niche in the US auto market and a well engineered diesel would be almost 100% positive. Great low end torque, likely nominal impact on acceleration, and a substantial improvement in fuel economy.
The Wrangler is the perfect candidate for a diesel.
firstwagon says:
06:21 PM, 01/14/10
The US may not be big on diesels but Canada is. Send it here.
I'd buy one.
festus67 says:
07:06 PM, 01/14/10
Gas is too cheap. Bring on the gas tax!
notabigdeal says:
07:15 PM, 01/14/10
I have longed for a Diesel Jeep Wrangler for... I donno a decade? In fact I am hoping that one day there will be a under 30k Diesel SUV of any sort... I don't really care at this point.
sgude says:
07:25 PM, 01/14/10
A diesel Wrangler makes complete sense, which is why Chrysler won't do it.
cr_driver says:
09:34 AM, 01/15/10
The real question, is why not?
jeepsrt says:
09:45 AM, 01/15/10
festus67 says
Gas is too cheap. Bring on the gas tax!
You are joking right?
roar02ram says:
10:38 AM, 01/15/10
The 3.6?? 280 hp in a short-wheelbase Wrangler? That'll be a rocket! Putting it in the Wrangler also suggests that Chrysler has a manual transmission lying around that'll work with that engine...which hints at a V-6 manual Challenger, perhaps?
desmolicious says:
01:52 PM, 01/15/10
I love my 02 Wrangler and was waiting for the diesel to replace it. That they are not going to introduce the diesel makes no sense whatsoever.
The current Rubicon (my brother just bought one) is a complete slug on the road in 4 door form. A diesel would not only have perked it up, but made it much more practical with a greater fuel range.
With business decisions like this Chrysler deserves to fail. I want my bailout money back...
;)