As the best-selling vehicle in its class, the Jeep Wrangler has been on a serious sales tear this year, with deliveries up 20 percent through the first seven months of 2011. But this kind of sales performance is likely to change—by getting even better—once the 2012 model debuts. That’s because the vehicle’s on- and off-road performance has gotten even better, too, courtesy of an all-new powertrain featuring the award-winning Pentastar V6 engine.
“Jeep Wrangler—the most capable and iconic vehicle in the world—has a new heart but retains the same soul for 2012,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of Jeep. “Our new 3.6-liter V-6 engine gives the ever-capable Wrangler a completely new, more refined on-road driving experience—complete with more fuel efficiency, power and torque.”
The bottom line here: The Pentastar delivers 285 hp (a 40 percent increase over 2011), 260 lb.-ft. of torque (a 10 percent boost) and a 0-60 time of just 8.4 seconds (a 25 percent improvement), but it’s so efficient that it raises the Wrangler’s highway fuel efficiency to 21 mpg—a 10.5 percent jump. Helping to achieve these numbers is a new five-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox that represents the first time a DIY transmission has been used with the Pentastar. Other enhancements for the new model year include a lower first-gear ratio for the Wrangler’s automatic transmission, which enhances off-road capability by providing a lower overall crawl ratio, and the availability of three different axle ratios—3.21, 3.73 or 4.10 depending on the specific Wrangler model.
“Available in 2-door and 4-door models and boasting an untouchable combination of efficient design, open-air freedom, significant towing capability, improved real-world drivability, and unique 4×4 systems that deliver unmatched off-road prowess, Jeep Wrangler once again resets the benchmark and offers consumers the ultimate vehicle for any driving adventure,” Manley added.
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