Jeep confirmed the new Wrangler Pickup, but the carmaker refused to talk about any details. There are some spy shots, which don’t reveal too much but combined with insider information we can create a picture of the new Wrangler Pickup. The new model will be based on the upcoming 2019 Wrangler JL’s frame, and it will use its front styling, cab, interior and powertrains. Who will buy the new Wrangler Pickup also known as the JT? It remains to be seen.
Recent Information
The Wrangler Unlimited JL’s frame means that the new Wrangler pickup will be more stable and better on the road, while its off-road capabilities will slightly decrease. We expect the new version to come standard with 4WD configuration and bring Jeep’s Trail Rated mark. According to JeepScramblerForum.com, the new pickup will be named the Scrambler whereas the CAD drawings clearly show the extended frame and the updated Dana axles. The use of the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 has also been confirmed.
2019 Jeep Scrambler Spy Photos
The latest images of the new Scrambler show the vehicle from bird’s perspective, and they don’t reveal much because the model is still wearing thick covers. However, Jeep’s usual round headlights will be featured whereas the front bumper will aggressively stick out from the nose. Wide wheel arches with a skinnier hood are also visible but what is important is that the test car comes with a bed even though it is camouflaged as well. A step at the front corner of the bed on each side might be incorporated for easier access, and the new step has been added to the rear bumper. This perspective helps us reveal wider wheel arches than the ones on the previous test mule, which means that this Scrambler is closer to the production than we believe.
Exterior
The 2019 Jeep Scrambler will have a bed likely constructed from composites or plastic in order to shed as much weight as possible. The bed’s lining will be similar to the ones on the Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline, but we will hopefully see some innovative cargo management features such as storage boxes or perhaps a Ram Box variant. Tow hooks will be placed below the rear bumper which is going to utilize the standard center step and license plate holder. According to the recent spy photos, the rear bumper has Hummer-like D-ring tow hooks.
The bed aside, the Wrangler pickup should be just like the regular Wrangler. Jeep will not modify the front end, fenders, hood, windshield, and doors. According to JeepScramblerForum.com, the new model will come with three top options – a three-piece hard top in black color, one that will match the body color and a Premium Black Sunrider soft top. At the moment, we don’t know whether the bed can be extended into the cab when you fold the rear seats or if the cargo box will be separated from the cab by a permanent bulkhead.
Jeep Scrambler Interior
The interior may have minor modifications only, but it will mostly be unchanged. The 2019 Jeep Scrambler will come with the same dashboard instrumentation, seats and infotainment like the Wrangler, but they will install high-end materials instead of the low-grade plastic and switchgear. Some luxuries such as dual-zone climate control will be standard, but there will be more buttons to control features like those.
Even though it will be modernized, the Wrangler pickup will have the old-school manual transfer case which brings six speeds, but that six-speed gearbox is not confirmed for the Scrambler. The outstanding 8.4-inch Uconnect system will increase the value of the car, while new Off-Road Pages feature will also be included.
In addition, Jeep added new locking differentials and front sway bar disconnect controls. Meanwhile, auxiliary buttons which can be wired and programmed to control aftermarket equipment such as off-road lights are located on the dashboard. Such controls can be found in the Ram HD and Ford Super Duty models.
New Scrambler Engine
We have already seen that the engines will remain unchanged, but let’s take a closer look at this segment. The 2019 Jeep Scrambler base trim will come with the new 2.0-liter Hurricane turbocharged I4 engine which is said to develop almost 300 horsepower, and rumors suggest it will be offered with a hybrid drivetrain. The other option will be an enhanced variant of the ongoing 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 unit rated at more than 315 ponies and exactly 280 lb-ft of torque. Last but not least is the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel which will finally be packed under the Wrangler’s hood, and it is expected to generate 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.
All of these engines will be combined with the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and the 4WD system that will be standard, just like the aforementioned manually operated transfer case. The two-speed unit has positions for 2WD, 4WD high range, neutral and 4WD low-range, whereas we don’t know to which engines the six-speed manual transmission will be attached. Jeep will most likely offer the Rubicon trim for the pickup, and if it does, it will come with stronger axles, electronically locking differentials and the electronically disconnecting front sway bar.
Suspension and Frame
The leaked CAD drawing is published on JeepScramblerForum.com, and it clearly displays fully boxed rails with plenty of cross members for torsional rigidity. The Rubicon and perhaps some upper trims will have extensive skid plating as standard. The solid axles are coming back, but instead of the expected Dana 44, Jeep opted for Dana 12-bolt solid axles. These are way stronger and should positively affect the Scrambler’s payload and towing figures.
When it comes to the suspension, Jeep engineers will use the modified version of the multi-link coil suspension taken from the JK, and that should improve both off- and on-road performance. The new Wrangler pickup will still be a rough vehicle, and if you are looking for a daily driver for life in the suburbs, this is not the right choice because of its harsh ride and lack of comfort. Perhaps the new Wrangler and its pickup counterpart may get a smooth ride without compromising its off-road skills, but that is highly unlikely.
2019 Jeep Scrambler Price
The Wrangler pickup will not be too expensive, and it will compete with its rivalry mid-size opponents. The starting price of the new Wrangler Unlimited could go from $31,000, which means that the new 2019 Jeep Scrambler will cost around $34,500. Once it goes on sale, it will compete against the likes of the Chevrolet Colorado Z71 and Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road.
This is still just a speculation, but we have based our text on everything Jeep said so far and everything they hinted at. Also, we have used the spy photos to help us as well as the ongoing Jeep Wrangler that is going to be an inspiration for the new pickup. Jeep is preparing to introduce the new Wrangler JL at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show and will follow every move the automaker makes. Wrangler is a massive sales leader for the FCA, which means that the new Scrambler must come out just right. Jeep cannot afford to make any mistakes when it comes to the new pickup.
Are you excited about the 2019 Jeep Scrambler as we are?
