1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Base Sport Utility 4-door 5.9l on 2040-cars

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Jeep Wrangler with turbo four now available for order – at $3,000 extra

As a break from tradition, the JL body Jeep Wrangler will be available with a turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine. Sources say the 268-horsepower, 295 lb-ft turbo four is now available to be ordered from Jeep dealers, according to a post at the JL Wrangler forums. The kicker is that even though choosing the 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo is a $1,000 option over the base, 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 260 lb-ft of torque, it will only be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission which is itself a $2,000 option, bringing the turbo total to $3,000. Reasons to go for the blown four banger include most likely better fuel economy and improved full-throttle acceleration, even if a six-speed stick shift option would be a good companion for a turbo engine. Our test drive in December noted the overall gearing of the automatic to be quite low, which traditionally compromises fuel economy. Interestingly, there will be a "mild" eTorque plug-in hybrid version of the JL Wrangler in 2020, based on the aforementioned turbo engine. The other upcoming engine option will be a 3.0-liter V6 diesel, with a nearly similar 260-hp power figure but a more substantial 442 lb-ft torque reading. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: JL Wrangler ForumsImage Credit: FCA US Auto News Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles

Jeep three-row SUV caught on public roads — Grand Wagoneer, perhaps?

For years, it's been rumored that Jeep is working on a full-size three-row crossover. The Grand Cherokee sells well, but it doesn't match the space of its platform sibling, the Dodge Durango. At this year's Shanghai Auto Show, Jeep revealed the Yuntu Concept, a plug-in three-row crossover designed for the Chinese market. While the automaker was adamant that this was just a concept, our spy photographers have seen a prototype running around near FCA's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Though this is still heavily camouflaged, we can see a few details that show this is indeed a version of the Yuntu. The headlights, taillights and windows are the biggest tells, as they're nothing like what's currently on any production Jeep. The long wheelbase gives away the SUV's three-row nature. We can't make out much else, but expect the final version to look like a Durango-sized version of the new Jeep Compass with a black roof and clear lighting. We don't know what rests under the hood, but the Yuntu concept is a plug-in hybrid. FCA really needs some electrified vehicles in its lineup if it's going to compete with other mainstream automakers. If the Yuntu makes it to production, expect it to wear a name like Grand Wagoneer. We just hope for wood panels. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery Jeep Yuntu Spy Shots View 14 Photos Image Credit: KGP Photography Spy Photos Jeep Crossover SUV

Jeep still working to improve Cherokee's 9-speed auto

Fiat Chrysler is hoping an upcoming software update will stem the tide of consumer complaints surrounding its nine-speed automatic transmission. Owners of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee have reported a number of problems on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's SaferCar.gov website, since the new model and its troubled gearbox arrived way back in October 2013. The software update is "intended to keep the vehicle performing as intended, and to prevent durability issues from occurring in the future," an FCA spokesperson told Automotive News, and will be available to owners of both the 2014 to 2015 Jeep Cherokee and the 2015 Chrysler 200, which also uses the 9AT. While FCA will be notifying consumers of the update, owners can also request the software reflash if they happen into their dealer before then. Despite the widely documented problems with the transmission, the only complaints on NHTSA's website relate to the 2014 Cherokee – neither the 2015 Jeep nor the 200 have received any complaints. That bodes well as FCA prepares to begin deliveries of the 2015 Jeep Renegade and launch the Fiat 500X, both of which pair the 9AT with the 2.4-liter Tigershark four-cylinder. "We have had to do an inordinate amount of intervention on that transmission, surely beyond what any of us had forecast," FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News. "There are things that we have done – that we continue to do. Our proactive customer care intervention has actually increased in intensity on these vehicles in 2014, especially in the second half." What's fascinating about the 9AT's problems are that they haven't been the fault of manufacturer ZF, but have related to software that wasn't "mature" and had "teething problems," Marchionne has said previously, AN reports. With the lack of criticism for the 9AT in 2015 models and this pending software update, though, here's hoping that FCA has finally figured out its fuel-sipping gearbox. Related Video: