2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (4-door) on 2040-cars

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2019 Jeep Wrangler Moab order guide reveals plush, spendy trim

At the end of last year, members at the JLWrangler Forum first discovered a Moab sticker kit in the Fiat Chrysler parts catalog. A few weeks ago, the same forum found a Moab edition 2018 Wrangler near FCA HQ. The previous JK series Jeep Wrangler offered a Moab edition, based on the Sahara platform, but priced and positioned between the Sahara and Rubicon trims. JLWrangler Forum members have now found the order guide for the new Moab edition, showing the same build philosophy but a bigger price. Only available on the four-door Unlimited bodystyle with the 3.6-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic, the option is said to retail for $51,200 before a $1,495 destination fee. That's $52,695 out-the-door. That puts you at $8,200 over the price of a Rubicon with the eight-speed automatic, but the Moab has a different aim. As Jeep's website says, the Sahara targets those who want "a clean, polished look that's at home wherever you take it," whereas the Rubicon is for those who need to get an extreme kind of dirty. The Moab shoots the middle, going after Sahara buyers who want their additional premium equipment wrapped in real-deal rugged looks. To work that effect, outside there'll be the dual-vent Rubicon hood, LED lighting, a steel front bumper, black tow hooks front and back, a body-colored hardtop, and Mopar rock rails. The order guide lists hood decals, which would be a new item for the vented Rubicon unit. The Moab sits on 17-inch, low-gloss black Rubicon-style wheels instead of the standard 18-inch polished aluminum wheels with Tech Gray spokes, and 33-inch BFG Mud Terrain KM2 tires. That tire choice is novel, because Rubicon comes on 33-inch BGF ALL-Terrain KO2s. The Selec-Trac 4x4 system pairs with the Anti-Spin limited slip differential, both of them normally options on the Sahara. Inside there'll be the 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system piped through a nine-speaker Alpine audio system. Comfort treats include keyless entry and remote start, Mopar hardtop headliner, leather seats and leather interior group, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Jeep throws in blind-spot monitoring with cross-path detection and the ParkSense parking assist, and for a adventurous touch, there are Mopar all-weather floor mats. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

China-market Jeep Grand Commander coming to U.S. as a Chrysler?

There's nothing like winding down the year with news to spin heads, eh? Allpar cites "sources" as suggesting the Chinese-market Jeep Grand Commander will come to the U.S. as a Chrysler. This Speculation with a capital "S" has several rationales. The late Sergio Marchionne said Chrysler will focus on utility and not sell cars, making it fit for a new three-row crossover. The road-focused Grand Commander couldn't live up to U.S. perceptions of Jeep values, which is why the lateral brand move. A new model would give the Pentastar a second nameplate alongside the Pacifica, since the 300 sedan dies come 2020. And a big Chrysler school runner would allow the near-immortal Dodge Journey to end its life with something approaching dignity. The Grand Commander, a stretched version of our Cherokee with three rows, uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 231 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 192-inch long SUV is ten inches longer than the Cherokee, and 2.2 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee. Carmakers bring a host of not-for-U.S. metal over here, so this doesn't signal production intent, but sharp eyes caught the Grand Commander on Michigan streets in March. The white high-rider carried its Chinese badging, and was bereft of camo other than tape over the door handles. Allpar says a domestic version wouldn't be built in China, but either in the Belvidere, Ill. plant that builds the Cherokee, or in facilities in Windsor, Canada or Toluca, Mexico. Should these events come to pass, Chrysler would soon have four models: Pacifica, a production version of Portal concept, a crossover based on the Pacifica, and the rebranded Jeep. Ready for more? Allpar also says there are "rumors of a Chrysler-badged crossover version of [the Dodge] Charger." FCA leaving Chrysler and Dodge out of the FCA five-year roadmap earlier this year leaves a vacuum ripe for, shall we say, Chinese whispers. We're not saying all of this won't happen, but put these prognostications in one place and it starts to read like a wrinkle in time, it's all so fabulous. Remember, the last we heard about the Dodge Journey, it was going to become an Alfa Romeo-based performance crossover headed to dealerships next year. The best we can suggest for now is to stay tuned. Related Video:

Dongfeng and PSA extend Chinese joint venture

BEIJING/PARIS — China's Dongfeng and Peugeot maker PSA are extending their business cooperation, despite the Chinese company reducing its stake in PSA to help smooth the French carmaker's merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). Dongfeng said on Thursday it had agreed with PSA to extend the duration of their joint venture Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobiles (DPCA). Under the deal, the venture could get the rights to PSA's new brands in China and will benefit from new technologies and intellectual properties, the Chinese company said. PSA was not immediately available for comment. The announcement comes a day after the companies said Dongfeng would reduce its 12.2% stake in PSA by selling 30.7 million shares to the French company. Analysts said the move could smooth U.S. regulatory approval for PSA's roughly $50 billion (GBP38.97 billion) merger with Italian-American carmaker FCA. The sale of Dongfeng's shares in PSA, worth around 680 million euros ($757 million), will leave the Chinese group holding around 4.5% of the merged PSA-FCA, which is set to become the world's fourth-biggest carmaker by sales volumes. "As the cooperation between Dongfeng and PSA deepens, we expect the joint venture to continue making good progress in China," a Dongfeng representative said. On a conference call, Dongfeng said DPCA would have exclusive rights to PSA's Opel cars should the partners agree to bring the brand to China, and enjoy lower prices on car parts imported from PSA. Earlier this year, a document seen by Reuters showed Dongfeng and PSA plan to cut jobs at Wuhan-based DPCA and reduce its number of car plants to try to make the venture more profitable. Chrysler Dodge Fiat Jeep RAM Citroen Peugeot China FCA PSA Dongfeng