1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport on 2040-cars

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Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver is a more rugged Trailhawk

We briefly mentioned the Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver that was heading to SEMA last week when discussing the Mopar lineup set to be shown in Las Vegas. At the time, though, we weren't able to dive too deeply into details. But with SEMA in full swing, we were able to sneak over and grab some snaps of one of the first modified Cherokees we've seen. The Cherokee is, after all, kind of an unknown quantity in the modification department, being so new and featuring such a polarizing design. We were quite interested to see what Mopar could come up with.
Starting with the Trailhawk 4x4 and its 3.2-liter V6, the engine is fitted with a Mopar cold-air intake and a new exhaust, although it's not clear what sort of power boost has resulted. We'll admit, we were hoping Jeep and Mopar would get a bit more aggressive with the Cherokee's suspension (has anyone thrown a few-inch lift on the new Jeep yet?), but there's no mention of upgrades beyond the knobby, off-road tires. Those should do some good when the going gets rough, while rock rails are there to protect the Auburn Pearl paint on the body.
Speaking of that paint, it's complemented by an interesting graphics package in contrasting black and Crush Orange. The cabin sports Katzkin Amaretto leather seats, along with tech-friendly items like a wireless charging system for cellphones and wireless internet.

The 2018 Jeep Wrangler will look a lot like the 2017 Jeep Wrangler

JL Wrangler Forums suggests the next-generation Wrangler will be restyled in an evolutionary way that maintains the off-roader's classic looks yet adds new features. The forum used intelligence from spy photos and leaked images to assemble renderings of the new Wrangler. They show that the front end is still classically Jeep, but with modern updates. The LED headlights and turn signals revealed in FCA drawings are noticeable changes. An interesting touch is just behind the rear bumper, where there appears to be an air dam for aerodynamics. There's still a gap between it and the front fenders to keep the old-school look intact. The grille, windshield, and hood are also more raked for the sake of aerodynamics. At the back, the lights follow the FCA drawings as well, though the reverse lights from those illustrations appear to be absent. The square taillights are also shown on the truck variant, along with the plastic fender flares of the SUV version. Spy photos of the Wrangler pickup have shown a streamlined box with integrated taillights akin to the Ram, but it's likely to be a placeholder until the final design is selected. The sides of both models also feature more squared-off details in the top and door handles, generally with beveled corners for a more modern look. The top is where things get fuzzy. The new model might lose its removable top altogether, in favor of removable panels similar to the Jeep Renegade. JL Wrangler Forums illustrated how this could work in the above image. The roof can be removed in sections, and the rear-most windows can also be taken out. The overall effect is similar to that of a current Wrangler Unlimited. There is a potential drawback to this system, though. All of these hard panels will have to be left somewhere. And unlike the current model, this one wouldn't have a soft-top back-up when the weather turns. It's hard to say for sure if this design will make it to production. FCA has consistently and effectively hidden this part of its Wrangler prototypes since they were first spotted. At this point, we can only speculate on how the top will function. Otherwise, these renderings seem plausible, and we should know how accurate they are when the Wrangler makes its expected debut next year. The new Wrangler will likely have some aluminum body panels, an 8-speed automatic and an available diesel powertrain. For more details and spy photos, check out our post that has assembled everything we know so far about the 2018 Wrangler.

Jeep Wrangler pickup spy photos reveal production truck bed

The last time we saw the Wrangler pickup undergoing testing, it was sporting a strange pre-production bed that looked as though it had been pulled off a Ram 1500. It seems development has progressed since then, because, despite the heavy camouflage, the Wrangler in these spy photos is definitely carrying a production-ready bed. Unlike the earlier test bed, this bed has sides that are the same width as the cab, and the top of the bed matches up with the body line on the cab. The bed is properly boxy and straight-edged like a Wrangler, too. It looks quite good, and actually very similar to the custom AEV Brute. However, unlike the Brute, the traditional plastic wheel arch flares seen below the camo extend farther forward, and the angle of the flares' forward edges match those of the rear doors. The rest of the truck is rather well covered, so there aren't many more details to glean from the photos. There is a very large rear window, which should be good for visibility. Even though the roof is covered, we expect a removable roof of some sort is hiding underneath, since the previous prototype had removable panels like those on the current Wrangler Unlimited. We also expect a turbocharged four-cylinder and a naturally aspirated V6 to be offered as engines on this and other new Wranglers, as well as the possibility of a diesel of some sort. As for when we'll see the Wrangler pickup, we would expect a reveal in early- to mid-2019, with trucks appearing on lots in very late 2019 or early 2020. This is based on a report from The Detroit News that says production will begin in 2019. Related Video: