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Is a Jeep Renegade Hybrid coming soon?

We've known that Jeep is working on an updated Renegade. We've seen prototypes with updated front and rear fascias and with updated interiors. But it seems that the next Renegade will have more than just cosmetic updates. One of our spy photographers caught Jeep testing a Renegade Trailhawk that looks like a normal current one, but it has an electric shock warning sign in the window. Can we therefore assume it'll be a Jeep Renegade Hybrid? This sign seems to indicate that the Renegade will offer some sort of electrified powertrain. And its use on a lifted, off-road oriented Renegade Trailhawk seems to indicate that it'll be available throughout the trim level lineup. The question is, will it really be a hybrid or something like the Wrangler four-cylinder that features a 48-volt electrical system and a starter/generator for mild electrical assistance? This system is becoming more and more common as a way for car companies to eke out a few more mpg as well as adding some performance gains. Then again, we never saw this sign in any prototype Wranglers, so it could be possible this Renegade is using a more traditional hybrid system like you would find in a Prius or Ioniq. FCA certainly has experience with full hybrids, as evidenced by the Pacifica PHEV. The Wrangler will be getting a PHEV iteration, too. We probably don't have long to find out what sort of electrification the Renegade will receive. The visually updated prototypes we've seen aren't radically changed, so it likely won't take long to finish testing and release them. We're expecting to see the little SUV revealed by the end of the year, and probably on lots early in 2019. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery Jeep Renegade hybrid spy shots Image Credit: KGP Photography Green Spy Photos Jeep Crossover SUV Economy Cars Hybrid Off-Road Vehicles jeep renegade

2018 Jeep Wrangler spied looking more aerodynamic

We're getting an early look at one of the most anticipated vehicles from Jeep: the next-generation Wrangler. We expect it to arrive for the 2018 model year and be aluminum-intensive for purposes of weight savings, which will improve fuel economy. The platform is expected to remain a traditional body-on-frame setup, and manufacturing will remain at its longtime Toledo, OH, factory. The design appears true to the Wrangler's heritage, though the windshield is raked back more to make it less brick-like when cutting through the air. From some angles, the front end appears longer if you squint properly, and the front fenders seem wider and squatter than the current model's. There's probably more in store for the new Jeep, but this prototype is under such heavy cladding it's impossible to tell what. Kudos to the folks who make those vinyl coverings. Look for the powertrain to again include a Pentastar V6, this time paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission – again for fuel economy, but also to improve the powertrain's flexibility. A V6 turbo diesel and a mild- hybrid variant are also expected. Even with all these departures from the long-running Wrangler playbook, the off-road capability will remain the vehicle's calling card. The current Wrangler will also be built concurrently with this next-gen model for a time in Toledo, Automotive News reports, giving enthusiasts and traditionalists the best of both worlds. Jeep will also add a pickup based on the Wrangler's underpinnings to its portfolio in a move to capitalize on the resurgence of smaller trucks. The Wrangler is both the halo and centerpiece of the remade Jeep lineup, which quickly is becoming one of Fiat Chrysler's pillars for sales and prestige around the world. Jeep hopes to sell 2 million vehicles globally by 2018. Related Video:

NYIAS: 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, ooh-rah!

I was very happy to see Jeep offer a stand-alone, off-road-oriented model to the Grand Cherokee for 2017, the Trailhawk. This is not the first time for a GC Trailhawk, as they offered a limited run a few years ago to see if there might be a market for such a model. Looks like there is, as there are Trailhawk models for the Cherokee and Renegade, and now the Grand Cherokee as well. Just to be clear here, Jeep has always offered off-road ready packages (tow hooks, one inch more ground clearance, skid plates) for the Grand Cherokee and Cherokee in the past. They were called "Up Country," or more recently, "Off Road" groups. That was all well and good but, at least where I was living, almost impossible to find. Rarely would you ever find one so-equipped on dealer lots. If you ever saw one on the street, most likely the owner special-ordered it. Having said that, now that I'm living by the beach, I am seeing a few Up Country-equipped older Jeeps; not many, but more than I've seen in the past. As to the new Cherokee and Renegade Trailhawks; I'm seeing a bunch of them. It took a little while for the public to discover this trim level, but now I see them everywhere. Must be the orange tow hooks? Speaking of orange tow hooks... I'm not a big fan of them. Tow hooks for sure, orange ones, not so much; same with the matte black hood decal, not a fan. If I were ever to get a Trailhawk, it would be either dark gray or black, as that effectively hides the hood decal. So Jeep has packaged the Trailhawk as a premium model within each respective model line. While I fully understand the thinking, I do wish Jeep would also offer an entry-level off-road model, one with all the Trailhawk off-road goodness, but minus all the visual and luxury fluff. A lot of off-roaders don't want to pay, or can't pay top dollar for stuff they don't want or need. As to a name, how about "Trail," that being Trailhawk minus the "hawk;" or perhaps "Pioneer?" That's an old name from Cherokees of yesteryear. Back then the Pioneer was positioned as a mid-low level model. I think either name would work well for a back-to-basics-off-road-focused Cherokee and/or Renegade. Content it like the current entry-level Sport or mid-level Latitude models, but include the Trailhawk's off-road prowess. The Grand Cherokee should probably pass on that suggestion, as it would run counter to that model's high-end image. Related Video: Image Credit: Jeep Jeep open road