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New 2018 Jeep Wrangler is definitely a Jeep Wrangler

Jeep is hiding details on the new Wrangler about as well as a colander holds water. The good people over at JL Wrangler Forums have managed to get ahold of some new images of the next-gen Wrangler. Surprise! It looks exactly how we expected it to look. These new images give us our best view yet, showing a number of details that we couldn't even glean from spy photos. Enthusiasts can put down their pitchforks. The Wrangler can still go topless. The two images - one of the front and one of the rear - show off what appears to be a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. The second photo is notable since it finally confirms that the doors and roof are fully removable, a feature that some feared would disappear with the new model. It looks like a fixed roll cage will help strengthen the Wrangler and protect occupants in the case of an accident. Hinges up front mean the windshield is still able to fold forward as well. The rest of the Wrangler, though all new, just updates the Jeep's timeless design. Up front, the grille is canted rearward at the top, the fog lights move to the ends of the bumper, the turn signals move to the front of the fender, and the hood latches are pushed forward a bit. The windshield appears to be a bit more upright and less curved than the current model. Around the side, we can see new vents behind the rear fenders. The door hinges looks smaller, and the mirrors have integrated side marker lights. There is a new line that cuts below the windows, flowing to the rear of the Wrangler. At the back, we can see that the tail lights now wrap around to the Wrangler's side, though they still look like the square lights we've always had. There is no sight of a rear-mounted spare, but plenty of spy shots have shown that it should carry over, new backup camera and all. It also looks like the new mounting points for the roll cage should provide a bit more cargo space. Look for more news, images, and renders as the Wrangler's development moves along. Related Video:

For his last act, Marchionne will outline an EV/hybrid roadmap this week

MILAN/LONDON — Fiat Chrysler (FCA) boss Sergio Marchionne is expected to outline new plans for electric and hybrid cars in a strategy presentation on Friday, aiming to ensure the world's seventh-largest carmaker remains in the race in the absence of a merger. The 65-year-old will present FCA's strategy to 2022, his final contribution to the company he turned around and multiplied in value through 14 years of canny dealmaking. After failing to secure a tie-up he said was necessary to manage the costs of producing cleaner vehicles, Marchionne needs to show the group can keep churning out profits on its own, even as emissions rules tighten, SUV competition intensifies and worries around his succession abound. Marchionne had long refused to jump on the electrification bandwagon, saying he would only do so if selling battery-powered cars could be done at a profit. He even urged customers not to buy FCA's Fiat 500e, its only battery-powered model, because he was losing money on each sold. But Tesla's success and the need to comply with tougher emissions rules have forced Marchionne to commit to what he calls "most painful" spending. "FCA is way behind rivals in terms of hybrid and electric vehicles and they need to hit the accelerator to convince investors they can close that gap," said Andrea Pastorelli, a fund manager at 8a+ Investimenti. Germany's Volkswagen, Daimler, BMW and U.S. rivals GM and Ford have committed to spending billions of euros each in coming years to try produce profitable cars powered by cleaner fuels. FCA needs to present a clear roadmap, just like Volvo Cars, which ditched diesel from its best-selling XC60 SUV, launched a new electric brand and pledged to shift all brands to hybrid by 2019, a banking source close to FCA said, noting: "The tech divide determines winners and losers in the industry." Marchionne has already said half of the wider FCA fleet will incorporate some elements of electrification by 2022, while luxury marque Maserati will spearhead FCA's electrification drive by making all new models due after 2019 electric. But its plans remain vaguer and less advanced than most big rivals and some investors wonder about the capital required to make vehicles compliant, and what share of spending can go to electrification given FCA's numerous demands.

Jeep's 3-row crossover SUV caught inside and out

Jeep is continuing to test its upcoming three-row full-size crossover, as evidenced by new spy photos shown above. Though the exterior doesn't reveal much new, we do get our first look at the inside of the new SUV. Unfortunately, the interior is well-camouflaged. We can tell it has the same corporate steering wheel and shifter as found on other Jeeps such as the Grand Cherokee. It also has highly-stylized gauges and needles, with an LCD display between the two main dials. The gauge cluster is interesting with a dial layout that is completely different from the two-row Grand Cherokee and the three-row Dodge Durango, indicating it doesn't borrow much on the inside from those vehicles. The tachometer is clearly visible, too, and it shows a redline of about 5,500 rpm. That redline corresponds with the turbocharged four-cylinder found in the Wrangler, Cherokee, and, in single-overhead-cam form, the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio. So it seems this big Jeep may have that four-cylinder engine, probably in the twin-cam Jeep iteration. This would also match previous reports, but we're sure if there will be other engine options. Based on leaked images of the SUV, it bears a passing resemblance to the Jeep Yuntu concept that was shown in China in April 2017. Those leaked images also reveal the name "Grand Commander." Many of the leaks and information about the big Jeep have been related to China, but with automakers such as Subaru and Volkswagen expanding into large three-row SUVs, we wouldn't be surprised if the big Jeep comes here, too. We could also see it carrying the old Grand Wagoneer name. Related Video: