Jeep brings back Wrangler SWB
Inspired by positive response to last year’s 2-door Wrangler Rubicon Recon limited-edition, Jeep are bringing a short-wheelbase Wrangler back to the local range permanently.
To be offered in Rubicon spec, the short-wheelbase Wrangler offers obvious advantages over the 4-door Wrangler Unlimited in terms of off-road ability, including a higher breakover angle and lighter weight.
Adding to the 2-door Wrangler’s appeal will be a high level of standard equipment.
“The short-wheel base Jeep Wrangler is a favourite for passionate off-road enthusiasts, and the limited edition Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon attracted huge customer demand when it was introduced last year, resulting in the run being snapped up so quickly,” said Tom Noble, Marketing and Communications Director, Jeep Australia.
“Defining what the iconic Jeep 4x4 is all about, giving the two-door Wrangler a permanent position in the 2021 line-up was a must, a true representation of the fun you can have behind the wheel of a Jeep.”
The Wrangler Rubicon will arrive with what Jeep says is a content refresh, adding as standard selected elements from the optional Rubicon Luxury Package. These include McKinley leather seat trim, heated front seats with adjustable settings, a heated steering wheel and soft-touch trim on the door panels.
Like the rest of the Wrangler range, the 2-door Wrangler Rubicon is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine, matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Wrangler Rubicon runs the Rock-Trac on-demand four-wheel drive system (the better of Jeep’s two 4x4 systems) with a 77.2:1 crawl ratio, 4.10:1 rear axle ratio, electronic sway bar disconnect and Tru-Lok front and rear locking diffs.
Nine colour options include a ‘Gecko’ pearlescent green that will be a Rubicon-exclusive and only available for a limited time.
Other exterior touches include Rubicon bonnet decals, black wheelarch flares, a black three-piece removable Freedom Top, heavy duty rock rails, LED lighting all round and deep ‘sunscreen’ tinting on the side and rear windows.
Convenience and safety tech mirrors that of the Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, including Forward Collision Warning Plus, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Path Detection, Parkview Rear Backup Camera, ParkSense front and rear parking sensors, remote keyless entry and a security alarm.
It’s a similar story inside, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen for the Uconnect infotainment system, satnav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch digital instrument display and 9-speaker Alpine premium audio system all standard.
The Wrangler Rubicon 2-door will be priced from $64,950, placing it in the middle of the MY21 Wrangler range and $5,000 under the Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited 4-door. Extra-cost options mirror those available on the 4-door, including a Premium Package that adds a body-colour Freedom Top and wheelarch flares, as well as a Trail Ready Package that adds a steel front bumper, forward-facing TrailCam camera and 17-inch alloys in black. On the Wrangler Rubicon 2-door, each package costs $2,950.
Due to arrive here later in the year, orders for the Wrangler Rubicon are open through Jeep dealers now, but whether the 2-door will be plated as a 2021 or 2022 model is unclear.
See your Jeep dealer for more details.
