by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Personal choice. Freedom. Writing your own story.
As the Jeep brand works its way out of a disappointing 2024 sales year, these talking points have now become ingrained into the way it plans to attack 2025 and beyond.
Already, the automaker has decreased surplus showroom inventory, addressed enthusiast concerns and made some powertrain and interior refinements throughout its vehicle stable.
And now, with just a few days remaining until the 59th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, the brand has made its biggest forward push in years.
Jeep on Tuesday announced it will produce three new Wranglers for the 2028 model year—a fully electrified Wrangler, based on the popular EJS Magneto concept, as well as a high output 3.0-liter Hurricane I-6 and 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 Hellcat Wrangler.
”Our brand has always been about building vehicles that make a bold statement,” Jeep said in a press release. “These never-seen-before Wrangler models will definitely embody that philosophy and give our amazing and loyal fans a choice in what they drive no matter what they want to achieve.”
As far as electrification, Jeep currently offers a hybrid 4xe Wrangler that has been the top-selling PHEV for the past two years. And Jeep executives have long been on record that there will be at least one all-electric model in each of its vehicle lineups by 2030.
So a fully electric Wrangler should not come as a surprise to Jeep enthusiasts.
After all, the automaker brought a fully electric Magneto Wrangler concept to EJS in 2021, which featured 285 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque wrapped up in an 800-volt four-pack of lithium-ion batteries.
Jeep then refined that model for 2022 as a 2.0 edition, which ramped up power to 625 horsepower and a stunning 850 lb-ft of torque, along with an additional 12 inches to the wheelbase and other refinements like Dynatrac ProRock 60 front and 80 rear axles, 40-inch tires, 5.38:1 gearing and a 0-60 time of two seconds.
For the 2023 EJS, Magneto 3.0 featured many of the same things as 2.0, but a torque increase to 900 lb-ft, as well as a 20 percent range increase and selectable power settings: Standard, giving 285 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, and Maximum, unleashing 650 horsepower and that 900 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, an AccuAir suspension allowed on-the-fly lift adjustments to the Jeep’s height.
This new electrified Wrangler scheduled for 2028, dubbed EJ-4B, will be the fourth generation of that platform, Jeep said, and is set to offer 625 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque with up to a 425-mile range on the electrified motor. Jeep did not provide any additional specifics on the vehicle’s motor or batteries in its press release, nor did it list what other refinements the Wrangler would have to accommodate all that power.
“Over the years, we’ve seen overwhelming enthusiasm for all three Magneto concepts,” Jeep said. “We knew pretty much right from the start that it was time to bring full electrification to the Wrangler as it will provide enormous horsepower, torque and performance that no other Wrangler has seen to date, and we look forward to sharing more about this fantastic vehicle in the coming year.”
The other two 2028 Wrangler offerings move away from the electrified realm, but still provide just as powerful an option for those who love gas engines with their growling performance.
Jeep said the first will feature a Hurricane I-6 High Output 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that will be similar to what is currently in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. It will offer more fuel economy than the recent Wrangler 392 6.2-liter V-8, as well as more horsepower and torque. According to Jeep, this edition will see 525 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque and will be mated with a higher-performance eight-speed transmission.
The other model, according to Jeep, will be the most powerful Wrangler ever produced and is set to contain a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 Hellcat engine—something currently in the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. This beefy powerplant will be specially tuned, per Jeep, to deliver 725 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, and Jeep expects this Wrangler to feature a 0-60 time at 3.5 seconds.
"Jeep is putting performance options in the hands of its customers,” the brand said. “Whether it is the roar of a Hellcat engine or the quiet sheer power of electrification, Jeep enthusiasts will soon have their choice of dynamic, capable and compelling vehicles that will redefine the on- and off-road experience.”
While Jeep did not provide any other details about these future production models, expect all to offer significant driveline, gearing, hood and steering component modifications to contain all this extra power.
Additionally, you should probably never expect it to happen, at least not like this, because, after all, it is April Fools Day.
Happy April Fools Day.
