When you are gearing up for a new Wrangler release, much of the information can turn into white noise after awhile. Slightly different grille, newly angled windshield, longer hood, Pentastar engine. Same Wrangler body look.
And then you receive a note about something that not only stops the noise, but stomps all over it and causes the whole sound system to get dragged away by a bunch of horses.
Like 368 horses worth.
According to a document submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the Wrangler JL’s non-Pentastar engine – a Hurricane 2.0L Turbo – will clock in at a whopping 368 horsepower.
You read that right. It’s a 3, followed by 68.
Now, the question is – did FCA actually attach the right horsepower number to the engine? Or was it a typo?
JL Wrangler Forums and The Truth About Cars first listed the document, called a 2018 Model Year FCA US MPV/Truck VIN Decoder, that supplied horsepower information to the NHTSA on all FCA models.
Along with that horsepower rating for the 2.0L, FCA also lists the 2018 Wrangler JL’s Pentastar engine at 285hp, which remains unchanged from the previous JK edition. Both engines will be mated to an eight-speed automatic, while the Pentastar will also have a six-speed manual option.
No other engine specs were forthcoming from FCA, nor were any fuel economy numbers.
FCA is listing the 2.0L engine as a turbocharged, gas powered inline 4-cylinder, equipped with a Belt Start Generator Stop/Start system.
So, assuming the horsepower number for that engine is correct, lets put it into perspective a bit. A 2.0L, 368hp engine would make the Wrangler JL the second most powerful four cylinder vehicle on the market, just behind the 375hp 2.0L turbo in the Mercedes-AMG CLA and GLA 45.
This mass-produced Jeep engine would also out perform 2.0L turbocharged engines in the 362-hp Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar, as well as the 350-hp Porsche 718 Boxster S and Cayman S.
All of that sounds impressive, but could this massive horsepower number actually be correct and not a simple typo? Sure. Is it? Well, time will tell. However, Road and Track Friday contacted a source familiar with the 2018 Wrangler who said the 368hp figure for the 2.0L engine is “dead wrong.”
Also, many industry experts have previously speculated this horsepower number will actually fall somewhere between 260-300hp - arguing that the 2.0L engine’s timing would not support the higher horsepower number.
Regarding a possible typo, to be fair, something like that on an official document submitted to a government agency should have been caught rather quickly. And this one was dated September 12, so with no further revisions since then it begs the question; is the horse number then correct?
We reached out to FCA for clarification and will update with any response.
As far as release, Jeep’s redesigned 2018 Wrangler JL was originally scheduled to begin production on 4dr Unlimited models, with Pentastar engines, on November 13. However, dealership ordering systems recently were updated to reflect a new production date of October 16. Following a 90-day Yard Hold on these newly built vehicles, they should reach dealership lots around the middle of January.
FCA also previously listed the 2.0L Hurricane engine with a February 12 production start date for both 2dr and 4dr Wrangler JL vehicles, but it is unclear if this production time frame will also move up.
Jeep’s next generation Wrangler is currently scheduled to debut, sans camouflage, either November 29 or 30 at the Los Angeles Automobile Show.
