by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
Jeep’s newest Wrangler edition certainly has its share of numbers attached to the vehicle. There are a few 470’s, a 392, one 6.4, as well as a 4.5.
And now add in one more — $74,995.
Jeep Wednesday announced its most powerful Wrangler ever, the 392, will hit showrooms in late Spring as a nearly fully-loaded Rubicon Launch Edition set to start at $74,995. That number easily puts this Wrangler as the most expensive one ever to reach production status.
"Our Jeep enthusiasts asked us for a Wrangler powered by a V-8 engine, and we listened. The result is the quickest and most powerful Jeep Wrangler yet, loaded with standard off-road performance features that make this Jeep Wrangler incredibly capable of covering the most rugged terrain," said Jim Morrison, Jeep's North American Vice President. "This new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 broadens the meaning of Jeep Wrangler 4x4 capability and gives off-road enthusiasts something they can't get anywhere else backed by the factory: V-8 performance and a 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds."
The Launch Edition format is the same method Jeep used when it first unveiled its Gladiator truck series a few years ago, and essentially means nearly everything in the brand’s options arsenal is baked into the vehicle. For Gladiator, Jeep made 4,190 Launch Edition vehicles that sold out nearly as fast as they became available. With its much higher price tag though, the Wrangler 392 may be a tougher sell.
But not impossible.
That’s because the 392 provides an enormous amount of power that enthusiasts have been begging Jeep to unveil for decades in a production Wrangler. In fact, the vehicle’s moniker is a nod to its 392 cubic-inch 6.4L V-8 Hemi engine which generates 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. According to Jeep, the Wrangler 392 will go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds — making it the quickest and most powerful Wrangler the brand has ever produced. It is the same V8 currently found in Dodge’s Charger and Challenger series.
The last Jeep to offer a production V-8 engine was the 1981 CJ7, which featured a 304 cubic-inch set up that pushed out 125 horsepower and 216 lb-ft of torque.
"That’s what our customers want. That’s what the Wrangler fans have been asking for over and over probably as much as they want bigger tires on these vehicles," said Micky Bly, head of global propulsion for Stellantis.
Besides its sheer power, the Wrangler 392 Launch Edition also features a host of other features to make it just as capable off-road as on the pavement.
To handle all that extra horsepower and torque, designers modified the vehicle’s frame and introduced thicker axle tubes for wider heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles. The 392 Launch Edition also arrives with Mopar’s 2-inch suspension lift and specially-tuned high-performance Fox aluminum monotube shocks to “maximize handling and comfort," according to Jeep.
Heavy-duty brakes, beefier front control arms and cast-iron steering knuckles are also engineered to accommodate for the 392’s exceptional power.
Designers gave the 392 a specially-designed dual exhaust system linked to a button on the interior center stack that toggles between two modes, quiet and loud, so owners can tone down that hearty V8 growl when driving in town or neighborhoods. Additionally, the exhaust opens valves automatically under higher engine loads to reduce back pressure.
The Wrangler 392 Rubicon Launch Edition will utilize the same 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission offered in the Wrangler Rubicon diesel edition, with the ability to shift using paddles located on the steering wheel, and it will hook up to a Selec-trac full-time four-wheel-drive system featuring automatic, high, neutral and low modes.
Up front, the Wrangler 392 has a giant scoop embedded into the hood to help feed air into the intake, while specially placed drains keep water from seeping into that intake manifold. Additionally, Jeep’s newly designed Hydro-Glide air intake system can handle 15 gallons of water per minute over the hood, allowing the 392 to traverse water up to 32.5 inches deep. A secondary air intake path means the SUV can still hit top speed if the functional hood scoop is covered in snow or mud, FCA said.
Overall, the Wrangler 392's approach angle is 44.5 degrees, the departure angle is 37.5 degrees, breakover angle is 22.6 degrees and ground clearance sits at 10.3 inches, which isn’t much of a difference over the standard Wrangler Rubicon even with that 2-inch lift. Per Jeep, the 392’s specialized exhaust system and skid plate are what limit this vehicle’s total clearance relative to the standard Rubicon.
Inside, the 392 offers leather seating with bronze stitching to match the exterior's bronze accents, and it comes standard with an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Jeep's Off-Road Pages, which display information including pitch and roll, GPS coordinates, and power distribution.
Other features on this vehicle include an off-road plus mode which lets the rear axle lock at high speeds in four-wheel-high, similar to what the Gladiator Mojave offers, as well as bronze 392 badging on the leather interior, bronze exterior emblems, bronze-painted tow hooks and larger Gladiator-type grille openings for additional cooling.
A set of 17-inch beadlock-capable bronze-coated wheels will arrive standard on the 392 Launch Edition, which are wrapped with standard 33-inch BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires. Falken Wildpeak mud terrain tires are an option for those who want something a little more off-road centric.
While the Wrangler 392 Rubicon Launch Edition comes with nearly everything the line has to offer, Jeep said those looking to purchase the vehicle do have some other available options. The brand said its Dual Door Group, Dual Top Group, Sky One-Touch Power Top and Integrated Off-road Camera and Trailer Tow Package can be added for those looking to further customize the Launch Edition.
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Launch Edition will arrive in dealerships later this spring, and will come only in the four-door version. Expect other less expensive trim levels to show up later this year.
