2012 Wrangler Upgrades Engine Performance
The legendary Jeep Wrangler entered 2012’s marketplace bearing its generation’s first significant upgrade – an all new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that pushed out 285hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, as well as an available 5-speed automatic transmission. Both were substantial upgrades over the older 3.8L V6 (205hp) and 4-speed automatic many dubbed as a ‘slushbox’. This new engine, along with stronger lower gear performance, now provided the Wrangler power that many had been asking for since the JK’s inception.
For 2012, Jeep continued its trio of popular models of Sport, Sahara and Rubicon, but also released two special edition vehicles in Wrangler Artic and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. Exterior color choices for this model year included Black Clearcoat, Black Forest Green Pearlcoat, Bright Silver Metallic, Bright White Clearcoat, Cosmos Blue, Crush Orange Clearcoat, Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearlcoat, Dozer Yellow Clearcoat, Flame Red Clearcoat, Gecko Green Pearlcoat, Natural Green Pearlcoat, Sahara Tan, True Blue and Winter Chill. Black remained the interior color.
Wrangler’s Sport (base MSRP $22,045) and Sahara (base MSRP $27,970) both continued to offer the Dana 30 front and Dana 44 rear axles standard, as well as a Command-Trac NV241 part-time, two-speed transfer case that features a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio. Sport editions sit on 16-inch wheels, while Sahara versions are on 18-inch rims. In contrast, Rubicon Wranglers (base MSRP $29,995) utilize heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles and a Rock-Trac NV241 two-speed transfer case with a 4.0:1 low-range gear ratio. The Rubicon also includes electric front and rear locking differentials, disconnecting front sway bar and 32” tires on 17” rims for the ultimate in off-road capability. Maximum payload across the line is 1,000 lbs, and tow rating is 2,000 lbs (2dr) and 3,500 lbs (4dr).
Thanks to the new Pentastar 3.6L engine, the 2012 Wrangler is no longer the rolling brick it was with the older 3.8 engine. The vehicle now could achieve a 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds with its 6-speed manual transmission, and 6.7 seconds under the 5-speed automatic. All 2012 Wranglers come standard with front driver and passenger airbags, with supplemental side-impact airbags an available option. 2012 Wranglers also received standard traction control, electronic stability control, Electronic Roll Mitigation, Trailer-sway Control, and brake traction control.
Also returning for 2012 will be Wrangler’s current round headlamps, seven-slot grille, trapezoid wheel flares, removable doors, a fold-down windshield and innovative removable tops that allow the Wrangler to retain the brand’s iconic appearance and function.
As well equipped as your 2012 Wrangler is from the factory, there is always room for improvement! You can check out all the available 2012 Jeep Wrangler accessories here.
Jeep Wrangler 2012 JK Specifications
Powertrain
| ENGINE | CYLINDERS | HORSEPOWER | TORQUE | FUEL TANK CAPACITY | EPA MILEAGE ESTIMATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L Pentastar | 6 | 285 hp @ 6,400 RPM | 260 lb/ft @ 4,800 RPM | 18.6 Gal. (2dr), 21.6 Gal. (4dr) | 17 City / 19 Hwy |
Drivetrain & Axles
| MODEL | DRIVETRAIN | TRANSFER CASE | FRONT AXLE | REAR AXLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 4x4 | NV231 Command-Trac | DANA 30 (181 mm) | DANA 44 (216 mm) |
| Sahara | 4x4 | NV231 Command-Trac | DANA 30 (181 mm) | DANA 44 (216 mm) |
| Rubicon | 4x4 | NV231 Rock-Trac | DANA 44 (216 mm) | DANA 44 (216 mm) |
Weight Capacity
| MODEL | MAXIMUM TOWING | MAXIMUM PAYLOAD | CURB WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 2000 lbs (2 Door), 3500 lbs (4 Door) | 1000 lbs (2 Door), 1142 lbs (4 Door) | 3879 lbs (2 Door), 4211 lbs (4 Door) |
| Sahara | 2000 lbs (2 Door), 3500 lbs (4 Door) | 880 lbs (2 Door), 1067 lbs (4 Door) | 4055 lbs (2 Door), 4295 lbs (4 Door) |
| Rubicon | 2000 lbs (2 Door), 3500 lbs (4 Door) | 892 lbs (2 Door), 1301 lbs (4 Door) | 4132 lbs (2 Door), 4341 lbs (4 Door) |
Transmission
| MODEL | TRANSMISSION | SPLINE |
|---|---|---|
| W5A580 | 5-speed Automatic | 23 OUT |
| NSG370 | 6-speed Manual | 10 IN / 23 OUT |
Exterior Dimensions
| MODEL | LENGTH | BODY WIDTH | BODY HEIGHT | WHEELBASE | GROUND CLEARANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 163.8" (2 door), 173.4" (4 door) | 73.7" (2 door), 73.9" (4 door) | 70.9" | 95.4" (2 door), 116" (4 door) | 8.8" (2 door), 8.7" (4 door) |
| Sahara | 163.8" (2 door), 173.4" (4 door) | 73.7" (2 door), 73.9" (4 door) | 72.2" (2 door), 72.3" (4 door) | 95.4" (2 door), 116" (4 door) | 10.1" (2 door), 10.2" (4 door) |
| Rubicon | 163.8" (2 door), 173.4" (4 door) | 73.7" (2 door), 73.9" (4 door) | 72.4" (2 door), 72.2" (4 door) | 95.4" (2 door), 116" (4 door) | 10.2" (2 door), 10.1" (4 door) |
Exterior Paint Color Codes
| MODEL | COLOR CODE |
|---|---|
| Cosmo Blue | PB4 |
| Winter Chill | PBA |
| Sahara Tan | PFD |
| Gecko | PFM |
| Black Forest Green | PGZ |
| Crush | PL4 |
| Flame Red | PR4 |
| Deep Molten Red | PR8 |
| Deep Cherry Red | PRP |
| Bright Silver | PS2 |
| Bright White | PW7 |
| Black | PX8 |
| Dozer | PY5 |
