JK review - Aussie Source

[DionM]

Couldn't see if this had been posted already ...

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,20693274-5003140,00.html

Highlights:

The Wrangler will be priced from about $32,000, with Wrangler Unlimited to be priced from under $40,000.

It would have made more sense in the past to talk first about a Wrangler's ability off the road, but the new Wrangler is such a revelation on the road that it's the logical place to start.

That's not to say the Wrangler is very nimble on the bitumen, but now it's at least as comfortable and competent on the road as most other light truck-based four-wheel-drives.

The Wrangler is bigger than its TJ predecessor. The two-door is 133mm wider and 340mm longer than the old model, while the Unlimited adds another 528mm.



Engine: 3.8-litre V6 petrol, 146kW@5000rpm, 315Nm@4000rpm; 2.8-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 130kW@3800rpm, 410Nm@2000-2600rpm

Transmission: 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic (petrol), 5-speed automatic (diesel)

Available: April 2007

[Bomber]

This article was on back page and inside last Friday's Herald Sun Cars Guide - great press and some good photos, including one with no snorkel and the river all but up to the top of the bonnet with no bow wave around the side of the car :rolleyes: - still Joe Public won't analyse the photo that clearly I guess.

[Tommo]

Why so gutless a V6? is it a technology problem? How come the new yota can get 200kw out of their little V6?

[Jeff]

Probably cause it has been tweaked to near operational capacity. I'd prefer an engine that you can be mean to without it blowing up.

[stu]

200kw....pfffft........, id prefer the 410Nm at a low 2000-2600rpm.

[Laz]

I'd prefer an engine showing signs of having been designed in the last 20 years... specific power outputs in the 40 - 50 KW/Litre range are so 80's - means you'll get LAME fuel economy to match the Lame specific power output.

3.8 L should be pumping out at LEAST 60 KW/Litre - then you'd see some decent economy out of the petrol motor and a mass of torque to go with it, any new car using more than 12L/100 highway combined needs some serious help. At least the 2.8 L Common rail is a euro 3/4 (not sure which) grade motor.

[Tommo]

I'd take the deisel any day...

[salesguy]

New Panther 2.8 is Euro 4 compliant, same as M-B 3.0 V6 in the WH/XH.

The 3.8 petrol V6 has come in for some criticism for it's apparently low outputs, but Jeep had the opportunity to go with the new 200+kW 4.0 as used in the Pacifica. Perhaps driveability and cost issues favoured the 3.8.

NB : Don't forget that Toyota ( and others including Hyundai ) have been stung several times over the last couple of years for stating 'ambitious' power outputs.

[Jeff]

Sounds like we may just need to gear deeper than a TJ...

[salesguy]

The 410nm is nice, but at 2000-2600 is abit revvy for a diesel which should be for offroad/work use? I mean, they already have the petrol for onroad.
I don't like those diesels that rev like petrols, defeats the purpose almost...
Just my opinion =)
Luke.

You need to drive one of these modern diesels, Luke. I admit, I used to hate them. But, my diesel experiences were based on LC 80s, MQs and Isuzus. These common-rail, VGT turbo'd things still pull hard but they don't run out of puff at 2500 either. They are a revelation and make most petrol engines seems pointless.





Unless they give us a Hemi, of course !