Each of the Big Three automakers has revealed a new pickup in the last month, and it looks like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Jeep division wants in on the action.
We’ve known about the existence of a pickup version of the Jeep Wrangler JL for awhile, but as these spyshots show, the midsize off-road pickup is inching closer and closer to production.
Based on an even longer version of the JL Wrangler Unlimited chassis, the 2019 Jeep Wrangler pickup (codenamed JT) will likely resurrect the Scrambler name, last used on some versions of the Jeep CJ-8 stretched-wheelbase pickup. The model seen here uses much of the front cab section of the Wrangler Unlimited, though with even more space between the rear wheels and rear doors, it looks as though the truck could be two or three feet longer than even the longest Wrangler.
We’re not sure what powerplants will first arrive under the Scrambler’s hood—the small-but-brawny 2.0L turbocharged I-4 with eTorque mild hybridization seems likely, and some leaked information suggests a 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 is likewise on the way. But at launch, don’t expect the Scrambler to be available with anything but the 3.6L Pentastar V-6, hopefully butched up a bit for pickup duty.
The photo model spied here is riding on Goodyear Wrangler SR-A all-terrain tires, suggesting it’s an on-road–biased “Scrambler Sahara,” though it’s also wearing the Wrangler Rubicon’s wheels. But even with less aggressive rubber, expect the Jeep Scrambler to be the most off-road–ready pickup on the market, with solid front and rear axles, plenty of articulation, and a long family history to live up to. With a potential Scrambler Rubicon on the way to do battle with the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2, hopefully U.S.-bound Ford Ranger Raptor, and legendary Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, the off-road truck market is more vibrant than ever.
We should see a final production version of the Scrambler later this year, possibly at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Plan on seeing the pickup in your local Jeep showroom at the end of the year or in early 2019.
Source: SpiedBilde Photography