Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Breaks Cover at NYIAS

Stretching the Wranglers Practicality

The Jeep Wrangler is a real one of a kind SUV; its one of just a handful of vehicles that is entirely engineered around a single purpose - taking people to the far corners of the earth. For something that started out life as a military machine, the Wrangler has taken off with the general public, becoming one of the definitive automotive icons of the outdoorsy, active lifestyle. In 2005 (actual initial model-year was 2004.5), Jeep introduced a Wrangler with a longer wheelbase called the Unlimited, taking all the principles of the Jeep and stretching them to new lengths. Of course, it too was a hit, offering greater practicality, greater comfort and almost the same level of off-road capability as

Proud, strong... and with four doors a whole lot more practical. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

the regular wheelbase Wrangler. The latest Unlimited, which debuts at this years NYIAS, capitalizes on the all-new 2007 Wrangler by offering greater access through four doors.

Even though its a four-door, the new Unlimited is still unmistakably a Wrangler. It still has exposed hinges on all apertures (rear doors included), a fold-down front windshield, and buyers still have a choice between full-frame doors (as pictured) or half-frame doors with zip-up plastic windows.

Freedom Top acts as a hardtop, sunroof and T-Top all rolled into one. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

In terms of roofing options, the Wrangler Unlimited comes standard with a soft top roof with the Sunrider sunroof function. For those wanting increased practicality, Jeep will also offer the new Freedom Top modular hardtop roof that consists of three snap-on segments. With the Freedom Top option, buyers can turn the Unlimited from a closed to an open roof vehicle in just thirty seconds, storing the panels on board.

In order to fit an extra set of doors into the Wranglers frame, the chassis was stretched by a massive 20.6 inches in its wheelbase, for a grand

With great length comes great rigidity: not usually the case but with the new Wrangler Jeep has strengthened the frame by 100 percent. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

total of 116.0 inches between its live front and rear axles. Because Jeep knows that its customers are some of the most demanding people on the face of the planet, theyve taken the necessary precautions in finishing this one properly. Despite being much longer than the original Unlimited, the new frame is 100 percent more rigid, and the body is 50 percent more rigid. The new Wrangler is also 20 percent quieter, thanks to better road noise isolation. Interestingly, the previous-generation Wrangler Unlimited was also sought after by some trail-riders who preferred its longer wheelbase for off-road use. Normally the shorter regular wheelbase is the

Utilitarian design comes packed with tons of gear. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

ride of choice by those in the know, the old CJ5 being highly desirable by diehard 4x4 enthusiasts, but it seems theres a select group that like to go long.

For the hardcore offroader who now has kids and all that goes with them to haul along on the weekend adventure, the Unlimited is really the way to go. For the better part its just as capable as the standard, regular-wheelbase Wrangler when the going gets tough, thanks to a best-in-class approach angle of 44.4 degrees, a breakover angle of 20.8 degrees, and a 40.5 degree departure angle, and when equipped with the optional, electronic-disconnecting front stabilizer bar, it is able to offer 28-percent greater wheel travel for unparalleled wheel articulation. The top of the line Rubicon model also features the RockTrack two-speed

Wrangler now has stability control and side airbags. Wow! (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

transfer case with 4.0:1 low-gear, locking front and rear Dana 44 axles, and big, beefy 32-inch BF Goodyear tires.
While structural integrity is a major component in safety, the Wrangler offers many new passive and active features, making it the safest to date. All Wranglers feature dual-stage front airbags and ABS brakes with brake assist as standard, but the real leap forward comes from the addition of optional seat-mounted side airbags, and a three-mode stability control program with on, off and partial-on settings, for a variety of different settings - the latter item being standard, by the way. The stability control system is also linked to DaimlerChryslers Electronic Roll Mitigation system that uses the engine and brakes to intervene if a rollover is detected by monitoring speed and steering angle.

Even though the Unlimited grants rear-passengers with more

Longer wheelbase and body, plus clever storage solutions cure cargo-related woes of regular Wrangler. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

space and legroom, cargo space hasnt suffered at all; in fact, because the vehicle on the whole is much larger, luggage space been improved significantly. With the rear 60/40 split folding rear seats upright, owners have an entire 46.3 cubic feet at their disposal, and when theyre folded, it nearly doubles to 83 cu-ft with a completely flat floor. That means that with the Unlimited you can carry more of your stuff into the wilderness than almost any other heavy-duty off-roader - XTerra, H3, and FJ Cruiser included! Because security has always been an issue with the soft-top Wrangler, Jeep added an under-floor locking storage space, a 32-percent bigger locking glove box and a lockable console armrest.

The Wrangler Unlimited will be offered with a sole powerplant; the new 3.8-liter OHV V6 engine that makes 205 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Not only is this replacement engine more powerful than the old 4.0-liter inline-six, its more efficient to boot. Available

Wrangler also gets a new 3.8-litre V6 engine for more rock-crawling power. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

with a six-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic, the Unlimited has the ability to tow 3,500 lbs total. While this is good news, many off-road enthusiasts will long for European-bound models, which, for the first time will receive a CRD turbodiesel powerplant, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Its true that the body of the new Wrangler Unlimited is a bit shocking, given that in its entire history Jeep has never given a production version of this authentic rock crawler four doors (a concept dubbed Dakar was an instant hit when it debuted in 1997, but never saw the light of day. But you can see it in the gallery - Ed.), but theres plenty of indication that the move will help pull in SUV buyers who might never have considered a Wrangler otherwise. At heart, this is still a Wrangler in every sense; in its character and in its details. Therefore the cause of the fun-loving, go-anywhere, do-anything 2004.5 to 2006 Wrangler Unlimited can only be helped by the decision to make its rear seats more accessible via four doors. Now all thats left to do is bring that diesel here!

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