Price: TBD. Expect starting prices of $36,000 for the two-door and $40,000 for the four-door.
Competitors: Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Rover LR4 (though this Wrangler really has no direct competitors).
Powertrains: 3.6-liter V6, 285 hp, 260 lb-ft; five-speed auto, six-speed manual; 4WD
EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 17/20?21
What's New: The 10th Anniversary Edition of the Wrangler Rubicon adds a unique red leather interior and a few off-road features that Jeep fanatics will appreciate. Longer springs add a half-inch of extra ground clearance over that of the regular Rubicon, while BF Goodrich KM2 off-road tires make the most of available traction. The standard rock rails guard the door sills from damage; for durability, they're coated in the same kind of material as a pickup truck bed liner. The front bumper is designed to accommodate a Warn winch and has removable end caps. Both the front and rear Dana 44 axles feature electric locking. A dash plaque spec list reminds drivers of all the cool hardware.
The racy-looking aluminum wheels look like they would be vulnerable to scrapes from rocks, but the tires seem to protect them. During our drive, some ugly brushes against rocks left no marks on the wheels.
Tech Tidbit: The Rubicon includes an electric disconnect for the sway bars. This saves drivers from the common trail hassle of climbing underneath to unbolt the bars at the trailhead and then again at the end to reconnect them.
Driving Character: Implacable. This thing won't be stopped. It is easy to see why Jeep drivers can suffer occasional blasts of hubris?the Wrangler Rubicon makes the driver feel like it can do anything. Impressively, it does this without inflicting a punishing ride on paved roads and without gulping appalling volumes of unleaded.
The steering, which on earlier Jeeps was optimized for off-road steering leverage and could seem connected to the tires only remotely, now is surprisingly responsive and communicative about the on-road situation.
Favorite Detail: The coolest thing on the Wrangler Rubicon is the removable front-bumper end caps. Take 'em off and the front tires can attack and overcome obstacles without restriction. Put 'em back on and you are street-legal again in minutes. Cheap, simple, and effective.
Driver's Grievance: Your local community college could offer a class teaching Jeep owners how to remove and install the Wrangler's folding soft-top and removable doors. Jeep marketing director Jim Morrison demonstrated his practiced ability to zip the plastic windows back into place; he said he and his son can install the whole top and the doors in 8 minutes. It would take most people twice as long.
The Bottom Line: There really is nothing else like the Wrangler Rubicon. In the past that observation cut both ways, as Wranglers were as punishing on the road as they were capable off it. But the most recent generations have become? Well, civilized might not be the right word, but these trail rides are now unexpectedly normal on pavement.
With this 10th anniversary Rubicon, you can drive a pure off-roader on the asphalt with a minimum of pain. The tires don't sing at highway speeds. The steering responds to input. The suspension doesn't bound over bumps. It is amazing how livable a rock-buster can be.
James Holmes Minka Kelly sex tape Colorado shooting Colorado shooting victims aurora Angie Everhart tom hardy
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.