Monday, September 19, 2011

Jeep Wrangler Pick Up Still In The Mix

There is still life in the possibility of a future Wrangler Pickup But......
Automotive News are reporting that the long awaited Wrangler Pickup is still a few years away.
"The wait for a Jeep Wrangler-based pickup truck isn’t quite over: Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley said that while such a vehicle is still a high priority, we won’t see one on the road for at least four years – if at all. Manley told Automotive News that a Jeep pickup wouldn’t be added until the Wrangler is refreshed in 2015 or 2016.
“It is too late in Wrangler’s product cycle to add a pickup. The 2015 or 2016 time frame makes more sense,” Manley told Automotive News. Manley also added that no final decision has been made to produce the Jeep truck.
Recently, Jeep has teased enthusiasts with a slew of concept vehicles like the Gladiator and Wrangler JT, as well as the JK-8 conversion kit. The $5499 JK-8 kit allows owners of a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to convert the four-door SUV into a pickup truck with just a sawzall and angle-grinder.
The company knows that demand for a Jeep pickup is high; the JK-8 kit has already sold about 300 copies. And the compact Jeep-based pickup could be sold in southeast Asia and Europe, helping bolster Chrysler’s bottom line in those international markets where demand for small pickups is strong.
When the refreshed Jeep Wrangler debuts in 2015 or 2016, it seems quite likely that a pickup variant will be launched. Manley, however, says that no concrete decision on such a vehicle has yet been made.
“I am working closely with the product team because I think a pickup would be a great addition and a natural extension of the product line,” Manley told AN."

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