cars news 10: Jeep Wrangler Pickup Spotted for the First Time

It’s finally here. Our spy photographers have spotted the new Jeep Wrangler pickup, wearing some serious off-road tires.

The prototype sports the same four-door body style as the Wrangler Unlimited. Jeep has done a pretty good job concealing the pickup with camouflage, but we can tell the grille looks different than other models in the lineup. The automaker has separated the vertical slats into two sections, reinterpreting the tried-and-true Jeep front fascia. Only time will tell if the production version ends up adopting this look.

In these photos, the pickup looks a bit awkward, likely because of the positioning of the camo. We doubt this is the final design anyway. The tires will likely be replaced, and the body should end up looking more cohesive. The placement of the truck’s rear wheels in the wheel well signal we aren’t looking at the final version of the bed.

Jeep hasn’t offered a pickup truck since 1992 when it ended production of the Comanche. Many times since then, Jeep has hinted it wants to get back into the pickup game. The Gladiator concept whetted our appetites in 2005, followed by the J-12 concept that hit the 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari. Last year, Fiat Chrysler toyed around with the idea of a Jeep-based pickup, but noted it wasn’t a top priority at that time. Finally, at this year’s Detroit auto show, Jeep CEO Mike Manley confirmed a Jeep Wrangler pickup is on the way.

The Jeep pickup will likely enter production sometime in the second half of 2018, and it will be based on the next-generation Wrangler SUV. All models in the new Wrangler lineup will ride on a new chassis that features lightweight materials, including a touch of aluminum. Expect the Wrangler to offer multiple engine options, including a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, 3.6-liter V-6, and a turbodiesel. Rumor has it Jeep may also bring out a plug-in hybrid version.

When it goes on sale, the Jeep Wrangler pickup will compete with the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Honda Ridgeline. We hear it will go into production in the third or fourth quarter of 2018, likely arriving as a 2019 model.

Photo Source: Chris Doane Automotive