Off-roading is going to get more exciting with the launch of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, spied on Indian roads ahead of its arrival.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) made the right ripples when they launched the Jeep brand starting with two models, the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, in India back in 2016. Now with the SUV segment getting more competitive by the day, Jeep weren’t going to sit back any longer. According to reports, Jeep are going expand their Wrangler line-up by the third quarter of 2019 by introducing more Wrangler versions, including the iconic “Rubicon”. The basis of this speculation about the expansion gets even stronger with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon being spied by enthusiast Prathamesh Giramkar while the car was being tested by the Automotive Research Institute of India (ARAI) ahead of its impending arrival.
In the video shot by Prathamesh, the car being tested is the three-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon variant. While the boxy design of the Wrangler series is retained in the Rubicon variant, the car gets a fresher appeal due to its LED headlamps and tail-lamps, alloy wheels and reworked bumpers. Furthermore, the SUV features “Rubicon” decals on the side of its hood, and off-road tyres.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on sale in the some international markets sports an LCD instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control and touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay. On the outside, the car stands tall with a ground clearance of 276 mm and a water-wading depth of 762 mm.
Moreover, the Rubicon also gets additional off-road features like Rock-Trac 4×4 system, front/rear locking differentials, Dana 44 heavy-duty axles and a front sway-bar disconnect system among other goodies.
The present Jeep Wrangler that is available for buyers in India is powered by a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine which doles out 200 PS and 460 Nm of torque. The petrol version comes with the signature Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine which churns out 289 PS and 347 Nm of torque. The price is in the bracket of Rs 58-68 lakh (ex-showroom). We expect the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon to bring in the all-new Wrangler model and, thus, be a bit pricier. It should also bring in the new 2.2-litre turbo-diesel engine that makes 200 PS and 450 Nm.
The wait is now on to see when this beast finally hits the roads, or no roads. Till then keep checking for updates on our page.
Story: Koustubh Mukherjee
