I like the idea of using an aluminum body, but going to a unibody platform with smaller and turbocharged engines, not too sure about the latter.
 
http://www.autonews.com/a...angler-body-marchionne

moose517
I don't get the trend with putting in smaller engines with turbo's these days.

European ways bleeding into American production, but we don't drive the same way Europeans per our infrastructure differences. Only good iteration of turbo charging smaller engines in my eyes is in the Ford F-150 Ecoboost engines, they make some great power. Always seemed to me these forced induction engines never last as long though.

rjohnson11
They are trying to improve fuel efficiency of the Jeeps.  

18 mpg isn't great, but they should be able to improve that without going to a unibody platform with smaller and turbocharged engines.

So Fiat is going to ruin one of the few good chrysler vehicles. Unibody wrangler......

Well they screwed up some of the other Jeeps so why not mess with the bread and butter model?

They have been talking about this for some time.
 
What they need to do that would complete all their goals and keep people from shunning it for listing too far from its roots is this.
 
Keep the solid front axle for the love of god do this. I know blah blah they can make strong IFS setups. No just no.
 
Get that dog of a v6 out of there and drop in the fiat diesel in the ram 1500 and don't dial it back either, keep it the exact same engine and tuning. Ever since the I6 was dropped people have constantly complained that the wrangler lacked power. there wouldnt be so many people willing to drop 20k on a hemi conversion if that 6 banger had some cahonies.
 
Keep the 6 speed manual
 
Keep the manual shift transfer case
 
Go with an aluminum body if it won't skyrocket cost, jeep will be lighter, and goodbye rust. Big selling point.
 
Dont go any larger than the JK, its already wider than other wranglers
 
Continue to make a rubicon with unlocking swaybars and locking diffs from the factory
 
get rid of the flip down windshield, if people really want those chrome hinges they will never use they can buy fake stick on aftermarket ones.
 
Seriously evaluate the 4 door and decide if its worth keeping. 
 
Dont go with some goofy differential that is next to impossible to get gears for and make sure that will stand up to a lifetime of at least 35" tires being beat on.
 
Take note of all the above and use the new wrangler body to build a jeep pickup no larger than the dakota was. Remember say it with me 6 speed, diesel, manual transfer case, locking diffs, solid front axle, and all aluminum.
 
Build that truck and little of no one will grab a taco, frontier, colorado, or other small truck if they ever intend to upgrade it for offroad.

love my old 87 wagoneer with the 91 high out put I6 that is in it now and sitting on 33" mud tires and a fresh dana 44 under the back

Bruno747
Get that dog of a v6 out of there and drop in the fiat diesel in the ram 1500 and don't dial it back either, keep it the exact same engine and tuning. Ever since the I6 was dropped people have constantly complained that the wrangler lacked power. there wouldnt be so many people willing to drop 20k on a hemi conversion if that 6 banger had some cahonies.
 
Keep the 6 speed manual
 
Keep the manual shift transfer case
 
Go with an aluminum body if it won't skyrocket cost, jeep will be lighter, and goodbye rust. Big selling point.
 
Dont go any larger than the JK, its already wider than other wranglers
 
Continue to make a rubicon with unlocking swaybars and locking diffs from the factory
 
get rid of the flip down windshield, if people really want those chrome hinges they will never use they can buy fake stick on aftermarket ones.
 
Seriously evaluate the 4 door and decide if its worth keeping. 
 
Dont go with some goofy differential that is next to impossible to get gears for and make sure that will stand up to a lifetime of at least 35" tires being beat on.
 
Take note of all the above and use the new wrangler body to build a jeep pickup no larger than the dakota was. Remember say it with me 6 speed, diesel, manual transfer case, locking diffs, solid front axle, and all aluminum.
 
Build that truck and little of no one will grab a taco, frontier, colorado, or other small truck if they ever intend to upgrade it for offroad.

 
To be fair, they dropped the weak sauce 3.8L V6 (202hp) a couple of years ago in favour of the new 3.6L V6 (285hp) Pentastar.
 
I agree, the 3.0L VM Motori Turbo diesel with 240hp and 420 lb-ft of torque would be amazing in a Jeep Wrangler.
 
Keep the flip down windshield!!  I love the wind in your face feeling of my buddies Jeep......and removable doors too please!
 
If it is going to be a unibody I hope they test the crap out of it at Moab with full lockers and 38's to make sure the unibody frame can handle all those twisty forces and not pop, squeak, and come apart.
 
Let us not forget the XJ was a unibody......and that was one awesome off road platform....aside from the pathetically tiny wheel openings.

I love that thing!

Good to know they are not going unibody. I dont know why the aluminum idea is still a toss up. It should be a no brainer.
 
So while it's good to hear that there is still a bit of sanity in jeeps leadership, I am still waiting on confirmation that they are going to keep a solid front axle and not make it an automatic only vehicle.