Two Decades of Rubicon: Jeep® Brand Reveals 20th Anniversary Editions of 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 4xe and 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 392

•Jeep® brand rocks Windy City with the most capable Wranglers yet, featuring available 37-inch tires

•Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary editions feature new seven-slot grille, beadlock-capable wheels, 83-piece tool kit, triple hoop grille guard, steel bumpers, half-inch suspension lift, distinctive 20th Anniversary decals and more

•Exclusive to the Rubicon 20th Anniversary models is an available Rubicon 20th Anniversary Level II upfit by American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) with 37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A® KO2 tires, creating the most capable Wranglers ever with unmatched 14.2 inches of ground clearance, 37.1 inches water fording, 50-degree approach angle, 33-degree breakover angle and 43-degree departure angle

•Interiors of Rubicon 20th Anniversary editions boast unique red-and-black leather seats and red leather-wrapped instrument panel bolster. The limited-edition Jeep SUVs also come with a special swing gate plaque and shifter medallion

•Mopar-designed, factory-installed, on-board air compressor available on Wrangler for the first time ever, exclusive to the Wrangler Rubicon 392 20th Anniversary edition

•Production of the Rubicon 20th anniversary models is scheduled to begin at the Toledo (Ohio) Assembly Complex in this quarter, with vehicles arriving in dealerships in the second quarter of 2023

The Jeep® brand is proudly celebrating 20 years of the game-changing Wrangler Rubicon at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show with the Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary editions, the most capable Wranglers yet.

Available on both the 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 4xe and 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 392, the Rubicon 20th Anniversary editions each deliver the Wrangler Rubicon's legendary go-anywhere capability and unequaled spirit of freedom and adventure, designed to tackle the trail they're named after straight from the Toledo (Ohio) Assembly Complex.

'Twenty years ago, a small group of enthusiastic Jeep engineers affectionately known as the 'Lunatic Fringe,' with grit and determination and their personal credit cards, designed, engineered and developed the most capable Wrangler yet – the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon – and overdelivered on everyone's expectations because they knew it was what Jeep customers wanted,' said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. 'Today the Rubicon model represents about a quarter of overall Wrangler sales, with more than 700,000 sold worldwide, and include the electrified Rubicon 4xe, the best-selling and most capable PHEV in America. That same spirit of determination and ingenuity that led to the creation of the Wrangler Rubicon lives on in these new 20th anniversary special editions, which for the first time, bring available 37s to the Wrangler, providing unmatched capability.'

The limited run of 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe 20th Anniversary and 2023 Wrangler Rubicon 392 20th Anniversary, available for order this month, are priced at a starting U.S. manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $69,585 and $90,895, respectively (all prices exclude $1,795 destination charge). Production of the Rubicon 20th anniversary models is scheduled to begin at the Toledo (Ohio) Assembly Complex this quarter, with vehicles arriving in dealerships in Q2 of 2023.

Rubicon electrified

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe 20th Anniversary, based on the Rubicon 4xe model and powered by a 375-horsepower 470-lb.-ft. plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, delivers 21 miles of all-electric range, 49 MPGe and a nearly silent off-road experience. Bolstering the lineup of the Wrangler 4xe, America's best-selling plug-in hybrid, the extensive equipment list of the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe 20th Anniversary special edition includes: •New interpretation of the iconic Jeep brand seven-slot grille

•20th Anniversary hood decals in electric blue theme

•20th Anniversary swing gate plaque

•20th Anniversary shifter medallion

•Half-inch suspension lift delivering:

•32 inches water fording (+ 0.5 inch)

•11.2 inches ground clearance (+ 0.4 inch)

•Triple hoop grille guard

•Steel bumpers (winch-capable front)

•33-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires

•17-by-7.5-inch beadlock-capable wheels

•83-piece tool kit with canvas bag

•Integrated front off-road camera

•Heavy-duty steel rock sliders

•Gorilla glass windshield

•Unique red-and-black leather seats

•Red leather-wrapped instrument panel bolster

•Auxiliary switches

•All-weather slush mats

392 cubic inches + 20 years of Rubicon

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 20th Anniversary, based on the Rubicon 392 model and powered by a 470-horsepower 470-lb.-ft. V-8, accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and through the quarter mile in 13.0 seconds, making it the quickest, fastest and most powerful Wrangler. The Rubicon 392 20th Anniversary's long list of special-edition content includes: •Xtreme Recon Package •35-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires

•17-by-8-inch beadlock-capable wheels

•4.56 rear axle ratio

•Hinge-gate reinforcement by Mopar

•Jack spacer by Mopar

•Tire relocation kit by Mopar

•Wheel flare extensions

•New interpretation of the iconic Jeep brand seven-slot grille

•20th Anniversary hood decals in 392 bronze theme

•20th Anniversary swing gate plaque

•20th Anniversary shifter medallion

•Half-inch suspension lift delivering: •34.5 inches water fording (+ 0.9 inch)

•11.6 inches ground clearance (+ 0.5 inch)

•On-board air compressor

•Triple hoop grille guard

•Steel bumpers (winch-capable front)

•83-piece tool kit with canvas bag

•Heavy-duty steel rock sliders

•Integrated front off-road camera

•Gorilla glass windshield

•Unique red-and-black leather seats

•Red leather-wrapped instrument panel bolster

•All-weather slush mats

•Auxiliary switches

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary special editions are available in nine exterior colors, including Earl, Firecracker Red, Punk'n, Hydro Blue, Sarge Green, Silver Zynith, Sting Gray, black and Bright White, with the Wrangler Rubicon 4xe 20th Anniversary also available in Granite Crystal.

More tire, more capability

Exclusive to the Rubicon 20th Anniversary editions and limited to just 150 units, an available Rubicon 20th Anniversary Level II upfit by American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) brings 37-inch tires to the Wrangler for the first time, taking the Wrangler Rubicon's legendary 4x4 capability to an even higher level. This package is loaded with an off-roader's dream list of content:

•37-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 tires

•Warn VR EVO 10-S winch

•AEV 17-inch Savegre II wheels

•AEV 2.5-inch DualSport RT Suspension System with Bilstein 5100 shocks

•AEV 7000 Series off-road lights

•AEV EX front bumper

•AEV rear bumper

•AEV front skid plate

•AEV tire carrier

•AEV off-road jack base

•AEV ProCal SNAP module

•AEV vehicle build plaque

•AEV steering damper

•4.56:1 axle ratio (4xe)

•Mopar performance wipers with integrated washer jets

This exclusive upfit package creates the most capable Wrangler ever with:

•14.2 inches of ground clearance

•37.1 inches water fording

•50-degree approach angle

•33-degree breakover angle

•43-degree departure angle

The Rubicon 20th Anniversary Level II upfit by AEV carries an MSRP of $21,983 for the 20th Anniversary Wrangler Rubicon 4xe and $20,135 for the 20th Anniversary Wrangler Rubicon 392 (all prices exclude $995 upfit logistics charge).

These limited-edition Wranglers will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Customers can place orders through their local Jeep dealer this month. Vehicles will ship directly from the Toledo Assembly Complex to AEV for upfit and then to the customer's dealer of choice.

Wrangler Rubicon: 20 years of unmatched capability

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was originally developed as an internal underground project, led by a small group of passionate Jeep engineers who envisioned a more off-road-focused Wrangler, one that featured popular aftermarket capability upgrades as factory equipment, all backed by a full warranty.

The result was the most capable production off-road vehicle the world had ever seen – the 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Introduced at Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, in spring 2002, the original Wrangler Rubicon started production in summer 2002, and went on to beat all sales expectations.

Each successive iteration of Wrangler Rubicon has added features to further enhance capability:

2003 Wrangler Rubicon (TJ):

•Front and rear locking differentials

•Rock-Trac transfer case with 4:1 low range

•Rock rails

•31-inch off-road tires

•Dana 44 axles with 4.10:1 axle ratio

2007 Wrangler Rubicon (JK): •New electronic disconnecting front sway bar for increased articulation

•Larger 32-inch off-road tires

•Available in both 2-door and 4-door variants

2013 Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary (JK):

•New heavy-duty steel rock rails

•New steel front and rear bumpers (front winch capable)

•Half-inch suspension lift

2018 Wrangler Rubicon (JL): •Larger 33-inch off-road tires

•Crawl ratio improved to 84:1 with manual transmission

2021 Wrangler Rubicon (JL):

•Off-Road+ added as standard

•Selec-Speed Control added as standard

•Electrified Rubicon 4xe introduced, offering nearly silent off-roading, 21 miles of all-electric range and 470 lb.-ft. of torque

•V-8 Rubicon 392 introduced, delivering 470 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds and standard Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system

•Optional factory 35-inch tires (Xtreme Recon Package)

•Optional 4.88 axle ratio improved crawl ratio to 100:1 with manual transmission

2023 Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary (JL):

•Triple hoop grille guard

•Half-inch suspension lift

•83-piece tool kit

•On-board air compressor (Rubicon 392)

•Standard 35-inch tires (Rubicon 392)

by Jeep

An automobile marque and registered trademark of Chrysler, Jeep is the oldest off-road vehicle brand. First appearing as the prototype Bantam BRC, the original vehicle became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the U.S. Army and allies during World War II and the postwar period. Jeeps have also been used by the U.S. Postal Service during the 20th century for mail services. One suggestion for the origin of the name 'Jeep' was that the vehicle bore the designation 'GP' (for 'Government Purposes' or 'General Purpose'), which was phonetically slurred into the word Jeep.

A fun car to drive, whether it be cruising around the neighborhood, or taking on a perilous off-road trek, the Jeep Wrangler was first introduced to the world in 1987. Able to withstand the test of time, the Wrangler continues to be a very popular vehicle. Since its conception in 1987, the Wrangler has undergone 3 major design revisions from the YJ until the JK and through the changes, the Wrangler continues to prove itself as 'the gold standard' of off-road vehicles.

Arguably one of the most recognizable Jeep vehicles; the Wrangler is considered a mini sport utility vehicle and has always been produced by Chrysler, under the Jeep name. A successor of the World War II Jeep vehicle, the Wrangler underwent a big makeover in 1987, again in 1997 and 2007. The Wrangler is known by Jeep under a variety of names including YJ, JK and TJ. Targeting at maximizing comfort to expand the appeal of the Wrangler beyond the off-road world, Chrysler has continued to update the Jeep Wrangler year after year.

Built in Brampton, Ontario, the Wrangler; also known as the YJ began production in 1987 and continued to be produced at this location until 1992. In that year it began to be produced by Jeep's Toledo North Assembly plant located in Toledo, Ohio. The cars were also produced in Canada for many years, but they weren't sold under the Wrangler name, instead, it was offered as a trim level of a Chevy pickup. From 1987 until 1995, models were known as YK, and from 1997 the 2006 the models were sold as TJ. The Wrangler YJ sold nearly 700,000 units.

The YJ was available as a two door convertible as well as a two door truck. The YJ offered three different engine options that included a 2.0 liter, 4.0 liter as well as a 4.2 liter along with four different transmission options. The YJ was available with two different gas tanks, either an optional 20 gallon tank or the standard 15-gallon tank. The 15-gallon tank was pretty standard for this type of vehicle at this time, compared to now where there is a demand for greater fuel capacity.

The Jeep Wrangler that was produced from 1997 for a decade was dubbed the TJ and was offered with three different engines that included a 2.4 liter, 4.0 liter as well as the 2.5 liter. The TJ was available as both a two door convertible and a two door truck. The transmission was available in three different offerings including a four-speed automatic, a five-speed manual and a six speed manual. A compromise between the standard 15 gallon tank and the optional 20 gallon tank offered on the YJ from 1987 until 1995 was the 19 US gallon gas tank offered on the TJ.

Departing from the World War II era CJ Jeeps, the TJ went back to the round headlights from the square headlights featured on the YJ. The Wrangler TJ also had an unlimited model that 10' longer than the standard wrangler. Continuing on as a very popular roadster, the TJ was in production until 2006. Owners were able to maximize the off-road experience beyond the base model with vast customization options.

The name for the Wrangler changed to JK from 2007 onwards until it is updated again. The KJ features a two-door model as well as two four-door models. Longer, wider and featuring more spaces than its predecessors, the JK came in three trim options; the X, Sahara and Rubicon. The current engine of the JK is a 3.6 liter V6 with either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The all-new JK came with a larger gas tank than previous ones and had a fuel capacity at 21.6 US gallons, which was more popular with the customers. The Rubicon and the Sahara models include 17-inch wheels instead of the 16-inch wheels that were standard on the X. Both of these models also have additional body trim and styling as well as interior features.

Standing the test of time, unlike many vehicles, the Wrangler has the capability to change when the needs of the consumer change. Today the Wrangler can be thought of as a family car, due to its diversity, capacious interior and safety ratings. The Wrangler has been, and continues to be the best-regarded 4X4 off-road vehicle.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4x4x4 was created by taking the 2007 Wrangler and adding two extra doors and extra length. Keeping the same iconic style, the Unlimited retained the classic look but expanded the appeal beyond the 2-door Wrangler's 'niche' market. Continuing to possess off-road and anywhere capability the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited featured a less rugged feel and was more geared 'toward suburban assault vehicle' with its comfort for everyday functions.

The Unlimited retained the convertible options and actually has several configurations with the 3-piece modular 'Freedom Top' feature.

by Jessican Donaldson