Pretty impressed at how they managed to keep the Jeep heritage and still modernize it (e.g. the BSM radar unit, the folding windshield, folding soft top and of course the 4 different engine options).
This is @Mendel Leisk ’s dream come true ! Now time to get Mrs. Mendel on board and prepped better than the PIP rims went over. Hopefully your crawl space shrine has been well polished .
When I was very young, there were two vehicles I thought I wanted that I never actually got to own. One was a 67 Mustang....had to have side vents and hood vents. The other was a Jeep. Once in while on full moon nights I still comb Craigslist musing about buying an old jeep. However.... By daybreak the idea fades like Nosferatu in the sunlight.
Any word on range yet? Thinking a PHEV Wrangler would be the ultimate "prepper" vehicle for obvious off road capability but also dual energy source would be ideal. Even more ideal would be vehicle to grid tech.
I think many preppers will choose the diesel for the more options in fuel sources once the stations are empty.
Problem is, modern common rail diesels are not good at the whole alternative fuel source thing - even high percentages of properly-produced FAME biodiesel doesn't work so well in them, most manufacturers limit things to 20% for a reason, and oil dilution and thermal breakdown becomes a huge problem at high percentages. It'd have to be a variant if it is that system - I can't see a FWD powertrain dropped in a Wrangler, even with a rear electric motor added (I mean, I think it could actually work surprisingly well to use, say, the Pacifica's powertrain up front, with the 500e's motor in the rear, but...) Could also be a sandwich motor setup ala many of the German hybrid variants of conventional cars.
Maybe Jeep should offer a BEV for preppers then. It's the end of the world. Do you really pour the ethanol you made into the Jeep's gas tank, or make some biodiesel for when you really need to use the truck? In modern US engines, B100 and E100 are neither going to result in long engine life. Besides, a true prepper will get a classic diesel that can handle B100 and their old oils. I overlooked the FWD factor there. With a mechanical, full time 4WD, kind of like what the Escape hybrid had, it might be sellable. The parallel hybrid is more likely once we consider things like tow ratings.
I think a dual energy source is key. (ie. have access to more gas but power is out, or no more gas available but power is still on or solar)
