Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid revealed
The Wrangler also jumps onto Jeep's hybrid bandwagon with the Wrangler 4xe PHEV. The recipe is simple – the Wrangler 4xe's hybrid powertrain consists of two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack, a 2.0-litre turbocharged I-4 petrol engine and a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.
By Divyank K. Bansal
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid will go on sale in Europe, China, and the United States by early 2021.
In July, Jeep had commercially introduced its first-ever electrified models – the Compass 4xe & Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrids. Now, the Wrangler also jumps onto the hybrid bandwagon with the Wrangler 4xe PHEV. The recipe is simple – the Wrangler 4xe's hybrid powertrain consists of two electric motors, a high-voltage battery pack, a 2.0-litre turbocharged I-4 petrol engine, and a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to the hybrid conversion, the Wrangler 4xe is capable of offering an electric driving range of up to 40km and an estimated fuel economy of 50mpg (21.2km/l).
The two electric motors find themselves fitted to the engine and the gearbox. While the motor-generator fitted to the engine replaces a conventional alternator, the second motor on the transmission case replaces the conventional torque converter unit of the automatic gearbox. A separate 12-volt battery powers the vehicle's accessories. The 400V/17kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery pack gets a dedicated heating/cooling circuit and is placed below the redesigned second-row seat in an aluminium housing.
As a result, the Wrangler 4xe's combined power & torque figures are pegged at 375bhp & 637Nm. In comparison, the standard Wrangler on sale in India (with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol motor) develops 268bhp & 400Nm of torque. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe will be available in three models: 4xe, Sahara 4xe, and Rubicon 4xe. The former two models will have Jeep's 'Trail Rated' gear as standard, which includes full-time 4x4 systems, next-gen front & rear Dana 44 axles, and a Selec-Trac two-speed transfer case, with a low-range gear ratio.
Additional features like 'E Selec' drive modes (Hybrid/Electric/eSave), regenerative braking (on all four wheels in 4x4 mode), a 'Max Regen' mode for maximum energy recovery, and Selec-Speed Control (with hill-ascent & hill-descent control) are also on offer, with the Wrangler 4xe. Plus, the 'Trail-Rated' badge also means the Wrangler 4xe is capable of water fording up to 76cm. And, all electrical components are, of course, water-proof.
Visually, the Wrangler 4xe can be identified by its unique 'Electric Blue' accents on the hood, fenders, and tow hooks and the '4xe' badge on the back.
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