Wrangler

Make
Jeep
Segment
SUV

As predicted, Jeep will unveil is Wrangler-based Scrambler pickup truck next month at the LA Auto Show. Although the automaker has yet to officially confirm the news publically, the organizers of the LA Auto Show itself that have clarified what we long suspected.

In a press release, the show's organizers stated the following: "With more than 60 debut vehicles locked in for this year's AutoMobility LA, nearly half will make their highly-anticipated world premiere, including… a pickup truck from Jeep."

Has there been some super-secret project involving a Ram 1500 being turned into a Jeep? A chopped Grand Cherokee, perhaps? Of course not.

The only logical conclusion here is the Scrambler. Last year at the show same, for example, the Wrangler itself had its official debut, so it makes sense for the pickup truck variant to arrive one year later. The timing of the Scrambler's debut couldn't be better. The mid-size pickup truck segment has become alive again with Ford producing the reborn Ranger.

The Scrambler will be a so-called lifestyle vehicle with light-duty truck capabilities. Jeep isn't exactly taking a chance with it because customers have been requesting such a vehicle for years, but various circumstances didn't allow it to materialize. Now that Jeep has become the FCA's crown jewel, it's time to make that Wrangler-based truck a reality.

The Scrambler will also be Jeep's first pickup since the Comanche, a Cherokee-based truck built from 1985 until 1992. The 2020 Jeep Scrambler is expected to be mostly a carryover from the Wrangler, powered by a 3.6-liter V6 with 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 270 hp and 295 lb-ft is also expected to be offered. In the not too distant future, a hybrid Wrangler will arrive and it's possible its drivetrain will be further utilized in the Scrambler as well. A diesel option has been rumored but given the bad reputation oil burners have these days, we wouldn't be surprised to see Jeep ultimately ditch it.

The Scrambler will be assembled alongside the Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited in Toledo, Ohio. We'll be on hand at LA next month to bring you plenty of more details and live photos.