Woe to Fiat Chrysler, its ever-sinking ship, and the fact it hasn't yet realized that maybe things are going downhill because it has many leaks in its hull. Except that unlike a real boat, the Titanic or USS John S. McCain for example, leaks aren't exactly a bad thing, especially not when they release information about a highly anticipated truck to eager fans who'll gladly buy one and further prove to FCA that it shouldn't spin Jeep off to the Chinese.
It's not news to anyone that Jeep has been working on a Wrangler-based pickup truck that's slated for release into the heating mid-size pickup market by 2019, but what is new is recent information dug up by Jeep Scrambler Forum. The forum's name itself states one of the findings, that the Jeep pickup truck will be named the Jeep Scrambler, a shoutout to the original Jeep CJ-8 pickup truck with the same name. Members on the forum managed to dig into FCA's computer database to find everything from CAD images of the truck's frame to engine codes confirming a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine for a vehicle with a designation code of "JT," short for "Jeep Truck."
That will likely be the engine of choice for anyone needing ample torque for towing. Another revelation regards the Jeep Scrambler's top, or tops rather. Owners can chose from three options, a black 3-piece hard top, a body-colored 3-piece hard top, and a Sunrider soft top, which effectively makes the Scrambler a convertible pickup truck in any configuration (the three-piece tops are removable too) in case that's a niche you've been waiting all your life for. CAD images of the Scrambler's frame also seem to show that it'll ride on a substantially longer frame than the standard four-door Wrangler, with overall length being 18% longer (33-inches longer) than the SUV's body.
That seems to suggest that the Scrambler will be offered in four-door configuration with enough space aft of the rear seats for an accommodating bed. Dana, Jeep's resident axle supplier, will be selling FCA its Dana 12-bolt axle and differential setup, which is stronger than the current Dana 44 axle on the Wrangler. The most logical explanation for the beefed-up hardware is the Scrambler's need for greater towing and payload capacity. These are all very promising signs of a truck that will take the best of what the ever popular Jeep Wrangler has to offer while mixing it in with the capable truck recipe that Americans seem to love. Renderings by Jeep Wrangler Forums.