Jeep’s Wrangler V8 Prototype Is Here To Steal The Bronco’s Thunder

The Ford Bronco looks to have gained a little too much attention for Jeep’s liking, so a V8 Wrangler prototype has ‘coincidentally’ been spotted testing on the public road

Matt Kimberley

23 Jul 2020

Jeep’s Wrangler V8 Prototype Is Here To Steal The Bronco’s Thunder

Jeep wants you to stop looking at the new Ford Bronco now, thank you very much. After announcing a V8 version of the Wrangler on the same day Ford revealed its funky-faced rival for 2021, the V8 Jeep has now been spotted testing in the wild.

Various aspects of the largely traditional concept remain in place, like the bonnet-sited air intake and beadlock wheels. The 6.4-litre, 450bhp engine would sit at the top of a range that already spans a turbocharged four, a V6 and a diesel, not to mention the hybrid 4xe version coming soon.

If Jeep, which officially just says it’s gauging interest – a useful get-out clause in case no one likes the idea after all – does put the V8 model into production it will be the first time the long Wrangler line has had eight cylinders since the CJ-7 model of 1981. That one used a 5.0-litre AMC V8.

As for styling, it’s very much as-you-were for the V8 test mule. There’s a cheeky hint at the increased performance in the shape of quad exhausts, but otherwise the sub-5.0-second 0-60mph capability is well hidden. Production will be scheduled for 2021 if Jeep is confident enough of hitting sales targets. For now it’s just content as long as you’re looking at this and not that other 4x4.

Comments

6.4L and 450HP is enough to make me not want to buy it. 70HP/L is not justifiable even if it is an offroad car. 80-90, maybe. But 70, totally not, imo.

So what you’re saying is it needs the motor from a Hellcat?

Horsepower is just about irrelevant in rock crawling, which is what the Jeep Wrangler was built to do, not going through 2 foot whoops at 100 MPH like a trophy truck. It’s more about torque.

Sure, your Range Rover might have more HP/L, but how often is it in the shop and how much will it cost you to repair? Land Rover is one of the few car makers that might actually be less reliable than Dodge.

why does Hp/L matter? 450 is 450. The viper acr weighed around 100lbs/45kg more than the same year 911gt3 rs but it had an 8.4 liter making 645hp. Power to weight matters way more than specific output and these engines are torquey and understressed. Part of the reason ford went with 7.3L with their new engine was reliability.