Wrangler 392 at $77,000? and Turbo-2s delayed
The new site MoPower.com had a busy first day with two new stories. The first covers a thread in the JLWrangler forums site which claims the Wrangler 392 will start at over $77,000—a claim which seems to make sense when one considers that a similarly equipped Rubicon with the V6 engine would come in at around $70,000. Add in the frame and suspension reinforcements needed to handle 470 pound-feet of torque, heavier brakes, and other gear, and you get a price that’s probably a bargain compared with making one yourself—though you won’t have a spare V6 when you’re done.
The second story covers a delay in American-made turbocharged two-liter four-cylinder “GME” engines, as the transformation of a former transmission plant in Indiana into an engine plant has been delayed. One may even ask why they were converting over a new plant rather than using space at Trenton or Dundee. In the meantime, the engines will continue to be shipped over from Italy; but don’t expect a flood of the thrifty-yet-powerful motors until the last quarter of 2021.
David Zatz, the founder of Allpar.com and the new MoTales site, has been covering the Chrysler community since 1993. He has written four books covering Chrysler vehicles and development.