Jeep India has started assembling its iconic Wrangler off-roader at its Ranjangaon facility, near Pune (Maharashtra). Earlier, it was available as a completely built unit (CBU). Now, bringing the SUV as a completely knocked down (CKD) will bring down the prices significantly. For reference, the fully imported Wrangler was priced between Rs 63.94 lakh and Rs 68.94 lakh (ex-showroom). Assembling the Wrangler locally could reduce the prices by around Rs 20-25 lakh. Pre-launch bookings of the SUV are now open, with launching slated on 15th March 2021.
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler will be available in two variants: Rubicon and Sahara. It will continue to utilize the same 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol motor as the existing model that produces 268PS and 400Nm and comes with an 8-speed automatic gearbox along with a low-range transfer case, locking differentials at both axles, and Jeep’s Selec-Trac 4×4 off-road system. Besides this, the American carmaker could also introduce a new 2.2-liter diesel engine.
On the features front, it will continue to pack the existing set of equipment such as an LED lighting system, auto-engine start-stop, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car technology, a twin-pod analog instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting, push-button start/stop, washable floors, and many more.
In the other news, FCA is also gearing up to launch two more locally-assembled SUVs in the Indian market by the next year. It includes a 7-seater Compass-based Toyota Fortuner & Ford Endeavour-rivalling SUV that is expected to launch by the end of 2021. The second SUV will be the locally assembled new Grand Cherokee. It is likely to be launched in 2022.
