As the UAW was finalizing its negotiations with Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler and Dodge, it released an “hourly agreement” highlight document that not only talked about wages and benefits but revealed some interesting future product news – like the new midsize Ram truck coming in 2027. What this document also revealed is that a Jeep Wrangler EV is also on the way.
Details are scarce, but the wording is interesting because it’s unclear if a gas-engined Wrangler will also be available.
What we know about the Jeep Wrangler EV
The next-generation Wrangler, code named J70, will be built at the Toledo Assembly Complex starting in 2028. Because the current Wrangler (JL) will continue into 2028, this tells us we’re looking at 2029 as the next-gen model year. What’s interesting is the document states the J70 will include a BEV and REPB (range electric paradigm breaker).
Stellantis has yet to build a full-on BEV, though the Ram 1500 REV has been revealed, and it’s slated to be a 2025 model. We also know the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is also coming in 2025 as a range-extended electric truck. So, with both the BEV and REPB powertrains established in the Ram truck it make sense they will be scaled to fit the Jeep Wrangler.
The question remains: Will this next-gen lineup include a gas engine?
What’s a REPB?
As noted above, that’s Stellantis speak, and the letters mean range electric paradigm breaker. That’s a fancy way of saying range-extended EV. Similar to the original Chevrolet Volt, this isn’t a plug-in hybrid in the normal sense of the word. This is an electric vehicle, with motivation to the wheels being provided by an electric motor. However, a gasoline-powered generator will charge the battery that powers the electric motor when the battery hits 0%.
Though complete specs haven’t been released for the Ramcharger, we know it will get at least 145 miles of all electric range before the gas generator kicks in. Will that be the same for the Wrangler REPB? TBD.
Jeep Wrangler EV platform, range
Back in 2021, Stellantis revealed it would have four flexible BEV platforms: STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large and STLA Frame. The first three are unibody and the latter is body-on-frame. Since the current Wrangler is a body-on-frame, we’d have to assume it would be built on that scalable STLA Frame platform, which promises up to 500 miles of electric range.
Since this is the same platform the Ram 1500 Rev and Ramcharger will be built on, we’ll likely understand more about the upcoming Jeep Wrangler EV when we have more details on the upcoming Ram trucks.
Jeep has actually previewed an EV Wrangler as a concept for the past three years. The Jeep Wrangler Magneto (the feature image), now on a 3.0 version revealed at the 2023 Easter Jeep Safari, delivers up to 650 horsepower and 900 pound-feet of torque with two-stage power regeneration and an aggressive hill descent mode. It also has a 6-speed manual transmission, though we don’t expect that to be an option in a real BEV. Specific range has never mentioned in the 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 press releases, but the latest edition sees a 20% increase in range. Whatever that means.
What is clear from the concepts: Jeep has been thinking about an EV Wrangler for a while, it’ll have some excellent off-road capability, and the brand is sticking with the color blue for its electrified vehicles.
The bottom line
Other than the fact that a Jeep Wrangler EV is coming in 2028, we don’t have too many details just yet. I mean, we just saw the 2025 refresh, so it’ll probably be a couple years before we get any meaningful information. Including whether there will be a gas option.
