Europe gets Jeep Wrangler Polar limited edition

Wed, 04 Sep 2013

Jeep will be bringing an all-new, limited-edition model to the European market called the Wrangler Polar. Based on the Wrangler Sahara and set to make its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Wrangler Polar sports new Hyrdro Blue paint, gloss black 18-inch wheels, a body-color hardtop, and the regular mix of Mopar styling accessories. Billet Silver Metallic and Bright White are available for those that don't dig the glossy blue, while a two-door variant will be available in addition to the four-door pictured above.

The Polar's interior features similar tweaks; Pearl White contrast stitching can be found on both the seats and steering wheel, while ceramic White bezels and other accents give a nice contrasting look to the cabin.

Underhood sits an engine that should make American Wrangler enthusiasts weep - a 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel. With 200 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque channeled through a five-speed automatic transmission, the Wrangler Polar should handle itself just fine on normal roads. British buyers will also be able to select the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. For rougher stuff, Dana axles can be found front and rear (Dana 30 up front and Dana 44 in back), while the Command-Trac four-wheel-drive system and its two-speed transfer case should be enough for when the roads disappear.

Feel free to read all the details in the press release below, but not before you click on the image above to see the Wrangler Polar enlarged in all its aurora-bathed glory.

JEEP WRANGLER POLAR: THE NEW LIMITED-EDITION MODEL OF THE ICONIC JEEP WRANGLER CELEBRATES WINTER DRIVING 4X4 CAPABILITY

Special edition features new front grille with Black accents, hard spare-tyre cover, body-colour hardtop, aggressive 18" polished Gloss Black alloy wheels and Polar White interior finishes
Trac-Lok limited-slip rear differential for challenging the most extreme routes and the most demanding driving conditions in any weather
Available in the first quarter of 2014 for Wrangler two-door and four-door, powered by the 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine

In order to highlight the most adventurous soul and legendary 4x4 capabilities of the iconic Jeep Wrangler, the new limited-edition, customised Wrangler Polar model will be revealed on the Jeep stand in Frankfurt in the Wrangler four-door configuration, and will boast an all-new Hydro Blue exterior colour matched to a Black interior.

On the heels of the success of recently launched - and sold out - limited-edition customisations of Jeep Wrangler, this new special model sports a unique trim level dedicated to all those enthusiasts searching for adventure and absolute performance in extreme driving conditions. Featuring exclusive styling cues, 18" Gloss Black alloy wheels, body-colour hardtop and original Mopar® accessories, the new Jeep Wrangler Polar will be available in Europe in the first quarter of 2014, in both two- and four-door versions, powered by the brilliant 2.8-litre turbo diesel.

Jeep Wrangler Polar takes its cue from the severe climate and extreme conditions that characterise the Antarctic region. The "Polar" badge located on the vehicle's side shows off the 78° S and 106° E coordinates that correspond to the location of Vostok in Antarctica: the exact point where the absolute severest temperature in the world was recorded at -89.2° C (-128.56° F).

Thus the theme of winter that in the past inspired the creation of highly appreciated special series now returns in the making of this new special-edition model. The winter theme is what lies behind the choice of the Wrangler Polar's unique styling cues suggesting class-leading capabilities and the use of distinctive interior colours and details that recall features from the Antarctic region.

The new Jeep Wrangler Polar was designed to express the freedom of going beyond the known limits to venture into unexplored territories: an experience that only Wrangler enthusiasts can enjoy, thanks to the reliability and safety granted by a vehicle featuring benchmark technology and unmatched off-road expertise achieved in more than seventy years of history. With its hostile routes and severe climate, the Antarctic region offers the driving conditions that the iconic Jeep Wrangler was engineered to conquer.

Based on the Jeep Wrangler Sahara model, the exterior of the new Wrangler Polar boasts unique features that contribute to distinguish it aesthetically from all the other models in the Jeep lineup. First of all, the new front grille, featuring unique Gloss Black accents on the lamp throats, and the new hard spare-tyre cover are both new styling cues introduced specifically for this limited-edition model. Further exterior appointments characterizing the Wrangler Polar are the Powerdome hood and the body-colour hardtop with deep-tint sunscreen glass. A Gloss Black Jeep logo above the front grille and Gloss Black 18" alloy wheels enhance the distinctive look of the vehicle. Completing the exterior appointment of the new Jeep Wrangler Polar special-edition model is the unique, three-colour bonnet decal, featuring the outline of mountains, and the black fuel-filler door from Mopar.

The interior features Black leather seats enhanced by Pearl White accent stitching and "Polar" logo embroidered on the upper portion of the backrests. Standard equipment also includes heated front seats and a black leather-wrapped steering wheel with Pearl White stitching and high-gloss Ceramic White painted bezels. Pearl White accent stitching is found also on the armrests and floor console lid. The passenger-side dashboard grab bar and dashboard vent rings are finished in high-gloss Ceramic White to create the contrasting effect of the light on Antarctic glaciers.

The exclusive cabin of the Jeep Wrangler Polar special edition also features an all-new cluster overlay with rings painted high-gloss Ceramic White and surrounding a blue instrument background with "Polar" logo. Mopar tread-pattern slush mats complete the interior appointments of the new Wrangler Polar.

In addition to the all-new Hydro Blue colour that adds to the unique look of the vehicle displayed in Frankfurt, the Jeep Wrangler Polar special-edition model is also available in Billet Silver Metallic and Bright White exterior colours.

Engineered to take on the most challenging off-road trails, Jeep Wrangler Polar is equipped with the Dana 30 front axle and powerful Dana 44 rear axle. Legendary Wrangler capability is achieved through the standard Command-Trac NV241 part-time, two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio. In order to handle any off-road track in utmost safety, the new Wrangler Polar model comes standard with the Trac-Lok anti-spin rear differential. This particular differential replaces the manual rear-axle locker and is a torque-sensitive mechanical unit that works to maintain traction when travelling on slippery or rough road surfaces, such as on sand, gravel, snow or ice. Trac-Lok automatically distributes the available torque to the rear wheel with the most traction, thus helping to reduce wheel spin caused by lack of traction in the other rear wheel.

The standard equipment for on-board comfort includes automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated controls, heated front seats, height-adjustable driver seat, Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC) and cruise control, UConnectTM multi-media infotainment and navigation system with 6.5-inch touchscreen, 40-gigabyte hard disk.

The new limited-edition model will be powered by the efficient 2.8-litre turbo diesel engine matched to an automatic transmission. The 2.8-litre CRD engine delivers 200 hp (147 kW) of power at 3,600 rpm and 460 Nm of torque at 1,600 - 2,600 rpm when paired to the five-speed automatic transmission.

For more than seventy years, the Jeep brand has been the benchmark for an entire category of vehicles in terms of performance and versatility. Jeep Wrangler has been and remains the most famous model in the Jeep range worldwide. A brand icon, Wrangler has always been able to ensure its customers a unique degree of freedom thanks to its ability to master the most extreme off-road trails in utmost safety.

With a 52 cm longer wheelbase and a larger cabin that can comfortably accommodate five passengers, Jeep Wrangler 4-Door is the evolution of the classic Wrangler. Jeep Wrangler 4-Door combines the exceptional Jeep off-road capabilities with the comfort and versatility of an everyday car, turning the off-road champion into a four-door 4x4 convertible.

Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler 4-Door are available in the Sahara, Overland and Rubicon trim levels and are all powered by the 2.8-litre turbo diesel Common-Rail engine featuring Stop/Start technology. The 3.6-litre V-6 petrol engine is available on special order in the UK.

By Brandon Turkus