2004 Jeep Wrangler Runs Excellent 4x4 Wholesale No Reserve Auction on 2040-cars

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Jeep going bigger with new Grand Wagoneer, smaller with sub-Renegade?

The headlines are still rolling in for the new Renegade that Jeep unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last week, but already reports are surfacing, citing sources within the company, about what Chrysler's iconic off-road brand will do next.
Speaking with Auto Express (whose reports we tend to take with a grain of salt or two), Jeep chief Mike Manley suggested that two courses of action are currently under consideration at Auburn Hills to develop two very different new models - one smaller and one larger than anything Jeep currently makes.
One plan would be to make an SUV or crossover even smaller than the new Renegade, although it isn't immediately clear what platform it would take. The Renegade (pictured above in Trailhawk spec) will be built in Italy alongside Fiat's upcoming 500X, but uses a heavily modified platform. We figure the smaller model, if approved, could base itself on the new Fiat Panda Cross.

Marchionne wants to nearly double Jeep sales by 2018

Jeep just keeps breaking its own sales records. A couple of weeks ago, the off-road brand announced its worldwide sales exceeded one million units for the first time, marking its third consecutive global record and the fifth straight year of sales increases here in the US. But FCA isn't about to stop there. TheDetroitBureau.com reports that chief executive Sergio Marchionne, speaking to the media at the Detroit Auto Show, has announced a new sales target for the Jeep division: By 2018, he wants to see Jeep sell 1.9 million units in a single year, nearly doubling its all-time record. The expansion will surely encompass new products, with the all-new Renegade just warming up, a next-generation Wrangler on the way and a reborn Grand Wagoneer in the pipeline, as well. But the focus of FCA's preparations to reach the new target is on production capacity. While it's not clear whether the Toledo, OH plant where half of all the Jeeps sold around the world are currently built will continue to host the next Wrangler, FCA is expanding production overseas. The Renegade is already being built alongside the Fiat 500X in Italy, where another 1,000 workers are being re-hired and where another factory is set to start producing Jeeps, as well. A Renegade-based variant for the South American market will soon be built in Brazil, and by the end of this year, Jeep aims to start local production in China.

Next Jeep Wrangler spotted with 8-speed and EcoDiesel

Although it may not look like it, there are big changes coming to the next-generation Wrangler. The 2018 model will use aluminum for weight savings, spawn a pickup version, and offer new engines. This latest set of spy images brings confirmation of two new powertrain items. The spy photos below show a Wrangler mule with the current interior and an eight-speed automatic shifter fitted in place of the old five-speed unit. (There's a comparison photo in the gallery.) The shifter design matches that of the refreshed Dodge Charger and Challenger; the final Jeep version is likely to differ, but this clearly indicates what kind of transmission is underneath. Chrysler builds eight-speed automatics from a ZF design and also uses some transmissions built by ZF. View 4 Photos While it's not visible in the photos, the unmistakable sound of a diesel was heard coming from this Jeep. The EcoDiesel V6 is expected to be available alongside a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is rumored to have the code name "Hurricane." The turbo four may completely replace the current gas V6 or be offered in addition. There's a good chance the eight-speed will also be paired with the Hurricane engine, since improved fuel economy is a goal for the new model across the board. We don't yet know whether a manual transmission will be offered again, but it's a pretty good bet for one of the gas engines since many diehard off-roaders prefer the ultimate control. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Jeep Wrangler Detailed Spy Photos View 18 Photos Spy Photos Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles jeep wrangler unlimited