Jeep Confirms First-Ever V8 Wrangler, and It’s Coming Sooner Than Expected

Enter the Bronco fighter

Jeep V8 Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept
Jeep unveiled this Rubicon 392 Concept in July. Now, the V8 Wrangler has been confirmed.
Jeep/FCA

We really have to hand it to Jeep. On the eve of the Ford Bronco debut this summer, the automaker unveiled the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept, a V8-powered dream that was intent on stealing some of the Bronco’s thunder; as we noted at the time, it was nothing more than a concept with no release date on the horizon. But it seems they were much more serious than we realized. 

A mere four months later, Jeep has all but confirmed a V8 Wrangler, the first in the vehicle’s history. You may have already seen the series of posts on the @Jeep Instagram account, but the company also released a short statement that it will be unveiling the “the new 2021 Wrangler Rubicon 392” on Tuesday, November 17 — the same name as the V8 concept.

The most surprising thing isn’t that we have now entered a war between the civilian off-roaders, Wrangler and Bronco, the latter of which won’t be getting a V8; it’s that, in an automotive industry that increasingly announces vehicles years before they’ll ever see a dealer lot, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 will be available surprisingly soon.

According to the small print in the Jeep Instagram videos, the high-powered Wrangler will be available starting in early 2021. No kidding.

That’s really all we know for now, so mark your calendars for noon Eastern on Tuesday when we’ll officially ring in V8 Wrangler Day.

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