2003-05 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

[Thai]

2005 WRANGLER FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

MODEL AVAILABILITY
Revised short-wheelbase lineup: SE, X, Sport and Rubicon

FUNCTIONAL
New six-speed manual transmission replaces five-speed manual
3.73 axle ratio packaged with automatic transmission
Dana 44 rear axle packaged with 30-inch tires

CHASSIS
Full-size spare tire made standard on all models
Full-face steel wheel made standard on SE, X and Sport

BODY
Medium Gray replaces Black as color for top and fender flares
New Neutral Density fender flares for Rubicon
Deep tint glass standard on Sport and Rubicon (paired with hard top)
Paint: Impact Orange replaces Solar Yellow
Paint: Deep Beryl Green Pearl Coat replaces Shale Green

INTERIOR
Air conditioning made standard on Sport and Rubicon
Convenience Group made standard on X
Seven-speaker system made standard on Sport and Rubicon
Six-disc in-dash CD changer optional (not available with SE) (late availability)
New Premium Audio Group (six-disc in-dash CD changer and seven-speaker system) optional on X
New Security Group (electrochromic rearview mirror and Sentry Key®); Optional on Sport, Rubicon
New Brake and Traction Group (four-wheel disc brakes and Trac-Lok®(a)); Optional on Sport (must have 30-inch tires); standard on Rubicon and Tru-Lok replaces Trac-Lok
(a)Trac-Lok is a registered trademark of Spicer Technology, Inc.

2005 WRANGLER UNLIMITED FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Premium version of Unlimited (2TH) added with bright exterior grille, body color fender flares, premium cloth seats and silver-painted instrument panel bezel
Rubicon Unlimited added (late availability)
New six-speed manual transmission replaces five-speed manual
Medium Gray replaces Black as color for Top and Fender Flare for Unlimited
Medium Gray is the only Fender Flare and top color available with Unlimited Premium
Neutral Density new color for Fender Flare on Rubicon (not available on Unlimited)
Paint: Impact Orange replaces Solar Yellow
Paint: Deep Beryl Green Pearl Coat replaces Shale Green
Seven speaker system made standard on Unlimited 2TH and Rubicon
Six-disc in-dash CD Changer optional on all Unlimited models (late availability)
Four-wheel disc brakes standard to Unlimited
Trac-Lok differential standard to Unlimited
Tru-Lok™ differentials standard to Rubicon Unlimited
New Premium Audio Group (six-disc in-dash CD changer and seven-speaker system)
New Security Group (electrochromic rearview mirror and Sentry Key®) optional (included with Unlimited 2TH)

 

[Thai]

WRANGLER PRODUCT CHRONOLOGY

2004 MODEL YEAR
Wrangler Unlimited introduced
Right-hand-drive model available for U.S. retail market
New 30-inch spare tire cover with Sahara logo
Optional locking fuel cap
CD player now standard on X, Sport, Sahara and Rubicon
Tilt steering standard on all models

2003 MODEL YEAR
Wrangler Rubicon model added
2.4-liter Power Tech™ DOHC, 16-valve I-4 engine replaces 2.5-liter engine
42RLE four-speed automatic transmission with skid plate is optional with 2.4-liter and 4.0-liter engines
Optional four-wheel disc brakes
Sideview mirror redesign
New front and rear seats
Interior Upper Head Impact Protection to meet 2003 federal standard
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
On-Board Refueling Vapor Recovery (ORVR)

2002 MODEL YEAR
Wrangler X model added
All-new HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system
Premium audio system adds front tweeters

2001 MODEL YEAR
Four-ply soft top
Amplified subwoofer—Optional with all radios
New anti-lock brake system
Long-life 100,000-mile engine coolant
New steering column tilt mechanism
User-ready child seat anchorage system
Plastic Add-a-Trunk

2000 MODEL YEAR
NV3550 five-speed manual transmission with synchronized Reverse—4.0-liter engine
4.0-liter engine modifications for lower emissions and improved durability
Child seat tether anchorages included with rear seat
4.0-liter engine meets Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) requirements in CA, ME, MA, NY, VT and the Northeast Trading Region states

1999 MODEL YEAR
Rotary air conditioning controls with bi-level mode
Optional AM/FM stereo radio with CD player (mid-year introduction)
2.5-liter engine meets Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (TLEV) standards where required
Next-generation driver and front passenger air bags(a)
Passenger air bag cutoff switch (May 1998 introduction)(b)

1998 MODEL YEAR
Sentry Key® theft-deterrent system available (November 1997 introduction)
4.0-liter Power Tech engine meets Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (TLEV) standards where required
Dual Top Group (spring 1997 introduction)

1997 MODEL YEAR
All-new, refined exterior body panels and hardware
Quadra-Coil Suspension
Contemporary interior appearance
New frame with outstanding torsional and bending stiffness
Driver and passenger air bags

1994 MODEL YEAR
Three-speed automatic transmission available with 2.5-liter engine

1993 MODEL YEAR
Four-wheel anti-lock brakes available

1991 MODEL YEAR
4.0-liter Power Tech, OHV, 12-valve SMPI I-6
“Power-Tech Six” engine replaces 4.2-liter engine

1988 MODEL YEAR
Sahara model introduced

1987 MODEL YEAR
Initial introduction
(a) Certified to federal regulations that allow less forceful air bags. Always use seat belts.
Remember, a back seat is the safest place for children.
(b) Important—Always remove key and replace cover.
Rearward-facing child seats may be used in the front seat only with the passenger air bag turned off.

 

[Thai]

Jeeps, Dodges to Receive New Six Speed Manual for 2005

Auburn Hills, MI - Chrysler Group is growing its six-speed manual transmission offerings beyond specialty vehicles such as Chrysler Crossfire and Dodge Viper, to now include its Jeep® sport-utility and Dodge truck vehicles.

“A six-speed manual transmission will now be standard equipment improving performance and driving pleasure in Jeep vehicles and Dodge Trucks where manual transmissions are offered,” said Bob Lee, Vice President – Powertrain Product Team, Chrysler Group.

For 2005, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wrangler will feature the NSG 370 six-speed manual transmission, replacing two five-speed manual transmissions previously used in these applications--the NV1500 and NV3550—reducing cost and complexity. This new transmission is a member of the six-speed NSG 370 family, similar to the one used in the Chrysler Crossfire—the first six-speed for the Chrysler Brand. The NSG six-speed manual transmission provides a 4.46:1 First-gear ratio, versus the 3.85:1 and 4.04:1 ratios of the five-speed transmissions it replaces, for improved launch and traction.

“Because Jeep vehicles are designed to perform in a variety of challenging off-road conditions, the NSG 370 six-speed manual transmission has a unique gear case and direct-shift system specifically designed for the Jeep application,” said Frank Frederick, Director – Manual and Rear-Wheel-Drive Transmissions and Driveline Engineering, Chrysler Group.

The NSG 370 six-speed manual transmission provides optimal shift quality, improved quietness and high quality. A new dual-ratio transmission shift-tower system allows packaging of the six-speed shift pattern within the existing Jeep vehicles, and it is tuned for optimized shift quality. For smooth operation the First and Second gears have triple-cone synchronization, the Third and Fourth gears feature double-cone and the Fifth and Sixth gears single-cone synchronization. Hard-finished gears allow for quiet operation. A multi-rail, steel-construction shift system delivers high strength and precision. The two-piece aluminum case with integrated clutch housing assures powertrain stiffness and light weight. The new First-gear ratio combined with six-speed step spread allows optimization of axle ratios for fuel economy and performance.

 

[Thai]

Auburn Hills, Mich., Sep 27, 2004 -Jeep® Wrangler, the heart and soul of the Jeep brand, dominates the small sport utility segment. Jeep, the "Go Anywhere, Do Anything" brand, plans to conquer even more territory with the introduction of its all-new 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.

Jeep announced pricing today for the all-new 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. For $28,825, Jeep delivers extreme, rugged off-road Rubicon capability in Wrangler’s new long wheelbase Unlimited model, which is 15 inches longer than the standard Jeep Wrangler with twice as much cargo volume.

"Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon aggressively expands the Wrangler lineup, delivering customers extreme off-road capability in a package that provides improved comfort and convenience," said Jeff Bell, Vice President, Jeep Marketing. "By marrying Wrangler Rubicon’s capability with Wrangler Unlimited’s versatility, Jeep attracts a broad range of customers who want to tackle the toughest off-road trails, and have the ability to bring along family, friends and cargo."

The 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon’s off-road system includes front and rear Dana model 44 axles with "air-actuated" Tru-Lok™ locking front and rear differentials, a Rock-Trac™ 4:1 low-range transfer case, four-wheel disc brakes and 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler "Maximum Traction/Reinforced" tires, which provide an extra one-half inch of ground clearance versus the standard Jeep Wrangler Unlimited model.

"Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon’s unique factory off-road system is another chapter in the Wrangler value story," Bell said. "Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon offers extreme off-road capability at approximately half the price of modifying the vehicle with aftermarket hardware. Combine that with Jeep engineering, testing on the world’s most demanding trails, Jeep’s 7-year/70,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty and significantly more space, and it’s clear the all-new 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon delivers the ultimate combination of capability, versatility and value."

More Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Features

In addition to extended length and increased cargo volume, the all-new 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon offers improved on-road comfort due to improved shock tuning and a 103-inch wheelbase, which is 10 inches longer than the original Wrangler.

A new dash pad, hood pad and thick rear carpet padding in the cargo area contribute to a 30 percent quieter ride in Jeep Wrangler Unlimited models.

An innovative new Sunrider™ soft top, with a "sun roof" in addition to the full top-down option, is offered on the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. The Sunrider top includes larger deep-tinted windows, providing second-row passengers better visibility.

Inside, access to the second row is improved with tip-and-slide front seats on both driver and passenger sides. Other interior highlights include an additional power outlet on the dash and an optional security group that includes an electrochromatic rearview mirror with temperature/compass display, map lights and Sentry® Key.

Best-In-Class Towing; Durable Power

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited models boast best-in-segment towing capability of 3,500 lbs., which is 1,500 lbs. more than the standard Jeep Wrangler. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is powered by the 190-horsepower 4.0-liter Power Tech™ I-6 engine, available with a four-speed automatic transmission or new, standard six-speed manual transmission.

 

[Thai]

2005 Jeep Wrangler Pricing

For reference, following are prices for 2005 Jeep Wrangler models, including the all-new 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. All prices include $610 for destination.

Jeep Wrangler SE $18,510

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited $24,355

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon $27,825

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon $28,825

 

[Thai]

First Drive: 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Jeep's Latest Creation Is Right at Home Along the "Gates of Hell"
By Phil Lienert
Date posted: 11-04-2004

For the preview of the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon to the automotive press, Jeep chose the La Salle Mountains, which lie directly outside of Moab, Utah. For those unfamiliar with this particular terrain, imagine the mountains of Mars, only more desolate, craggy and isolated. In the context of this imposing landscape, Jeep's latest product completely defied all of my preconceived notions of what a commercially sold vehicle is capable of. This praise is considerable coming from someone who has never previously appreciated the commercial application of Jeeps.

To put things in perspective, we tested the Unlimited Rubicon on a trail named "Hell's Revenge," which is operated by the Utah Bureau of Land Management. Surrounded on all sides by towering, petrified sand dunes, and pitted with jagged, "desert-varnished" canyons, the course that Jeep had set up for us more than lived up to its name. The company brought paramedics along for the ride, and it is a testament to the impeccable off-road capabilities of the Unlimited Rubicon that we didn't need them.

The preproduction vehicles that Jeep provided allowed us to crawl over mounds so steep that at times, I could only see the sky above me while driving. The engineers made much of the fact that the Unlimited Rubicon can negotiate 15 inches of water at 5 miles per hour. Indeed, we painlessly crossed innumerable gulches that John Wayne would have thought twice about traversing on horseback.

At one point, the engineers decided to show off the Unlimited Rubicon's full potential by straddling up two twin precipices which were elevated at about a 45-degree angle. This particular bit of the course was appropriately designated as "The Gates of Hell," and Jeep could not have paid me enough money to even sit in the backseat of the vehicle during this exercise.

Sure enough, the vehicle began to lose its footing about three-quarters of the way up, and many of us present were flabbergasted when the Unlimited Rubicon finally reached the party of gawking journalists at the top. Even though I later learned that this bit of tension was staged for dramatic effect, it did little to dispel the impression of true-blue ruggedness that the car made on me.

Pointing out the fact that the Unlimited Rubicon is difficult to get into and not at all comfortable to ride in seems beside the point. This car occupies a unique niche in the market and therefore has to be judged on its own terms.

The Unlimited Rubicon actually combines two separate Wrangler models — you guessed it — the Rubicon and the Unlimited, or as the people at Jeep were telling us, "chocolate and peanut butter." The standard Rubicon, introduced in 2003, was the most formidably equipped Jeep to date, with all sorts of features that provided a greatly enhanced off-road experience. The long-wheelbase Unlimited, introduced in 2004, added 15 inches to the standard Wrangler's overall length, resulting in greatly improved interior space.

With sales of the Rubicon up 30 percent last year, Jeep has apparently yielded to the most sordid fantasies of both its engineers and customers. In addition to the space increase of the Unlimited, the Rubicon hardware includes incredibly sturdy Goodyear Wrangler 31-inch tires, along with Dana 44 front and rear axles, a Rock-Trac transfer case and Tru-Lok locking front and rear differentials. In addition, the 4.0-liter Power Tech inline six, rated for 190 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque, is standard equipment.

Engineering Supervisor Jim Repp, who has a Jeep tattooed on his right bicep, describes the Rubicon Unlimited as his company's "image vehicle." Careful research revealed to the Jeep production team that serious off-roaders were adding up to $9,000 worth of aftermarket parts to enhance the performance of their Wranglers. The company decided to offer many of the most popular additions in a package that is much more consistently assembled than any custom job and is mass-produced to lower the overall cost.

With an MSRP of $28,825, the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon comes in about $4,000 more than the base Unlimited and about $800 more than the standard Rubicon. In Jeep's mind, going for a factory-built Rubicon would save the average buyer several thousand dollars compared to outfitting a Jeep through the aftermarket, not to mention the time and energy involved in getting it all done. Needless to say, this vehicle could set a lot of mountain men's hearts ablaze when it appears in showrooms this December.

As you would expect, mileage isn't the Rubicon's strong point. The Unlimited Rubicon has an EPA highway rating of 18 miles per gallon and a 14 mpg city figure. Obviously, this is not the sort of vehicle that most sensible people would choose as their primary vehicle. But then again, I could only imagine a Utah park ranger or perhaps the "Crocodile Hunter" driving one of these on a daily basis.

Also, while you're wasting plenty of money on precious fuel when picking up the dry cleaning, you're guaranteed a choppy ride. In order for a car to perform as well as it does in death-defying situations, though, a lot of basic amenities have to be sacrificed. I, for one, would rather entrust my life to the Unlimited Rubicon in a treacherous situation, over any Bentley or Maybach. While bumpiness characterizes this particular sort of beast, the Unlimited Rubicon is certainly not a car intended for the faint of heart or sensitive of stomach.

When it comes to a Jeep's strengths, which are both plentiful and entirely singular, nothing can touch the Unlimited Rubicon. It more than defied my expectations in terms of its off-road capabilities and the ability to bring me from the "Gates of Hell" back to the hotel in one piece.