FCA has been in a bind for the last couple of years with hope of improvement coming from the updated Ram 1500, the new Jeep Wrangler JL, and the upcoming Wrangler-based pickup truck. We’ve all seen the mules of the Jeep Pickup truck, AKA the Scrambler, testing on public roads but information about it from FCA or Jeep itself has remained top secret. All that has changed after a dealer meeting that gave just one piece of “new” information – the Jeep Wrangler Pickup will go into production in the final quarter of 2018, with dealerships getting their first haul to sell in April of 2019 – that’s just a year away folks.

What to Expect from the Jeep Scrambler

Considering the pickup, which is carrying an assumed name of “Scrambler,” is based wholeheartedly on the Jeep Wrangler JL, you can expect it to carry most of the same design cures up front and on the side, all the way back to the C-Pillar, where it will undoubtedly change for the cargo bed out back. Consider it as the opposite of a good mullet from the 70’s – it’s a party up front and all business in the rear.

It’ll get the same fender flares in the front and rear, same headlights, and the rear bumper will change just a bit in comparison to wrap around the bed. Expect to see the Wrangler’s taillights on the corners and, based on the spy shots, it’ll have a relatively small bed, placing it in competition with vehicles like the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger, only the base model will have that extra off-road capability that you expect from anything wearing a Jeep badge, let alone based on the Wrangler.

What will really be interesting is the roof, which a previously leaked order guide has pegged with three options: a three-piece hardtop in black, three-piece hardtop in body color, and a Premium Black Sunrider soft top. There may or may not be a permanent bulkhead. If not, it’s likely that the bed will extend into the cab if the seats are folded down – a feature that you might recall from the old Chevy Avalanche.

As for engines and transmission, expect the Scrambler to feature the same drivetrains as its non-bed-bearing brethren. This includes a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 that was upgraded for 2018, a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6, or a new 2.0-liter, turbo-four hurricane. A six-speed manual or eight-speed auto will be for the taking, and four-wheel drive will most definitely be standard equipment. Full-time AWD should be on the options list as well as a plethora of off-road and utility features. Expect a fully-boxed frame, coil spring suspension, solid axles and multi-link control arms to make up the suspension and chassis system. All told, it should be one hell of a truck.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Jeep Scrambler.

Read more Jeep news.