With the advent of World War II, the U.S. Army solicited bids from 135 automotive manufacturers to build a “light reconnaissance vehicle.” After a series of prototypes honed to Army-spec, Willys-Overland won out with its MB model in 1941. The rest is history — following a successful wartime campaign, the MB was converted into the first civilian-ready Jeep, the CJ.
80 years later and Jeep remains an off-road authority. With its 2021 update, the Wrangler gains a slew of powertrain options and tech to maximize the versatility of the most fan-favored 4×4. Under the hood, the new Wrangler comes in four flavors: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, a 3.6-liter V6, a 3.6-liter V6 with e-Torque, and finally a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel. But that’s not all — the platform now comes standard with Off-Road Plus, a variable throttle, transmission, and traction adjuster. Additionally, there’s an optional TrailCam forward-facing offroad camera for pre-scanning tricky climbs and descents. Finally, joining the lineup are the 80th Anniversary and Islander Editions, each featuring a unique combination of paint, trim, and decals. Should you decide that you need more storage capacity in the way of a cargo bed, Jeep has also announced the new Gladiator for 2021.
