[jeepers]

Rumors have been spinning, fuelling the idea of a Wrangler pickup truck. Sometimes it's happening, other times it's not. Now we have FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne on the "it's happening" side again.

“Jeep will produce a pickup based off the next-generation Wrangler,” and it, along with the next iteration of the standard Wrangler, will be built in Toledo like the current vehicle Reporter Michael Wayland writes on DetroitNews.com.

Unfortunately, there are no direct quotes to support this report, and later a Jeep spokesman clarified that Marchionne "may have" said something to the effect of a Wrangler pickup coming with the next Wrangler bodystyle in "a round table with journalists," but the company has issued NO official announcement.

The clostest thing that we have to a direct quote is from manley as reported by The Detroit News:

“Sergio and I work very, very closely on the Jeep product portfolio, and both of us have been a fan of a potential Wrangler pickup... For me, there is a historical place in our lineup for it.”

Jalopnik says:

It does seem extremely likely that the company will build such a vehicle, especially since the four-door Wrangler Unlimited turned out to be such a resounding success after so many years of Jeep fans demanding a four-door.

 

[Jeepernator]

We'll know if it's an actual yes or not later this month when FCA is set to reveal their updated five-year product strategy to investors. I've read a few articles about this and they're taking Manley's words as a yes. Now that everyone is expecting a Wrangler pickup to come out, Jeep may be pressured to meet everyone's expectations.

 

[Sic]

Both Sergio and Manly confirmed it. There's no ALMOST about it, both said yes...

You don't need a direct quote to know that LOL, it was part of his key note or whatever. Journos don't get transcripts to those.

Jeep confirms pickup; new SUV to be Patriot or Compass

He also confirmed that Jeep will produce a pickup based off the next-generation Wrangler. The SUV is expected late-2017.

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed Monday that the pickup will be produced in Toledo, alongside the next-generation Wrangler.

“Sergio and I work very, very closely on the Jeep product portfolio, and both of us have been a fan of a potential Wrangler pickup ...

“For me, there is a historical place in our lineup for it.”

In recent years, Jeep has played with the idea of a pickup through concept models. The most well-known are the Jeep J-12 produced for the annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari off-roading event in 2012, and the Jeep Gladiator based on the Jeep Wrangler platform that debuted at the 2005 Detroit auto show.

 

[jeepers]

I just haven't seen any direct quote from him. And why would the Jeep spokesman walk back such an announcement then? it's probably happening but I'm just not sure I would say that it is officially confirmed.

 

[HighRider]

Maybe Jeep redacted it because they want to keep their Pickup plans under wraps for now. We'll know soon enough this month.

 

[Sic]

I just haven't seen any direct quote from him. And why would the Jeep spokesman walk back such an announcement then? it's probably happening but I'm just not sure I would say that it is officially confirmed.

You guys complain too much about nothing...

I’ll confirm it for you. We will build a Wrangler pickup, shortly after the launch of the Wrangler, of the new Wrangler which should be operational sometime by the end of next year. And just broadly, the car is done, the car is designed and it’s been engineered. So we just need to get off our butts and start producing it.

 

[gladiator]

At this point it`s just a matter of time, the right timing to bring it to market. Maybe following the Wrangler JL`s release.