Tag Archives: Jeep

Tuning

Stradale Modena Turns the Jeep Wrangler Into a Brabus-Style Street Monster

When you hear the name Stradale Modena, your mind might jump straight to the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale—loud, raw, red, and very early-2000s. But this Stradale Modena has nothing to do with Maranello’s track special. Instead, this Italian outfit from Emilia-Romagna has picked a very different canvas for its high-end sculpting: the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator.

Yes, Italy is now building its own answer to Brabus—but for Jeeps.

Brabus Energy, Boxy American Canvas

Stradale Modena specializes in turning the Wrangler and Gladiator into aggressive, wide-bodied street bruisers. Its lineup consists of the GTX package for the Wrangler and the Xtrema treatment for the Gladiator.

Both kits come with a familiar but effective visual formula:

  • A deeper front bumper with oversized air intakes
  • Wide fenders that exaggerate the already-square silhouette
  • LED roof lights
  • A rear spoiler
  • A sportier rear bumper with an integrated diffuser
  • Four tailpipes—because subtlety is not the mission

If the shapes look a bit Brabus-like, that’s by design. The intake geometry and ventilation cutouts echo the German tuner’s aesthetic, made even clearer with a custom grille featuring a circular emblem and an optional hood scoop. Customers can spec piano-black or carbon-fiber trim to crank up the attitude.

Bigger Wheels, Stiffer Suspension, Louder Attitude

Both the Wrangler GTX and Gladiator Xtrema ride on aftermarket wheels wrapped in 35-inch tires, though 37s are available for those who want the towering stance of a desert marauder. Suspension is stiffened, the exhaust is custom, and the entire package leans more toward urban intimidation than off-road exploration.

Powertrain: From Stock Jeep to Hellcat Fury

Under the hood, buyers can keep the familiar Jeep options—

  • 2.0-liter turbo four (Wrangler)
  • 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (Wrangler and Gladiator)

But if you’re already spending six figures on a wide-body Italian-tuned Jeep, chances are you’re not stopping at a four-banger.

Stradale Modena offers two V8 upgrades:

  • 6.4-liter Hemi 392
  • 6.2-liter Hellcat V8, supercharged, pushing 717 hp

That last one turns these boxy machines into straight-line hooligans. A Hellcat-powered Wrangler isn’t subtle, but it would make your morning commute considerably more interesting.

Inside: Alcantara, Leather, Carbon, and More Tech

The cabin receives a full makeover with leather and Alcantara surfaces, contrast stitching, and carbon-fiber trim. Optional upgrades include a new infotainment system, high-end audio, and additional driver-assistance features—because if you’re paying super-SUV money, you should at least get the toys.

Prices That Climb Into Brabus Territory

Exclusivity doesn’t come cheap:

  • Wrangler GTX: from €97,000
  • Gladiator Xtrema: from €100,000

Add a V8:

  • Hemi 392: +€34,500
  • Hellcat: +€78,800

Load everything—carbon bits, 37-inch wheels, full interior, electronics—and your Jeep can soar to:

  • €292,680 (Wrangler GTX)
  • €294,480 (Gladiator Xtrema)

That’s deep into luxury-SUV money, though still a step below a fully-optioned Brabus G-Class.

Global Ambition, Italian Soul

Stradale Modena operates out of Emilia-Romagna but has partnerships in the Middle East and West Africa, allowing customers in those regions to order and complete builds locally. The strategy is clear: become the Brabus of Jeeps, globally.

The Stradale Modena Wrangler and Gladiator packages aren’t for purists, off-road traditionalists, or bargain hunters. They’re for people who love the idea of a Jeep—but want it angrier, louder, wider, and dressed in Italian tailoring.

It’s unapologetically extravagant. And honestly? We kind of love that.

Source: Stradale Modena

News

Jeep’s Hot-Selling 4xe Hybrids Hit with Third Recall in a Month—And This One Might Be the Worst Yet

Jeep’s 4xe lineup has been the poster child for mainstream plug-in success. The Wrangler 4xe didn’t just outsell every other PHEV in America—it did so for two years straight, accounting for a full quarter of Wrangler deliveries. But the same models that helped define Stellantis’s electrified future are now becoming its biggest headache.

And this latest recall?
It’s a doozy.

Engines Built With… Sand?

Jeep has issued another callback—its third hybrid-related recall in under a month—this time targeting 76,019 Wrangler 4xe models (MY 2024–25) and 36,840 Grand Cherokee 4xe models (MY 2023–25).

The culprit:
Sand contamination inside the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines sourced from Mexico. Yes, actual casting-process sand—exactly the stuff you don’t want circulating through a modern turbocharged powerplant.

If those abrasive particles wind up in critical areas, the result can be catastrophic:

  • Engine damage
  • Loss of power
  • Potential loss of control
  • Risk of fire

And for anyone thinking this is purely a hybrid issue—Jeep says only the 4xe variants are affected, even though non-hybrid 2.0-liter Wranglers were built during the same timeframe.

Not Just a “What If” Problem

Jeep isn’t recalling these SUVs based on hypotheticals. By late October, the company had already logged:

  • 36 customer assistance cases
  • 144 warranty claims
  • 36 fires
  • 50 loss-of-propulsion incidents
  • 50 additional related field reports
  • Three reported injuries

That’s not a trend line—it’s a flashing red light.

Jeep says owner notifications will begin December 29, though the brand still doesn’t have a finalized fix. And depending on what engineers uncover, the solution could be massive. Toyota recently had to replace thousands of engines after machining debris was discovered in its V6 production line; Jeep could be staring down a similarly costly remedy.

A Triple Hit to 4xe Confidence

This latest engine contamination recall lands on top of two other high-profile 4xe issues announced over the past several weeks:

1. Fire Risk: Park Outside

Just weeks ago, Jeep urged over 320,000 Wrangler and Grand Cherokee 4xe owners to park outside and away from buildings due to hybrid battery packs that can spontaneously ignite—an advisory that instantly put the brand on the defensive.

2. OTA Update Gone Wrong

Before that, nearly 25,000 Wrangler 4xe models were recalled after a faulty over-the-air update wreaked havoc on their hybrid systems, causing some SUVs to lose drive entirely.

Three major recalls in under a month would be a PR nightmare for any company, but for Jeep—whose electrification strategy is heavily staked on 4xe branding—it’s an existential challenge.

Jeep’s Electrified Future: Still on the Trail, but Stumbling

The Wrangler 4xe’s popularity once made it a symbol of the modern off-roader—silent when you wanted stealth, torquey when you needed grunt, and just electrified enough to feel future-proof. Now it risks becoming the face of reliability anxiety.

Jeep says it’s working urgently on a solution. Owners, meanwhile, are left waiting—with many likely wondering whether “4xe” still means progress or just more problems.

One thing’s clear:
Electrification hasn’t killed the Jeep trail.
But right now, the ride is rockier than ever.

Source: Jeep

Tuning

Fox Factory’s Jeep Wrangler Commando Salutes Veterans with Supercharged Style

This Veterans Day, Fox Factory Vehicles isn’t just saying “thank you for your service”—they’re handing out keys. The company best known for its off-road suspension systems has unveiled the Jeep Wrangler Commando, a turn-key trail machine based on the Rubicon 392, built exclusively for veterans and active-duty military personnel.

A Wrangler with a Mission

Fox Factory’s Commando starts with the Wrangler Rubicon 392—already the rowdiest, V8-powered Wrangler you can buy—and cranks the rugged meter to 11. From the outside, the Commando looks like a proper salute to military heritage: the body and high-top fenders are finished in ’41 Green, a color nodding to the original World War II–era Willys Jeep. Steel bumpers, tubular doors, and a grille guard give it that battlefield bravado, while a Bimini top and Commando hood decals add some flair to the functionality.

For those who plan to get seriously stuck (and let’s face it, someone will), Fox offers a 12,000-pound Warn winch for $3,395—because no one likes waiting for recovery duty.

Built Fox Tough

Fox’s own hardware is front and center, as expected. The Commando rides on a 3.5-inch JKS lift kit paired with Fox 3.0 internal bypass shocks featuring remote reservoirs. A Fox ATS steering stabilizer keeps the front end tight, while 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels wearing 37-inch Nitto Ridge Grapplers provide the kind of ground clearance that makes small boulders look like speed bumps.

This setup isn’t just cosmetic; it’s purpose-built for real off-road use. Expect smoother damping over whoops and ruts, better body control at speed, and enough articulation to make a mountain goat jealous.

Inside the Lines

Open those tubular doors, and you’re greeted with a surprisingly refined interior. Tan leather seats embroidered with Commando logos strike a balance between luxury and legacy, while a dash-mounted accessory rail gives space for trail gadgets—GPS units, cameras, or that all-important GoPro.

A digital rearview mirror modernizes the view out back, which you’ll need since the spare tire has been relocated to the cargo area. (Yes, it eats into your gear space, but it also improves rear visibility and weight balance.)

The Heart of the Beast

Under the hood sits the familiar 6.4-liter Hemi V8, producing 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive. It’s the same brawny setup that makes the Rubicon 392 such a joyously excessive machine.

But if that’s somehow not enough grunt, Fox will gladly install a Whipple supercharger for an additional $11,495, boosting output to 705 hp and 655 lb-ft of torque. Pair that with the optional Magnaflow exhaust ($3,395), and the Commando’s bark will match its bite—loudly.

Exclusivity, with a Purpose

The Commando is limited to just 250 units, and there’s a catch: it’s available only to veterans and active-duty personnel, who must apply and share their story for consideration. Pricing starts at $69,995, though Fox hasn’t confirmed whether that’s before or after the cost of the base Rubicon 392 itself. Either way, it’s a collector’s piece with real meaning—a rolling tribute to those who’ve served, built by a company that knows how to engineer respect into metal.

Final Thoughts

The Jeep Wrangler Commando isn’t just another special edition—it’s a blend of heritage, horsepower, and honor. It’s the kind of build that looks just as comfortable rolling through Moab as it does in a Veterans Day parade.

In a market full of “appearance packages,” Fox Factory’s Commando feels refreshingly authentic. It’s not a sticker job—it’s a purpose-built off-roader with real hardware, real power, and real gratitude behind it.

If you’re one of the few eligible to get one, consider it both a badge of honor and a ticket to the wild.

Source: Fox Factory