Tag Archives: Jeep

NEW CARS

2026 Jeep Recon: Jeep’s First All-Electric Trail-Rated Bruiser Charges Into the Future

Jeep didn’t just dip a toe into electrification—it kicked down the door, slapped on some 33-inch tires, and said follow me. The 2026 Jeep Recon, the brand’s first fully electric, Trail Rated SUV, is not an experiment or a soft first attempt. It arrives as a full-force declaration that instant torque, silent propulsion, and steel-plated underbodies belong on the trail just as much as internal-combustion thunder ever did.

Jeep has teased an electric off-roader before, but the Recon is the first to bring the idea to life with production intent, real capability, and performance numbers that would make a Hellcat blush: 650 horsepower, 620 lb-ft of torque, and 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds. That’s supercar acceleration in a boxy, door-removable, full-size off-road EV.

And yes—it’s still a Jeep through and through.

Electrified Muscle: 4xe Capability Goes All-In

Jeep built the Recon on a clean-sheet electric architecture, and it shows. A pair of 250-kW Stellantis-built electric drive modules (EDMs)—one front, one rear—deliver standard electric four-wheel drive. Each EDM packs the motor, reduction gearing, and power electronics into a tight, efficient package.

Stomp the right pedal, and the Recon gives you its full 620 lb-ft right now, no revs required. Jeep claims this makes for a more controlled and confidence-inspiring off-road experience, especially in technical crawling.

The Recon Moab trim gets the serious hardware:

  • 15:1 rear final drive for torque multiplication
  • Electronic locking rear differential
  • 33-inch tires and 9.4 inches of ground clearance
  • Rock mode in the Selec-Terrain system
  • Steel underbody armor protecting the 100-kWh, 400-V battery

Compare this with traditional internal-combustion trail rigs—waiting for torque or dealing with heat management—and the EV approach starts looking less like a compromise and more like an upgrade.

On-Road Calm, Off-Road Command

The Recon’s short-long-arm front suspension and integral-link rear setup deliver a familiar Jeep dual personality: capable in the dirt, composed on asphalt. Automatic front-axle disconnects help maximize range on the road, switching to rear-drive when the extra traction isn’t needed.

Trail numbers are solidly Wrangler-adjacent:

  • 34° approach angle
  • 23.5° breakover
  • 34.5° departure

Selec-Speed downhill/ uphill control and Jeep’s one-pedal-ready Rock mode allow for low-speed precision that EVs excel at. Silent crawling over rocks might be the most Jeep thing Jeep has done in years.

Iconic Jeep Style, Reimagined for the EV Era

Visually, the Recon doesn’t pretend to be anything but a Jeep: upright stance, wide fenders, and a seven-slot grille—this time illuminated with LED rings. The overall look sits somewhere between Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, with a cleaner, more modern edge.

Signature Jeep freedom features? Still here, but updated:

  • Removable doors, rear quarter glass, and swing-gate glass—no tools needed
  • Dual-pane sunroof or Sky One-Touch power top
  • Swing gate with full-size spare
  • Bold LED lighting and gloss-black accents

Moab models layer on more attitude: black fascias, rock rails, topographical badging, and an anti-glare hood graphic.

Jeep’s color palette will rotate seasonally and includes expressive hues ranging from rugged earth tones to bold, playful shades. Expect plenty of special editions.

Interior: Rugged Meets Tech-Forward

Open the door and the Recon shows off an interior that blends Jeep utility with clean, modern EV design. The dash is horizontal and squared-off, anchored by a passenger grab handle and a modular accessory rail designed for cameras, GPS units—or, because Jeep people are Jeep people, rubber ducks.

Key interior highlights:

  • Two-tiered center console with wireless charging
  • Modular door panels with elastic storage straps
  • Up to 65.9 cu. ft. of cargo space
  • 3.0-cu.-ft. frunk sized for a carry-on bag
  • Recycled synthetic Capri materials throughout

The Moab trim introduces a stunning Joshua Tree tan interior, inspired by an actual Jeep design expedition. Earthy tones, rugged textures, and premium details strike a balance between outdoor grit and near-luxury serenity.

Audio lovers take note: an Alpine premium sound system is standard, and since the doors are removable, Jeep relocated the speakers beneath the seats for uninterrupted acoustics.

Screens, Software, and Smarter Adventures

If the interior design nods to Jeep’s heritage, the tech drags it firmly into the future. The Recon offers more than 26 inches of total screen real estate, anchored by:

  • 12.3-inch digital cluster
  • 14.5-inch center touchscreen—the largest usable screen ever in a Jeep

Powered by Uconnect 5, the interface is crisp, customizable, and bright. Digital HVAC controls streamline the layout, but physical knobs for volume and tuning remain—thank you, Jeep.

Off-road tech gets a major boost with:

  • Trails Offroad app with pitch/roll mapping
  • Dynamic Range Mapping (TomTom) for smart trip and charge planning
  • Enhanced BEV energy pages
  • Alexa Built-In and a redesigned Jeep mobile app

This isn’t just a more connected Jeep—it’s one that actively helps you plan and execute real adventures.

Production and Launch

The 2026 Jeep Recon will begin production early next year at the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico. First deliveries target the U.S. and Canada, with global expansion to follow.

Our Take: A Jeep That’s Quiet—but Not Quiet About Its Intentions

The 2026 Recon isn’t trying to replace the Wrangler—but it is aiming to prove that battery-electric off-roaders aren’t a novelty. Between the instant torque, silent operation, removable body panels, and real-deal trail numbers, the Recon feels less like Jeep copying the Rivian R1S and more like Jeep doing what Jeep does—just with electrons instead of gasoline.

If Jeep remains true to the specs and execution shown here, the Recon could be the moment EV off-roading stops being theoretical and becomes the mainstream.

In other words: the future of Jeep still looks like a Jeep—just quicker, quieter, and a whole lot torquier.

Source: 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