Tag Archives: 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

News

Jeep started production of the new Compass

The Jeep Compass is growing up — again. Jeep today marked the start of production for the all-new, third-generation Compass, built on Stellantis’ state-of-the-art STLA Medium platform at the Melfi plant in southern Italy. It’s a fitting homecoming for a nameplate that’s quietly become a global cornerstone for Jeep, racking up over 2.5 million sales worldwide since its debut.

This new Compass isn’t just another refresh. It’s a clean-sheet SUV that combines Jeep’s off-road heritage with electrified sophistication — and, perhaps most importantly, it’s built for every kind of driver.

Powertrain Freedom: From Hybrid to 375 Horsepower EV

Jeep calls it “freedom of mobility,” and for once, that’s not marketing fluff. The new Compass lineup spans from a 145-hp e-Hybrid to a 195-hp plug-in hybrid, all the way up to a fully electric AWD version pumping out up to 375 horsepower. The BEV variant boasts up to 650 kilometers (404 miles) of range — a figure that, if accurate in the real world, would make it one of the most capable EV SUVs in its class.

Underpinning all versions is the STLA Medium platform, a flexible architecture designed to handle everything from combustion-assisted hybrids to full battery-electric powertrains. That modularity gives Jeep the freedom to tailor performance, efficiency, and cost to regional markets — a must in an era when electrification is reshaping what “SUV” means around the globe.

Capability Meets Efficiency

Despite its urban polish, this Compass remains a Jeep at heart. Ground clearance tops 200 millimeters, approach and departure angles are optimized for real-world off-roading, and the SUV can ford up to 480 mm of water.

Jeep claims a drag coefficient of 0.29, an impressive number for a compact SUV, achieved without sacrificing the upright proportions that make a Jeep a Jeep. The Selec-Terrain system and a suite of 360-degree sensors enhance grip and confidence, whether it’s navigating snow-packed switchbacks or parallel parking in Milan.

Built at Melfi: The Heart of Jeep in Europe

The Melfi plant has long been Jeep’s European stronghold. Since 2014, it has produced the Renegade, Compass, and the pioneering 4xe plug-in models, churning out more than 2.3 million vehicles to date.

Now, Melfi’s ultra-flexible assembly line allows Stellantis to adjust its output on the fly — up to 100 percent battery-electric, if demand calls for it. It’s a tangible expression of Jeep’s “freedom” philosophy, extended from the trail to the factory floor.

Covering 1.9 million square meters and employing 4,600 workers, Melfi is a marvel of modern manufacturing. Its processes span from stamping and painting to battery assembly, all under one roof. Sustainability is built in: solar panels, wind turbines, and a biomethane recycling system are already in play, with the goal of generating 54 MW of renewable energy — enough to cover 70 percent of the plant’s needs by 2030.

Designed, Engineered, and Built in Italy — Sold Everywhere

When production ramps up, the new Compass will ship to 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. That global reach underscores Jeep’s confidence that its latest C-segment SUV can satisfy both traditionalists and tech-forward buyers alike.

The formula feels right: iconic design, broad powertrain choice, serious off-road credentials, and genuine efficiency.

The Takeaway

In a market crowded with crossovers claiming to do it all, the new Compass might just be one of the few that actually can. Built in Italy but engineered for the world, Jeep’s latest SUV is more than a mid-cycle refresh — it’s a statement of intent: freedom, electrified.

Source: Jeep

NEW CARS

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has never been one to rest on its laurels. Three decades after setting the benchmark for American SUVs, the 2026 model storms in with something entirely new under the hood — a Hurricane.

Yes, that’s the name of Jeep’s all-new 2.0-liter Hurricane 4 Turbo, a four-cylinder engine with enough tech and torque to make you rethink everything you thought you knew about small displacement. It’s the headline act of the 2026 Grand Cherokee lineup, a year that also brings updated design touches, a new 12.3-inch infotainment system, and a simplified trim structure designed to make choosing your adventure-ready family hauler a little easier.

A Turbocharged Storm in a Grand Shell

On paper, the Hurricane 4 Turbo looks like the kind of overachiever that belongs under a sports sedan’s hood, not a 4,800-pound SUV. The 2.0-liter inline-four churns out 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, translating to an impressive 162 horsepower per liter—a segment record. That’s enough to tow 6,200 pounds and travel an estimated 529 miles on a single tank, all on regular gas.

The secret sauce is Stellantis’ first high-volume application of Turbulent Jet Ignition (TJI) technology, a race-inspired combustion trick that ignites fuel in a pre-chamber above each cylinder for a faster, cleaner, and more complete burn. The result? More power, fewer emissions, and a broader torque curve — 90 percent of peak torque is available between 2,600 and 5,600 rpm.

Add in a variable-geometry turbocharger, and the Hurricane 4 promises both snappy low-end response and effortless highway passing power. “We’ve created a force to exceed the high expectations that Grand Cherokee owners have for power and refinement,” said Micky Bly, Stellantis’ head of propulsion engineering.

New Face, Smarter Cabin

Beyond the engine, the Grand Cherokee gets a subtle refresh to keep things looking and feeling contemporary. The iconic seven-slot grille gets a sharper edge, flanked by new headlight designs and updated lower fascia treatments. Out back, the rear bumper and trim have been re-sculpted, while new finishes and three fresh paint shades — Steel Blue, Copper Shino, and Fathom Blue — bring a touch of sophistication to Jeep’s adventure-ready posture.

Inside, the cabin steps up its tech game. The new 12.3-inch infotainment system dominates the dashboard, joined by an available 10.25-inch passenger display and the always-welcome McIntosh 19-speaker premium audio system. Materials and finishes have been elevated across the board, particularly in the upper trims, while features like Active Driving Assist, Night Vision, and a 360-degree camera move the Grand Cherokee closer to luxury SUV territory than ever before.

Simplified Trims, Smarter Choices

Jeep has restructured the lineup for 2026 around three primary trims: Laredo, Limited, and Summit. The idea is simplicity — fewer overlapping configurations, clearer value steps, and more standard equipment where it matters.

The entry-level Laredo Altitude now includes the 12.3-inch infotainment system, premium audio, and Jeep’s Selec-Terrain 4×4 system, a first for the base model. Standard safety tech is expanded, with Traffic Sign Recognition and Intersection Collision Assist now included.

Step up to the Limited, and you’ll find leatherette seating, Silver Silk exterior accents, and a nine-speaker Alpine audio setup. For those wanting a bit more flair, the Limited Reserve and Limited Altitude packages pile on 20-inch wheels, dual-pane sunroofs, ventilated Nappa leather seats, and a digital rearview mirror.

At the top sits the Summit, which leans heavily into premium territory with Palermo leather upholstery, massaging seats, a suede headliner, and the Quadra-Trac II 4×4 system paired with adaptive air suspension. Add in the McIntosh sound system, and you’ve got arguably the most luxurious Jeep this side of a Grand Wagoneer.

L, PHEV, and Trailhawk: Something for Everyone

Jeep hasn’t forgotten families or eco-minded adventurers. The three-row Grand Cherokee L returns with best-in-class second-row legroom and expanded third-row amenities, while the Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid continues to offer a compelling mix of torque and efficiency. The Trailhawk 4xe, in particular, remains the lineup’s off-road king, boasting 470 lb-ft of torque, a best-in-class departure angle, and a 470-mile driving range.

Built in Detroit, Coming Soon

Production of the 2026 Grand Cherokee will continue at Stellantis’ Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson and Mack plants, solidifying its Motor City roots. It’s one of four new Jeep models launching in the second half of 2025, alongside the revamped Cherokee, Grand Wagoneer, and all-electric Recon.

Final Thoughts

The Grand Cherokee has always walked a fine line between ruggedness and refinement. With the introduction of the Hurricane 4 Turbo, Jeep isn’t just threading that needle — it’s redefining what efficiency and power can look like in a midsize SUV.

If the numbers hold true, this isn’t just another engine swap. It’s a statement: Jeep’s most awarded SUV just found a new way to earn that title — with brains, brawn, and a little boost.

Source: Jeep