Jeep Pushes Back Wrangler Pickup Launch

I know this will come as a shock to no Jeep faithful, but Jeep is pushing the Wrangler pickup production back to 2019. When 2019 arrives, it’ll probably be pushed to 2021, or maybe 2023.

Jeep just wants to torture everyone.

Admittedly, getting the Wrangler pickup just right isn’t any easy job. After all, the vehicle has a steep trail-worthy standard to achieve. It also has to look good, be affordable enough, and still have a bed people will consider utilitarian.

Over and over, Jeep’s teased that this vehicle will go into production, only to change its mind. Mike Manley, Jeep’s CEO, promised last year that Wrangler pickups would start rolling off production lines by the end of 2017.

The hangup, according to an interview Manley did with The Detroit Times, is that production of the new Wrangler needs to be going smoothly. The guy has his hands full, with launching a Compass that doesn’t suck, getting ready to unleash the new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer and continuing to dominate off-roader sales all over the place. Maybe we’ll cut him some slack, but we don’t have to like it.

Manley also let it slip we’ll see the new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which uses a Hellcat V-8, will be unveiled in New York next month.