I hadn't realized solid axles weighed more. Will be interesting to see the outcome and if independent suspension can compete with live axles in serious off-road applications.
From Automotive News
There’s arguably no single vehicle as important to the identity of any particular brand more than the Wrangler is for Jeep. The Jeep Wrangler IS Jeep and it can trace its history back more than 70 years to World War II when the first GPW started rolling off the production line for the military. With tougher fuel economy standards, the next-gen Jeep Wrangler — set to arrive in 2016 — could be the most difficult update yet, and according to Jeep chief Mike Manley, there’s a chance the Wrangler’s beloved solid axles may not live on to the next generation.
Manley, in a recent interview with Automotive News, told the outlet that he couldn’t promise that the Wrangler’s solid axle and coil-link suspension would live on to the next-generation. “We’re already in an environment where it’s a challenge to produce a vehicle in that way, and it’s going to get harder,” Manley said. “What I can tell you is that the vehicle is absolutely fundamental to our DNA, and it’s going to become progressively harder to make sure that the vehicle meets all of the standards that are required for it.”
Development of the next-generation Jeep Wrangler began earlier this year, with the brand looking for ways to reduce the SUV’s weight. With a lower curb weight and some electronic aids, the Wrangler could conceivably be more fuel-efficient and just as capable as it’s ever been.
Since updating the Jeep Wrangler is such an important project, Manley knows the pressures on: “Frankly, I know that if I screw up the next Wrangler, then I probably wouldn’t be able to leave my house for a long time.”
From Automotive News
There’s arguably no single vehicle as important to the identity of any particular brand more than the Wrangler is for Jeep. The Jeep Wrangler IS Jeep and it can trace its history back more than 70 years to World War II when the first GPW started rolling off the production line for the military. With tougher fuel economy standards, the next-gen Jeep Wrangler — set to arrive in 2016 — could be the most difficult update yet, and according to Jeep chief Mike Manley, there’s a chance the Wrangler’s beloved solid axles may not live on to the next generation.
Manley, in a recent interview with Automotive News, told the outlet that he couldn’t promise that the Wrangler’s solid axle and coil-link suspension would live on to the next-generation. “We’re already in an environment where it’s a challenge to produce a vehicle in that way, and it’s going to get harder,” Manley said. “What I can tell you is that the vehicle is absolutely fundamental to our DNA, and it’s going to become progressively harder to make sure that the vehicle meets all of the standards that are required for it.”
Development of the next-generation Jeep Wrangler began earlier this year, with the brand looking for ways to reduce the SUV’s weight. With a lower curb weight and some electronic aids, the Wrangler could conceivably be more fuel-efficient and just as capable as it’s ever been.
Since updating the Jeep Wrangler is such an important project, Manley knows the pressures on: “Frankly, I know that if I screw up the next Wrangler, then I probably wouldn’t be able to leave my house for a long time.”
