Allpar’s owner, David Zatz, asked what approach I would take to design a Jeep for the 2017 model year, following Sergio Marchionne’s dictates, and what Chrysler is likely to do.
To maintain production rates and avoid a more serious factory refit, I do not expect any four door pickup, strictly a two door version with some extra space behind the front seats, like a Dakota or MJ Comanche — and not a full “Club Cab,” either. You would probably have about 6-7 inches to allow for a rear crash clearance (to avoid having your head hit the rear glass in a crash).
To clarify, to keep the carriers the same distance apart as when they are holding standard Wranglers, I do not expect the length change which is needed for a four door pickup. This is one of the compromises customers and consumers will have to live with; without an increase in the spacing, there is no room to build a longer vehicle. With an increase, one would have to cut production and/or invest large sums into the plant which would not be justified by expected sales.
In other words, your pickup will be about the size of a Ford Ranger in length, but a little wider — with the passenger room of today's two-door Wrangler, and narrower mirrors and fender flares, and built with a separate bed. The bed would probably not be unitized to the main body for structural reasons.
On the issue of the Jeep J8, with its unique Hotchkiss rear suspension and semi floating Dana 60, I would expect to see the axle changed to a light-duty 60, with the hubs changing back to the older full floating style and a higher rated GVWR link coil package to meet NATO needs. I do not see a version for the US military.
Just like the first and second generation Dakota, you would have around a 1,000 lb payload and up to a 6,000 lb tow rating with a Pentastar V6
