New Wrangler Not All Aluminium, Renegade Suffering Software Problems

Fiat Chrysler's famously frank CEO Sergio Marchionne has discussed the next Jeep Wrangler and a “bad engineering day” for the new Jeep Renegade in a session with reporters this week.

Speaking with Automotive News, Marchionne said the upcoming new Wrangler would not feature an all-aluminium body as had previously been rumoured - although he promised the lightweight material would make up “a large portion” of its construction.

Panels such as the bonnet and tailgate could be all-aluminium, along with the doors, but steel will still be the primary material in the body overall.

“There will be a large portion of that vehicle that will be aluminium - it will not be all aluminum,” Mr Marchionne said. 

“We've run the numbers and we've simulated mileage and the impact. Because of the difference in cost - not just of the material but the actual assembly process - I think we can do almost as well without doing it all-aluminium. I think we can get very close.”

Little else about the new model is known, although earlier reports have suggested the next Wrangler will also offer smaller engines to improve fuel consumption.

It has also been reported that the new Wrangler would adopt independent suspension, but Jeep has since appeared to sway back to the idea of retaining solid axels.

The new Wrangler is expected to debut sometime in 2017.