Six Things You Need to Know About the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL

The all-new Jeep Wrangler JL has been unveiled, starting an all-new era for the off-road focused SUV.

There are tons of changes that have arrived for the Wrangler, but we have rounded up the six most important things for you right here. And if you're looking for all the details, you can hit the link below.

READ MORE: 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Details

1. More Aluminum, Less Weight

In the name of weight savings, Jeep turned to aluminum to help improve the Wrangler’s fuel economy. The doors, door hinges, fender flares, engine mounts, steering gear and winshield frame are built from the material. And to top it off, the rear swing gate is made from magnesium.

That brings the curb weight of the lightest Wrangler, the 3.6-liter equipped Sport with an automatic transmission, down to at 3,955 pounds. The Wrangler Sahara comes in at 4,345 pounds with the 3.6-liter while the Wrangler Rubicon with an automatic transmission weighs 4,145 in two-door form and 4,455 pounds as a four door.

2. Two New Engines, One Old One

The 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is still available in the Wrangler, though it has been updated and now makes 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm.

What's more exciting are the other two new options. Buyers can go for a 2.0-liter turbochaged four-cylinder engine mated to a mild hybrid system that makes 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Best of all, all that torque is available from 3000 rpm.

Or, starting in 2019, a 3.0-liter diesel will be available putting out 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque.

3. Better Off-Road Numbers for Basic Wranglers

Even basic Sport models improve thanks to this redesign. Ground clearance measures in at 9.7-inches for Sport models, approach angle is 41.4 degrees, break over is 25 degrees and the departure angle measures in at 35.9 degrees. That means that springing for the Rubicon isn't necessary to get some serious capability.

4. There's a Power-Folding Top

Along with the hardtop and manually folding Sunrider softop, Jeep has revealed a full-length soft top that can be controlled with the push of a button. This is a first for the Wrangler and allows for open air motoring that doesn't require the driver to even get out of the front seat.

5. Rubicon Looks Epic

The Wrangler Rubicon is the pinnacle of the range when it comes to off-roading and the new model doesn't disappoint. With 10.8-inches of ground clearance, an approach angle of 44, departure of 37 and breakover at 27.8 degrees, the Rubicon should be able to crawl over anything. Standard are Dana 44 axles helping  the Rock-Trac 4x4 system do its thing.

A 4.10 front and rear axle ratio is standard on Rubicon models as are two locking differentials, while the Wrangler Rubicon's crawl ratio sits at 84.2:1 with the six-speed manual transmission and 77.2:1 with the automatic.

Possibly best of all, you will be able to get the Wrangler with LT285/70R17 BFGoodrich T/A KO2 tires straight from the factory. Those are nearly 33-inch tires!

6. All-New Interior

To put it simply, the Wrangler's interior has gone upscale, using great soft-touch materials all over and more body-color panels and accent stitching to help the Jeep feel posh. Push-button start is now standard on the Wrangler, while all of the important functions like the gear shift selector, transfer case and parking brake sit in the center console, distinguished by metal plated accents.

A heated steering wheel and front seats are available, while the latest UConnect infotainment system is fitted in the center stack with either a 7- or 8.4-inch screen displaying it. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported.