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Earlier this year, Jeep revealed an unexpected surprise at the Chicago Auto Show when it unveiled the Gladiator Mojave. The first Desert Rated model to be ever offered by the off-road brand (as well as the first ever Mojave badged variant to boot) the Gladiator Mojave was seen as the answer to the demands of off-road buyers that were looking for a potent tool to use on sandier sections of terrain. Jeep representatives hinted that the Desert Rated family would have room to grow, and a new report suggests that the Wrangler will receive the Mojave treatment for the 2021 model year.

 

This is according to the publication MoparInsiders which put together the report based on intel from”close sources.” The addition of a Wrangler based Mojave variant does make sense since the rugged SUV shares key platform components with the Gladiator, and as a result, the transformation into a Mojave badged example would be very easy and cost effective to do. This means that many of the Gladiator’s desert ready upgrades would make the jump to the Wrangler and that would include the 2.5 inch internal bypass Fox shocks with external reservoirs, the half-inch wider track, and the slight increase in ride height to help improve ground clearance in sand dunes.

Crucial reinforcements to its frame, stronger axles, aggressive off-road tires, and the familiar Command Track 4×4 system will most likely carryover to the Wrangler as well to help prepare it for the unique challenges of desert trail driving. Many of the Gladiator’s external features would carryover too, including the performance hood, Rubicon fenders, as well as other rugged touches. The interior will follow the same script and borrow alot of the orange accent trim, heat and UV resistant seats and plastics, as well as other interior goodies.

One key plot twist is that while alot of the crucial exterior and interior bits are expected to be shared with the Gladiator, performance hardware will be distinct. Unlike the Gladiator  which only pairs the Mojave trim with the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6, the Wrangler version is expected to use the 270 horsepower 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder. This could be an attempt to make the Wrangler the more fuel conscious member of the duo, or perhaps a broader move to lighten weight in the front end to prevent the Jeep from getting too bogged down in deeper sand. Current models equipped with the engine and a six speed manual will get traditional engine stop/start tech baked in, while buyers that opt for the optional eight speed get the engine with FCA’s e-Torque mild hybrid system.

 

MoparInsiders claims that we should begin to see teasers for the Wrangler Mojave later this year, before it formally makes its way to dealer lots towards the last part of this year. Pricing could be roughly similar to what is already seen on the range topping Rubicon model, with base prices starting somewhere around $42,000.

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