The big news for Jeep’s iconic Wrangler this fall is the welcome installation Chrysler’s prolific Pentastar V-6—along with upgraded transmissions—but there is more coming for 2012, including some wacky new hues. According to Tony Petit, chief engineer for the Wrangler and Liberty, a total of five new colors will be phased in between now and early 2012, starting with an awesome Tonka-toy yellow with the equally awesome name “Dozer” [pictured], followed by a bright orange called “Crush,” a dark green called “Black Forest,” a much brighter green called “Gecko,” and a light blue-gray dubbed “Winter Chill.” Unfortunately, a couple of our favorite colors—most notably Sahara Beige—will be phased out.
The color and trim team are not the only ones that have taken to the new-and-improved 2012 Wrangler, however. Mopar is getting into the action, too. Jeep’s product marketing chief, Chris Ellis, told us to be on the lookout for a special edition Renegade encrusted with Mopar accessories sometime during the upcoming model year. While he didn’t provide a name for the bruiser, when we suggested that we’d like to see a resurrection of the Golden Eagle, he nodded in agreement and winked. If a Golden Eagle isn’t next in line, then there’s a chance whatever special edition is will get a badge displaying global coordinates that, like previous limited-edition models, correspond to a notable location. Did you know the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Islander’s coordinates actually pinpointed the alleged location of Gilligan’s Island?
Ellis also intimated that Camp Jeep, which infected people of all ages with off-road enthusiasm each year before a bankruptcy-inspired hiatus in 2009, may return. The annual event would be staged in a different location each year and include challenging, real-world off-road test-drives in manufacturer-owned vehicles, as well as events for kids and lots of oneness with the great outdoors. Interestingly, Ellis said that any future Camp Jeep-like program would involve not just Jeep’s best off-road products like Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, but the entire lineup, including the not-quite-so-highly “Trail Rated” Liberty, Patriot, and yes, Compass models.
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