2005 Jeep Scrambler - Drawing on the Past to Create Something New
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| Shown at the NADA conference, the next generation Scrambler seems virtually identical to the previous iteration. It's front end styling will mirror the 2004 TJ. (Photo: Automotive News) |
Remember the Scrambler? Based on the old CJ and then the 1980s YJ, Jeep's mini-pickup was a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts due to its load hauling versatility. Wanting to satisfy the previous model's avid following Jeep will recreate a new CJ-8 based on its 2004 TJ, or TK architecture, according to reports in Automotive News.
Initially developed for military use overseas, the new Scrambler will go on sale as a 2005 model in mid-July 2004, confirmed George Murphy, senior vice president of global marketing.
"It has been developed to increase sales quickly and to pass on the tradition of the Wrangler (U.S. name of TJ) - which has the strongest image of any vehicle in the Jeep range," Murphy said.
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| The original Scrambler combined the functionality of a compact pickup with the all-terrain capability of Jeep's legendary CJ. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Sitting on a stretched TJ wheelbase, the Scrambler concept adds a 1,219 mm (4.0 ft) pickup bed behind a 2-passenger seating area. Murphy said the new model will be available in long and short wheelbases, but exact specifications aren't yet available.
While four and six-cylinder engines will be available it's not known exactly which DaimlerChrysler powerplants will get the nod, or if the new turbo diesel arriving with Jeep's 2004 Liberty will also be an option. The current TJ uses the 147-hp 2.4-L 4-cylinder as its base engine and the trusty old 190-hp 4.0-L inline-6 with 235 lb-ft of torque for its top Sport, Sahara and Rubicon models. It is possible Jeep will make use of the new 3.7-L V6 that finds home in the top-line Liberty, producing a healthy 210-hp and 235 lb-ft of torque.