Rushing with electricity – Jeep Wrangler 4xe: veteran with two electric motors


There are cars in which the coils of the brain almost knot when imagined with an electric or plug-in hybrid drive. One such is the Jeep Wrangler, a veteran among the off-roaders. Jeep is still often used as a synonym for off-road vehicle. Now, as the Unlimited 4xe, it is becoming a part-time electrician – and at the same time the most powerful Wrangler that Jeep has ever offered in Europe.

The system output is an enormous 380 hp, which are generated by a total of three engines. Above all, it is a two-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger that alone has an output of 200 hp. As long as there is enough electricity, it gets support from two electric motors with 46 kW and 107 kW.

This is how the engines work together
As a belt-driven starter generator, the weaker of the two replaces the conventional alternator and starter motor at the same time. The stronger one replaces the hydraulic torque converter in the eight-speed automatic.

Two clutches control the power and torque of the electric motor and the combustion engine. A binary coupling (on / off) between the combustion engine and the electric motor opens or closes the mechanical connection between the two motors, which makes it possible to drive the Wrangler Unlimited 4xe purely electrically. When the binary clutch is closed, the torques of the petrol engine and the electric motor combine in the automatic transmission.

In total, a system torque of 637 Nm is available, which is also reflected in a standard sprint value of 6.4 seconds. The top speed is 156 km / h. More would probably be possible with the motor, but probably not desirable in view of the indirect steering.

Jeep specifies 40 to 50 kilometers as the purely electric WLTP range, with 50 kilometers being the value for city traffic that is cheaper for electric operation. In the PHEV measurement cycle, the 4xe has a standard consumption of 3.5 l / 100 km.

The Wrangler 4xe is only available as a four-door Unlimited. The customer has the choice between the equipment Sahara 4xe, Rubicon 4xe and the special edition “80th Anniversary” as well as two all-wheel drive systems. Various roof configurations such as soft top, hard top, electric soft top or dual top can also be ordered.

As standard, the Wrangler 4xe has the Uconnect 8.4 nav system with touchscreen, comprehensive connectivity and services for monitoring vehicle parameters via the My Uconnect app. The cockpit consists of a seven-inch TFT display. Also on board are an Alpine audio system with nine speakers and a 552 watt subwoofer, as well as ACC and a rear-view camera (with the Rubicon also front camera).

The charging connection is located in the front left just before the driver’s door. The 400-volt battery, which is installed under the rear seat bench (hence the Unlimted as the basis), has a capacity of 17 kilowatt hours and can be fully recharged in three hours.

Fully electric in the field
The hybrid Wrangler can also plow through the terrain emission-free, because the entire drive is connected upstream of the all-wheel drive. All high-voltage components and systems, including the wiring between the battery pack and the electric motors, are sealed watertight. Like all trail-rated Wrangler models, the plug-in hybrid also has a fording depth of up to 76 centimeters. So he is prepared to go far with electricity when driving off-road along a river.

The driver can choose between hybrid, electric and save mode. The latter has two options: keep the charge level or charge the battery to up to 80 percent. When four-wheel drive is engaged, all four wheels also feed in torque for regenerative braking, which maximizes energy recovery.

The Sahara is equipped with a fully automatic four-wheel drive and a two-stage transfer case with a reduction of 2.72 and a limited-slip differential on the rear axle. The Rubicon has the Rock-Trac all-wheel drive system with a reduction gear of 4: 1 and a lock on the front axle.

In the interior, the 4xe models have premium fabric seats in black (Rubicon and Sahara) and optionally partial leather seats in black or dark saddle. Black partial leather seats are offered for the 80th anniversary special model. On the Rubicon, the seats and trim are stitched in electric blue.

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe Sahara costs 76,490 euros, the Rubicon 79,490 euros and the special model 80,490 euros.