Jeep celebrates 70th anniversary with special editions

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2011 JEEP WRANGLER
70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

ENGINE: 202-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6

TRANSMISSION: six-speed manual

DRIVETRAIN: all-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 15 city/19 highway

BASE PRICE: $31,370

AS TESTED: $36,200

WEBSITE: jeep.com

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Updated: December 14, 2011 5:40PM

The roots of the Jeep are tied to its creation in World War II and this year marks the 70th anniversary of the undisputed off-road icon.

For 2011 Jeep is offering a special 70th anniversary package for every vehicle in its lineup. I recently tested the 2011 Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition, which is available only on the midtrim level Sahara.

Base priced at $31,370 and assembled in Toledo, Ohio, the Wrangler adds some new upgrades on the inside and exterior styling cues that keep the Wrangler one of the more unmistakable vehicles on the road.

My tester featured upgraded 18-inch, seven-spoke polished aluminum wheels and 70th anniversary badges on the front fenders. While the classic Jeeps tend to be featured in a hue of Natural Green and Sahara Tan, the 70th Anniversary Edition is only offered in Black, Bright Silver and the exclusive Bronze Star Pearl.

All Sahara models offer Jeep’s unique body-colored fender flares and standard tubular side steps that deliver immediate off-road attitude. Of course Wrangler’s claim to fame is its removable doors, roof and a foldable windshield. There is a hard-top and soft-top option for the Sahara.

While the 70th Anniversary Edition package includes the polished wheels, all Saharas come standard with Bridgestone Dueler A/T tires, which according to Jeep give Sahara the best clearance for off-roading.

The Wrangler Sahara offers best-in-class approach, break-over and departure angles of 44.6 degrees, 25.5 degrees and 40.6 degrees. Sahara also offers an impressive minimum ground clearance of more than 10 inches to the axles. This doesn’t just look the part — it defines off-road rider.

One of the endearing qualities of the Wrangler has been its ability to handle whatever comes its way. Off-road use often brings with it a mighty mess for the interior and a no-frills design always has been part of the experience. However, the new instrument panel features softer edges and a rounded center stack that blends in with the rest of the dash.

I really appreciated the three-spoke, leather-wrapped, steering wheel. Jeep also improved the seats with new headrests and new shift levers for the transmission and transfer case.

The Sahara trim level features standard upgrades such as power windows and door locks, leather seats and silver cabin accents. The 70th Anniversary Edition package takes these changes a step further with a unique pattern in the seat backs, special stitching on leather surfaces and plush floor mats.

The option list on my test vehicle added a hard-drive-based navigation system ($1,035), a bright-silver three-piece hard top ($1,715) and a connectivity group that included a USB port, Chrysler’s Uconnect hands-free connectivity and an electronic vehicle information center ($385).

Standard safety features for all 2011 Jeep Wrangler models include four airbags, electronic brake-force distribution with brake assist, four-wheel antilock disc brake system, tire pressure monitoring system, electronic roll mitigation, traction control and electronic stability control.

The only engine offered in the Wrangler is the 3.8-liter V-6, which produces 202 horsepower and 237 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a manual six-speed or a four-speed automatic transmission. Wrangler Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates are 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.

With the Sahara’s Command-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive system, I always felt secure no matter what road conditions I traversed. While the Wrangler always has come standard with four-wheel drive, this year’s Unlimited model drops the two-wheel-drive option that was previously the base model for the four-door Wrangler.

Driving the Wrangler on the pavement is an experience that takes a bit of getting used to, since the coil suspension and solid frame tend to bounce off any imperfection in the road (which equates to a lot of bouncing in the Chicago area).

The 70th Anniversary Wrangler definitely celebrates the origins of the Jeep name while offering the enthusiast a wonderful upgrade package that landed just north of $36,200 when it went out the showroom. This is a small price to pay to go anywhere and to own a small part of a legendary history.