Jeep 4xE Performance

[Uncommon Sense]

I have a 2022 392 on order and cannot wait till it gets here in spring. I suspect like many purchasers, I was attracted to the rawness of the v8, power, and sound. Really everything I was looking for in a Wrangler. Kind of like a MB G Wagon without all the unnecessary luxury extras (or douchiness).

Anyway, even though I love the symphonic sounds of a good engine, I also like electric powered vehicles. The instant torque and spaceship whir of an electric motor accelerating has it own pluses. Tesla was first manufacturer to realize most people don't give a damn about range necessarily, but it is the performance is what really makes electric cars so great. More specifically, the zero to 60 times. The reality is most people will never get to run a car wide open to 150+ mph. I know I certainly won't. However, I do love to scoot to highway speeds as fast as possible.

Anyway, I say all that to wish Jeep would make a performance version of the 4xE where range isn't really the objective, but instead using the electric motor to duplicate or exceed the 392 acceleration performance. Given how the Brandon administration is driving gas prices up, I am not looking forward to the $5.00/gallon gas but I don't necessarily want to give up the performance either.

Thoughts?

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Anyway, I say all that to wish Jeep would make a performance version of the 4xE where range isn't really the objective,

I really dont think range is the objective in the current setup. Isn't it 20 or 30 miles on all electric?

 

[Uncommon Sense]

I really dont think range is the objective in the current setup. Isn't it 20 or 30 miles on all electric?

I think they envision you can drive to a trail and then use electric power.

I'd love to just use the electric for my little short commutes around town to save gas when just puttering from a to b but then I'd like to have full access and use of that torque when I want to step on it. From what I've seen it scoots off the line hard but then the speed is limited. It would be cool if you could flip a switch where you can get a blistering 0 to 60 time if you want it. I think the 4xE does 0 to 60 in 6 seconds vs the 4.0/4.5 for the 392. Basically, use the electric as kind of performance boost more than anything.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

There are probably many but I did see a YouTube video where a guy took his 4XE to the drag strip. Did ok. Each run used up several miles of battery so after a couple of runs the battery was out.

 

[Porscheman]

I have a 2021 High Altitude 4Xe which I am seriously thinking about upgrading to a 392 but the 4Xe has grown on me and am not sure I want to pull the trigger, any thought?

 

[byhumba]

I have a 2021 High Altitude 4Xe which I am seriously thinking about upgrading to a 392 but the 4Xe has grown on me and am not sure I want to pull the trigger, any thought?

That 4XE gives you the miles per gallon, but does it give you the smiles per gallon we get with our 392s?

 

[Porscheman]

That 4XE gives you the miles per gallon, but does it give you the smiles per gallon we get with our 392s?

Don’t care about the miles per gallon but the smiles sound good!

 

[byhumba]

Don’t care about the miles per gallon but the smiles sound good!

Then you want...need a 392.

 

[Turboencabulator]

A performance 4Xe is an interesting thought. The 4Xe is what got me interested in buying a Jeep in the first place. It's perfect! It's a hybrid, it has both an electric motor and the peppy little 2.0L turbo, it's a Jeep with the removable top and doors, and there's even a Tax rebate!

What's not to love?

Well... then I read about all the issues on the 4Xe forum. There are lot's of stories of things as serious as 4Xe shutting down at highway speeds. Compare that to the issues with the 392, things like the wrong data plate being installed.

Then I started to really think about it. As an engineer and test pilot I started approaching this problem as a new systems acquisition. The 4Xe is kinda complex, there is a lot going on there, it is the pathfinder vehicle of what will hopefully be lots of future electric Jeeps. On the other the 392 is relatively simple by comparison. We have almost perfected the Hemi V8 at this point, and the ZF transmission is also very well sorted out. Just from an engineering point of view the 392 seems like a better bet, not to mention more fun.

It would be cool to see a 4Xe performance and I am sure one day we will. But first Jeep needs to figure out the electric Jeep concept. I think they need to start with a clean sheet of paper and really design an electric Jeep for the next 80 years. The 4Xe isn't it, IMHO. Its a stop gap, something to get them into the electric vehicle market and I am glad to see a Jeep competing in that market.

For me the 392 is the end of an era, a Jeep with a monster V-8 engine 70 years and three generations in the making. It's like hopping into a P-51 Mustang in 1946, you know that the jets are going to make it this thing obsolete but when you fire up that V-12 who cares.... The 392 will always be the one with the Hemi

 

[byhumba]

A performance 4Xe is an interesting thought. The 4Xe is what got me interested in buying a Jeep in the first place. It's perfect! It's a hybrid, it has both an electric motor and the peppy little 2.0L turbo, it's a Jeep with the removable top and doors, and there's even a Tax rebate!

What's not to love?

Well... then I read about all the issues on the 4Xe forum. There are lot's of stories of things as serious as 4Xe shutting down at highway speeds. Compare that to the issues with the 392, things like the wrong data plate being installed.

Then I started to really think about it. As an engineer and test pilot I started approaching this problem as a new systems acquisition. The 4Xe is kinda complex, there is a lot going on there, it is the pathfinder vehicle of what will hopefully be lots of future electric Jeeps. On the other the 392 is relatively simple by comparison. We have almost perfected the Hemi V8 at this point, and the ZF transmission is also very well sorted out. Just from an engineering point of view the 392 seems like a better bet, not to mention more fun.

It would be cool to see a 4Xe performance and I am sure one day we will. But first Jeep needs to figure out the electric Jeep concept. I think they need to start with a clean sheet of paper and really design an electric Jeep for the next 80 years. The 4Xe isn't it, IMHO. Its a stop gap, something to get them into the electric vehicle market and I am glad to see a Jeep competing in that market.

For me the 392 is the end of an era, a Jeep with a monster V-8 engine 70 years and three generations in the making. It's like hopping into a P-51 Mustang in 1946, you know that the jets are going to make it this thing obsolete but when you fire up that V-12 who cares.... The 392 will always be the one with the Hemi

 

[Cody@DanDeeryMotors]

One of our sales reps has 2 matching 4Xe's. He took one of his off road to a local ski slope. Which actually turns into an off road course for summer. Never got stuck and had a blast.

 

[Ward]

I have a 2021 High Altitude 4Xe which I am seriously thinking about upgrading to a 392 but the 4Xe has grown on me and am not sure I want to pull the trigger, any thought?

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE 392, IT IS EVERYTHING I HAVE WANTED IN A WRANGLER AND THEN SOME.

 

[Yaak392]

I'm old school.
To me, I just can't get excited about the whine of an electric motor. Seems to kind of ruin the experience. Just don't see anything masculine in electric vehicles. But I'm sure they have a place.

 

[Ward]

I'm old school.
To me, I just can't get excited about the whine of an electric motor. Seems to kind of ruin the experience. Just don't see anything masculine in electric vehicles. But I'm sure they have a place.

But more importantly anything electric is suicide to our environment. People have got to wake up to the fact that electric anything will not go back to nature, it just poisons our environment worse than any other man made product. Oil is biodegradable and will be used by future generations.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

I'm old school.
To me, I just can't get excited about the whine of an electric motor. Seems to kind of ruin the experience. Just don't see anything masculine in electric vehicles. But I'm sure they have a place.

Compensating? Don't know if you ever driven a Tesla but when you blow the doors off pretty much any car doing 0 to 60 in under 3 secs in a Model 3 or in 2 flat in a Model S, you will be smiling and enjoying every minute of it. I like the controlled loud explosive madness of high HP engines as well but hardly tie my masculinity to it. Electric is just different.

The environment isn't driving electric popularity imho. It is performance and not needing to fill up a tank constantly.

I get electric doesn't do it for everyone. However, I'd be interested in seeing a 392 alternative where you have the power / performance but electric or some sort of hybrid.

 

[Turboencabulator]

But more importantly anything electric is suicide to our environment.

I agree but for a slightly different reason. Our hipster IT guy has a Tesla Model 3 and when I told him I decided to buy a Model 392 instead, he gave me the eco-stink eye and a canned speech about how much better electric is for the “environment”. I tried… I really tried to let it go but…. Nope.
So I asked him “Where do you think that electricity is coming from?”
“The wall” he shot back….
“Coal.” I said. “Your rolling coal”
That’s not exactly true since we also have a lot of natural gas power plants but I figure like horseshoes and hand grenades close is good enough.
On the other hand my brother-in-law has a Tesla Model S (much better choice) and installed solar panels on his roof, it cost him a fortune but he knows where his electricity is coming from and I appreciate his approach. I just can’t see him breaking even for a decade or more.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

I agree but for a slightly different reason. Our hipster IT guy has a Tesla Model 3 and when I told him I decided to buy a Model 392 instead, he gave me the eco-stink eye and a canned speech about how much better electric is for the “environment”. I tried… I really tried to let it go but…. Nope.
So I asked him “Where do you think that electricity is coming from?”
“The wall” he shot back….
“Coal.” I said. “Your rolling coal”
That’s not exactly true since we also have a lot of natural gas power plants but I figure like horseshoes and hand grenades close is good enough.
On the other hand my brother-in-law has a Tesla Model S (much better choice) and installed solar panels on his roof, it cost him a fortune but he knows where his electricity is coming from and I appreciate his approach. I just can’t see him breaking even for a decade or more.

The world runs on hydrocarbons. Most people don't realize all the other products that come from oil... plastics, medical, roads (asphalt), energy, etc. Gas for cars is just one part of it.

There are benefits to having more electric cars for everyday use.... cleaner air and less noise pollution. However, I don't subscribe to electric cars being better overall at a macrolevel. You are just shifting the power production from one area to another.

I just want the electric performance in a jeep... I could careless about all the other issues.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

I agree but for a slightly different reason. Our hipster IT guy has a Tesla Model 3 and when I told him I decided to buy a Model 392 instead, he gave me the eco-stink eye and a canned speech about how much better electric is for the “environment”. I tried… I really tried to let it go but…. Nope.
So I asked him “Where do you think that electricity is coming from?”
“The wall” he shot back….
“Coal.” I said. “Your rolling coal”
That’s not exactly true since we also have a lot of natural gas power plants but I figure like horseshoes and hand grenades close is good enough.
On the other hand my brother-in-law has a Tesla Model S (much better choice) and installed solar panels on his roof, it cost him a fortune but he knows where his electricity is coming from and I appreciate his approach. I just can’t see him breaking even for a decade or more.

After a decade the Tesla batteries will need to be replaced and a portion of his solar panels will be out.

 

[zmpm01]

I'm all for electric vehicles and renewable energy but selling electric cars as being environmentally friendly is HOGWASH! Where does all the minerals come from to build the batterie's, the steel, the plastics. THE SUN OR WIND! I don't think so, there mined, how many mines are environmentally friendly in third world countries? Are all the dinosaur's extinct because they farted to much? and caused the Ice Age? The world's environment changes and changed way before man could make a impact.

 

[Yaak392]

Compensating? Don't know if you ever driven a Tesla but when you blow the doors off pretty much any car doing 0 to 60 in under 3 secs in a Model 3 or in 2 flat in a Model S, you will be smiling and enjoying every minute of it. I like the controlled loud explosive madness of high HP engines as well but hardly tie my masculinity to it. Electric is just different.

The environment isn't driving electric popularity imho. It is performance and not needing to fill up a tank constantly.

I get electric doesn't do it for everyone. However, I'd be interested in seeing a 392 alternative where you have the power / performance but electric or some sort of hybrid.

Remember... OFFROAD