The Official End is Coming…

Jeep Official Instagram Post

From the article:

Jeep Wranlger Rubicon 392 Final Edition: Confirmation​

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition Plaque also showcases the car’s wheelbase and overall length, along with details regarding the Hemi V8 engine under the hood and exactly where the SUV was built. We imagine this will be located on or within each of the Final Edition cars, among other noticeable features that help the Final Edition stand out from the other 392 Rubicons on the road.

 

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

The incandescent lightbulb is definitely going to make a comeback!

 

[Bobo57]

The performance car market started moving away from big naturally aspirated pushrod V8s long before the first EV showed up. Stellantis has made it clear that the Hurricane I6 is their V8 replacement, just a question of which models get it when. And while I don't like the government forcing EV technology on people before it's ready, there's no doubt that it is the future if you look far enough. A Tesla Plaid will smoke a Demon 170 in the 1/4 mile all day every day while having the mild daily driving manners of a standard run of the mill sedan.

Yes but the Tesla still has no hot rodding soul.

 

[BenLandry]

I’m in Corpus Cristi, TX for the week for work and rented a Wagoneer. It seemed pretty quick for its size / weight on the ride to the hotel so thought it may have had the 5.7 in it. When I got to the hotel I popped the hood and I was surprised to be greeted by the Hurricane engine. I must say I’m pretty impressed with the power it puts out. The Wagoneer is a heavy vehicle and it was whipping around like a small sedan. Not sure if the next generation of Wranglers will see the Hurricane or not but this engine seems to have a lot of potential.

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Curious how was the gas mileage with the hurricane in that Wagoneer. They originally were only available with the 392, and we know what kind of mpg that gets. At least the grand wagoneer was available with it.

 

[Phil921]

Yes but the Tesla still has no hot rodding soul.

Couldn't agree more from a guy who used to lay wrenches on his very first car (a beat up '69 Olds 442) and it didn't stop there over the decades. But the landscape is inevitably changing (truly unfortunate and misguided optics IMO). However, to quote a HotCars article from awhile back; "Clearly, the V8 is no longer as popular as before, it still has miles to go before it sleeps."

Let's enjoy it while it lasts..... there is no replacement for displacement.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

I suspect there will always be a market for ICE. However, it will be purely hobby and for competition imho. Even th

Yes but the Tesla still has no hot rodding soul.

A lot of truth to this... there is something visceral about an ICE engine and the associated noise / smoke / vibrations. Watching electric cars is kind of like watching an kung fu movie on mute. The action is there but you miss the sounds. Even in situations where the electric may be putting down faster times and power, the ICE car still seems more exciting.

The reality though is that people will get over the lack of sound and accept the different noise that electric cars make. Most of the younger generation isn't nearly as impressed as we are with the exhaust noise of ICE.

I'm more curious how EV revolution will affect racing. EV significantly levels the playing field in that any car can be fast and have more power than necessary. No longer will a well funded team have a more efficient engine or be able to put out just a little bit more power than a competitor. It reduces everything down to the driver and car handling. You no longer need Jedi like mechanics to get power.

 

[7.62x392]

Curious how was the gas mileage with the hurricane in that Wagoneer. They originally were only available with the 392, and we know what kind of mpg that gets. At least the grand wagoneer was available with it.

I didn’t actually look at that when I had it, that said I was beating the hell out of it as it was a rental so I don’t think it would have been the best indicator for gas mileage anyway

 

[hardhat]

I suspect there will always be a market for ICE. However, it will be purely hobby and for competition imho. Even th


A lot of truth to this... there is something visceral about an ICE engine and the associated noise / smoke / vibrations. Watching electric cars is kind of like watching an kung fu movie on mute. The action is there but you miss the sounds. Even in situations where the electric may be putting down faster times and power, the ICE car still seems more exciting.

The reality though is that people will get over the lack of sound and accept the different noise that electric cars make. Most of the younger generation isn't nearly as impressed as we are with the exhaust noise of ICE.

I'm more curious how EV revolution will affect racing. EV significantly levels the playing field in that any car can be fast and have more power than necessary. No longer will a well funded team have a more efficient engine or be able to put out just a little bit more power than a competitor. It reduces everything down to the driver and car handling. You no longer need Jedi like mechanics to get power.

My 16y old daughter LOVES the 392 exhaust note. So much that I had to go put a loud muffler on the Tundra she drives. Down here in redneck land, folks still appreciate the V8 sound for the most part. Agree on the lack of soul, excitement in the electric cars. The sensory overload with the 392 is a huge chunk of the fun. I would not prefer an electric or turbo I-6 wrangler over the v8 even if it was faster and got better fuel economy at a lower price point. No vehicle has ever made me grin like this one every time I drive it. The fact that it is just stupid fun is a big part of that. You can't justify it and that is kind of the point. Doesn't make sense, BUT I LIKE IT

 

[JDP392]

I can totally see/agree with your interpretation as well. My thought on why he wouldn't announce any reversal with respect to big V8s is simply because if he did that he would crush his "Last Call/Final Edition" marketing and sales campaign. My opinion is as stated above, maybe not this year or next..but we have not seen the last big V8 and I don't think we will in our lifetime! Money talks, you can make whatever vehicle you want but the consumer speaks/votes with their checkbook and consumer demand will impact the market. The telling part of his statement was number 1, they have the capability to put any powertrain into their vehicles and here is a leader of a giant company basically telling the world that our Federal Government is impacting how they make vehicles. That doesn't sound like a free-market economy and that to me is troubling.

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been considering purchasing another Rubicon 392, not just because of what value might be in the future, but because if this really is the end, I am thrilled with the one that I have. It truly is the most exhilarating and fun vehicle I’ve ever owned. And something my kids would be happy for me to pass along. In the process of reaching out to about a dozen dealers on Anvil and black 392s, the colors I actually wanted before I purchased White because of my younger daughter, lol, It seems unless they’re not being honest, they have no idea of a final edition or an end to the V8, or anything in that regard. Maybe it’s just the dealerships that I have reached out to, but it just seems really strange. If you think about it, why wouldn’t they want to play on those teasers and drive sales. I’ve decided I should take some time and let it develop throughout the next 3-4 months before making an overzealous decision and purchase. Regardless, again, so happy to own the one I do.

 

[Lee#144]

The performance car market started moving away from big naturally aspirated pushrod V8s long before the first EV showed up. Stellantis has made it clear that the Hurricane I6 is their V8 replacement, just a question of which models get it when. And while I don't like the government forcing EV technology on people before it's ready, there's no doubt that it is the future if you look far enough. A Tesla Plaid will smoke a Demon 170 in the 1/4 mile all day every day while having the mild daily driving manners of a standard run of the mill sedan.

Without getting into a back and forth about EVs vs V8s just a quick correction you reference a Demon 170 getting smoked by a plaid but I believe you are incorrect here and that’s the selling point behind the 170 or it was when they released it. My statement that you quoted is simply saying the statistics don’t support the thought of EVs being the future. At least here in the US, the consumer demand based on sales comparison prefers ICE vehicles by a very large margin. Stellantis have said they are ending production of the 6.2, 6.4 and 5.7 but, like any business those decisions have monetary impacts! The Euro big 3 have great success with smaller 4.0 TT V8 platforms but they too tried to go away from the V8 iirc. And just for reference, I have a small ev as an every other day, daily vehicle. I’m not anti EV by any stretch!

 

[Lee#144]

Most of the younger generation isn't nearly as impressed as we are with the exhaust noise of ICE.

Disagree completely. I’ve worked in the public high school world for the past 7 years in a few different states and currently in SA TX. The younger generation are all mainly driving ICE vehicles as they are cheaper and kids like to drive everywhere with friends! When the kids talk about Teslas it’s more of a status of wealth than it is a fun car to drive. Come out to the parking lot before or after school and it’s all about loud exhausts and loud horns. The louder the better. Tons of v8s at my poor public school. I get so much grief from my students when I drive my little toaster ( i3) to school lol.

 

[Uncommon Sense]

Without getting into a back and forth about EVs vs V8s just a quick correction you reference a Demon 170 getting smoked by a plaid but I believe you are incorrect here and that’s the selling point behind the 170 or it was when they released it. My statement that you quoted is simply saying the statistics don’t support the thought of EVs being the future. At least here in the US, the consumer demand based on sales comparison prefers ICE vehicles by a very large margin. Stellantis have said they are ending production of the 6.2, 6.4 and 5.7 but, like any business those decisions have monetary impacts! The Euro big 3 have great success with smaller 4.0 TT V8 platforms but they too tried to go away from the V8 iirc. And just for reference, I have a small ev as an every other day, daily vehicle. I’m not anti EV by any stretch!

I saw a video recently of a 170 vs a Plaid. The Plaid took it on a date to Gapplebees.... the 170 had issues hooking up whilst the Plaid's 4wd took off perfect almost every time.

I'd still rather have the 170 though. It was literally popping wheelies off the line. Even if on paper an ICE is putting down similar times, the issue is lack of consistency and perfect conditions. EVs will hit performance numbers almost all the time regardless of weather or even driver skill.

 

[JDP392]

I saw a video recently of a 170 vs a Plaid. The Plaid took it on a date to Gapplebees.... the 170 had issues hooking up whilst the Plaid's 4wd took off perfect almost every time.

I'd still rather have the 170 though. It was literally popping wheelies off the line. Even if on paper an ICE is putting down similar times, the issue is lack of consistency and perfect conditions. EVs will hit performance numbers almost all the time regardless of weather or even driver skill.

Electric motors are for slot cars, if anybody else here is old enough to remember what slot cars are.

 

[@JC]

Electric motors are for slot cars, if anybody else here is old enough to remember what slot cars are.

My grandpa would (if he were still around), as he had to go chasing them across the basement rec room floor when I zinged the cars off the corners during our races...

 

[258_T18A]

Yes but the Tesla still has no hot rodding soul.

Kinda look forward to the day when NOS starts selling bolt on supercapacitors for EVs. "250 AMP shot."

 

[258_T18A]

Without getting into a back and forth about EVs vs V8s just a quick correction you reference a Demon 170 getting smoked by a plaid but I believe you are incorrect here and that’s the selling point behind the 170 or it was when they released it.

Official Dodge time is 8.91 for the Demon 170 but almost all of the real world results are low 9s. The Plaid will run 8.7-8.8 all day long, no driving skill required.

 

[Whiskey Tango Foxtrot]

As a gen X'er I describe Tesla/EVs as the difference between playing pinball and playing video pinball. At least as far as the muscle car analogy goes. As for off-roading, I don't really care for electric but it does have its perks - such as the potential for silent and clean-air off roading that won't disturb nature (though more of a European value for nature than an American one), camping without a generator, etc but the technology for EVs will have to advance to support 1000+ miles before I want to bother with it. Car makers also need to be smarter about where the batteries live in an off-road vehicle. That Hummer is a pile of garbage.

 

[Viking Jeeper]

As a gen X'er I describe Tesla/EVs as the difference between playing pinball and playing video pinball. At least as far as the muscle car analogy goes. As for off-roading, I don't really care for electric but it does have its perks - such as the potential for silent and clean-air off roading that won't disturb nature (though more of a European value for nature than an American one), camping without a generator, etc but the technology for EVs will have to advance to support 1000+ miles before I want to bother with it. Car makers also need to be smarter about where the batteries live in an off-road vehicle. That Hummer is a pile of garbage.

Clean air? Do you know how most electricity in the USA is generated?

1000+ miles? Battery technology only advances a few percent each year. The Jeep 4XE can go 21 miles on electric.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

Clean air? Do you know how most electricity in the USA is generated?

1000+ miles? Battery technology only advances a few percent each year. The Jeep 4XE can go 21 miles on electric.

Porsche has an EV that has a range of 800 miles...its coming.

 

[BenLandry]

Clean air? Do you know how most electricity in the USA is generated?

1000+ miles? Battery technology only advances a few percent each year. The Jeep 4XE can go 21 miles on electric.

I friend of mine just bought an EV Hummer…when he plugs it in to charge the company that owns the chargers calls him because they think something is wrong with the car or the charger. When he tells them it’s a hummer they say “ oh yea those trucks pull a lot of power”. Cost him $80 for about 80% charge, takes forever. It supposed to get 450-500 miles on full charge…. On another note, he’s owned it 6 weeks and it’s been in the shop 4 weeks.
Let’s not even talk about the electricity it takes to charge an 18 wheeler. It’s a small cities worth of power each night. Dumb!

 

[Viking Jeeper]

Porsche has an EV that has a range of 800 miles...its coming.

I guess it is appropriate that you refer to a vehicle with a few hundred thousand dollar cost when we are talking about EV's.