The boxy electric off-roader is now slated to broaden its appeal by way of an internal combustion engine option. Stellantis’s latest Investor Day in Auburn Hills, Michigan this week came with quite a few exciting announcements related to future products from the Dodge, Jeep, and Ram brands. And while much of the attention is largely focused on Dodge’s potential Mustang GTD competitor or two-door Wrangler Scrambler pickup, something a bit more impactful is happening to one of the automaker’s upcoming 4x4s: According to MoparInsiders, The Jeep Recon EV will no longer arrive with a purely electric lineup, as Stellantis has confirmed that an internal combustion powertrain is set to be offered for North American customers.
Stellantis executives didn’t go into specifics about which powertrain is destined for the Recon, but we can make an educated guess based on recent portfolio adjustments. The turbocharged 2.0-liter Hurricane 4-cylinder that made its debut in the latest Grand Cherokee seems like a natural fit, given its blend of power and improved efficiency. Thanks to 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, the Hurricane 4 should be plenty potent to motivate the slightly-bigger-than-a-Wrangler SUV.
View Price on AmazonThe brand’s popular choice of an eight-speed automatic seems like the natural choice for a gearbox, though I’m curious to see how the packaging works out. It's worth noting that the Recon is built on the STLA Large platform, which it shares with the Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger models; if Stellantis chose to go with the 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six found in the Charger, would surely bring the Recon in line with some of the great Jeeps from history. Either way, it’s unlikely that the combustion-powered version will be able to compete with the dual-motor EV variant in a straight line, which provides a trail-crushing 650 horsepower and 620 lb-ft.
The Recon is a hugely important model for Jeep—particularly in the European market where the Wrangler is facing significant regulatory pressure. By ensuring the offering remains appealing in our decreasingly-EV-friendly market here in the USA, the cost of having the offering for Europe should be less daunting. That is the advantage of these STLA platforms, after all.
Source: roadandtrack.com
