2019 Jeep Scrambler pickup truck to feature a removable soft top

 It was during the Moab Easter Jeep Safari last year, when Jeep introduced the rugged Crew Chief 715 Concept that took inspiration from the previous generation Wrangler Unlimited. It has the shape of a pickup truck, but it gets a fabric roof and an assortment of design cues from previous Jeep military vehicles just like the Kaiser M715.

If you liked the Crew Chief 715 concept from last year, you will definitely like this Wrangler pickup under the name “JT” that we have been waiting for. According to Automotive News, sources say that the utilitarian vehicle can be had with a soft top, just like that of the regular Wrangler. Naturally, the soft top can be lowered or be removed completely. An older report also said that the JT Scrambler will be available with a selection of three tops with the codes HT1, ST2 and HT3. These stand for a black 3-piece hard top, black Sunrider soft top, and body colour 3-piece hard top.

You will see in the Scrambler (not its final name) some styling cues that also come from the Crew Chief 715 as well. However, the front grille will remain the same as the Wrangler’s heritage.

By the end of the month, we will finally see the two-door Wrangler as well as the four-door Wrangler Unlimited at the Los Angeles Auto Show. As for the JT Scrambler, we do not know what body styles it will get. But we have seen four-door prototypes covered in camouflage from head to toe. So the question is whether or not there will be a two-door Scrambler with a long box. However, do not expect to see the pickup truck as it will not make its debut in LA. Instead, it will be unveiled sometime next year. The truck will be produced at FCA’s Toledo Assembly Plant starting in November 2018.

The model has been in development for a number of years now, and several spy shots have shown that the testing phase has begun. While we see a lot of regular Jeep Wranglers out there, we are not expecting the pickup version to be any different when it comes to the design. We aren’t certain about this yet, but the Scrambler could feature a turbodiesel 3.0 liter V6 like that of the Grand Cherokee, together with the turbocharged 2.0 liter four cylinder as well as the naturally aspirated 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 gasoline engine that has a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds (2,948 kilograms).

We are definitely excited to see the new Jeeps at next week’s Los Angeles Motor Show but we’d sure love it if the automaker has a surprise for all of us.

Source: Automotive News - sub. required