Take Your Jeep Underwater Like a Submarine
You read that correctly. We said take your Jeep Wrangler underwater like it’s a submarine. We know that sounds crazy, but Jeep CEO Christian Meunier said that future Jeep models will be able to drive underwater.
The Jeep Wrangler is going underwater
The new Jeep Wrangler Xtreme Recon can ford water up to 33.6 inches deep. That’s pretty deep. In fact, it’s 2.8 feet deep. While the rest of the MotorBiscuits are of average height, at 5’1″, that’s past my waist.
For comparison’s sake, we have to mention Jeep’s rival, the Ford Bronco. It can ford water up to 23.6-inches deep, which is still pretty good. But soon, electric Jeep models are expected to go even deeper.
During an electric vehicle presentation by Jeep’s parent company, Stellantis, a Jeep Wrangler was depicted fully submerged underwater. This image could become a reality as Christian Meunier shared that future Jeeps will drive underwater.
Meunier explained that enthusiasts and communities are requesting this ability. Some members of the Jeep community already go underwater with an ICE, so you can imagine that this is a possibility with a battery vehicle.
Electric vehicles don’t have air intakes or exhausts. As long as their equipment is sealed, they can operate underwater just fine. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid can ford water up to 30-inches deep.
What can the Wrangler 4xe do?
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe is a plug-in hybrid model. This means that it uses electric power and gas. This is just the beginning, as Jeep plans to provide a fully electric model for each SUV segment by 2025.
We’re currently waiting to learn more about the Jeep Magneto, the fully electric Wrangler, but we can pass the time with the epic 4xe until then. It just won the Green SUV of the year award, so critics are impressed.
It has an MSRP of $49,805 and serves as the second most powerful Wrangler ever. The Rubicon 392 V8-powered Wrangler has a little more muscle but isn’t nearly as fuel-efficient or quiet.
The 4xe pumps out 374 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds. It has a front and rear locking differential regenerative brake booster, and waterproof battery pack, and electronics to go anywhere pretty efficiently.
How does charging the 4xe Wrangler work?
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe gets an EPA-estimated 49 MPGe and features a range of up to 370 miles before needing a fill-up. With a Level 1 charger that plugs into a 120-volt outlet, it takes about 12 hours to fully recharge the batteries. This can be used at home with a regular outlet.
With the Level 2 Charger, it takes about two hours to fully recharge the batteries. You don’t have to fully recharge the batteries each session, and the electric charge port is located at the bottom of the Driver’s side A-Pillar.
In Hybrid Mode, torque is combined from the engine and electric motors for the maximum combination of horsepower and instant torque. Electric power is consumed first.
When the battery has more than a one percent charge, the Wrangler 4xe can operate in Electric Mode. This allows for nearly zero tailpipe emissions at highway speeds. There’s a total electric range of 21 miles.
eSave Mode prioritizes the 2.0-liter engine and saves the battery charge for later. When the power demand is low, the engine shuts off. It can be reconfigured to increase the battery charge. Plus, the regenerative braking helps add some extra juice.
RELATED: Charge Your 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe at Trailheads
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