Photographers recently captured images of the first two-door prototype of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL. This first look of the new Wrangler comes after a month of sightings of the four-door Unlimited prototypes.

This look at the two-door Wrangler prototype also gives us a our first glimpse of the prototype’s interior. It appears that either the prototype is using the same interior as the previous generation or that the interior on the JL will have a great deal of carryover, because the inner door panels, dash, and window controls and air conditioner vents all look to be the same - in spite of camouflage attempting to cover parts of the interior.

What we can see better on this new Wrangler prototype is the front fascia, which is slightly more visible thanks to the thin mesh cover. Underneath, round headlights are visible as is the traditional Jeep seven-slot grille. Again, the new Wrangler looks similar to the current-generation JK, but we do have a better look at the lights on the front wheel arches, and photographers did spot the light strips glowing orange when the turn signals were engaged. It also looks as though they also contain very thin LED strips that modernize the SUV in a subtle way. 

Photographers were so close to the SUV that that they were able to peek under the camp to see the prototype shows that the Wrangler will appear to retain the exposed, exterior door hinge mechanisms. The new Wrangler also features similar cut-lines for the doors to retain the rugged look of the Wrangler. In spite of the the bulky disguising on the mirrors and roof, both appear to be very similar to the current-generation Wrangler.

We’ve heard a number of reports claiming that more aluminum and lightweight construction will be in play for the 2018 Wrangler. We’ve already seen our first glimpse of a four-cylinder turbo-charged motor being tested, so it’s possible that Jeep is looking to reduce weight in an effort to improve fuel economy. If that’s the case, and if this prototype is in fact a version of the next-generation Wrangler, it appears Jeep engineers are focusing their efforts on performance and fuel-economy efforts. Rumors have persisted that Wrangler will move from its current generation five-speed automatic transmission to an eight-speed, like the one featured on the Ram 1500 and the Grand Cherokee. With weight reduction, a new transmission and new power plant options, this will likely be the most fuel-efficient Wrangler to date, and it’s possible Jeep will do so without changing much of the soul of the current generation SUV.

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