Can you believe it’s been more than two decades since the original Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was launched? This beefed-up Wrangler was built by a subset of Jeep engineers called the “lunatic fringe” and went on to absolutely crush the sales charts. It turns out that everyone likes Jeeps with big tires. To celebrate this unlikely success, Jeep announced the Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary Editions at the 2023 Chicago Auto Show, and they should keep Jeepers happy while making all of us feel like fossils.
[Ed note: Thomas, you are not old enough to feel old! If you’re old, how old am I? – MH]
Admittedly, most of the Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition treatment is largely cosmetic. There’s some grille trim that will likely be controversial among seven-slot diehards, some special decals and badges, and a set of red and black leather seats. On the more functional side of things, these Jeeps get Gorilla Glass windscreens as standard, along with a forward-facing camera, all-weather floor mats, and an 83-piece tool set. Handy in case you ever need to disassemble your Jeep.
In terms of actual off-road performance stuff, the plug-in hybrid 4Xe Rubicon 20th Anniversary edition gets a half-inch lift, 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, rock sliders, steel bumpers, and a grille guard. That sounds like a pretty well-rounded off-road clearance, traction, and protection package on top of the normal Rubicon stuff like locking diffs.
As for the 392 Rubicon 20th Anniversary model, it gets all the body protections stuff that the 4Xe equivalent does and the half-inch lift, but it gains way more tire. I’m talking 35-inch KO2s with an on-board air compressor to inflate them after wheeling and 4.56 axles to spin the big meats. Fuel economy with such short gearing clocks somewhere between “lol” and “lmao,” but this rig’s all about smiles per gallon.
Should you really want to go nuts, Jeep has partnered with American Expedition Vehicles to upfit 150 of these special editions into some of the baddest Jeeps you can buy from a dealership. Massive 37-inch KO2 tires and a special suspension system with Bilstein 5100 dampers give these things 14.2 inches of ground clearance. Combine that with special low-profile off-road bumpers, and you get a 50-degree approach angle, a 33-degree breakover angle, and a 43-degree departure angle. Wicked. Other cool toys include a special skid plate, a winch, 4.56 gears on upfitted 4Xe models, and a sweet set of wiper blades I’ve written about before. It’s a pricey package costing $22,978 on 4Xe models and $21,130 on 392 models, but for 150 lucky Jeep devotees, this thing might be just the ticket.
With some nifty cosmetic tweaks and functional additions, the Wrangler Rubicon 20th Anniversary editions are sure to satisfy the cravings of the truly Jeep-devoted. As for pricing, the Wrangler 4Xe Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition starts at $71,380 including a $1,795 freight charge, while the Wrangler 392 Rubicon 20th Anniversary Edition costs a much dearer $92,690. This means the Wrangler 392 Rubicon 20th with the AEV package is $113,820 in American Dollars. Wow.
Expect these twins to start arriving in dealerships sometime in the second quarter.
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
Watch An Absolute Legend Use Their Jeep Wrangler YJ To Tow A Farm Implement
The 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited Was The Trackhawk Of The 1990s: Holy Grails
Our Daydreaming Designer Imagines He’s David Tracy Buying A ‘Holy Grail’ 1987 Jeep Truck That Never Existed
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon FarOut Is The Last EcoDiesel Wrangler
Watch Jeremy Clarkson Off-Road The Rubicon Trail In The Beloved Jeep Wrangler YJ
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
Wow I like this model very much I will try to buy it by next month and I will also need winch for it which I liked in this website.
https://winchinsider.com/
As much as I would buy one in a heartbeat if I had the money, a $117K vehicle with the same build quality as its $31K sibling may make one pause.
I miss the days when the Wrangler was the entry-level jeep when you did not have Cherokee or Grand Cherokee money.
They are pricing out their fan base. We are starting to feel like Harley Davidson fans in that we can only justify and or afford used ones.
Im trying to price out a new Sport to replace my 10 year old Sport. The old one priced out at like $33k when I bought it new. The one I just priced out only optioned out heated seats and it came in at $50k. FIFTY! For a basic optioned out barn on wheels. My pal bought a Sahara 18 months ago for $43k. F’in crazy.
Setting aside the price, two criminal aspects of this:
* They ruined the iconic grille. It’s starting to look scrunched like a frickin’ Compass.
* They’re celebrating an iconic TJ by…not offering a 2-door edition?
Too bad they never made a Wrangler Hellcat
This means the Wrangler 392 Rubicon 20th with the AEV package is $113,820 in American Dollars. Wow.
… that is LITERALLY Grand Wagoneer Series II money. Which gets you something that isn’t absolute misery on the highway, cold weather, and hot weather with NVH that can only be described as “we added even more.”
WTF? How much money? And does it come with a 72 month supply of hot milfs? Some of us have to live in the real world, DT excluded….
$100,000. Just, wow. I don’t even know where to start.
Still no manual 2 door 392 :'(
I’ve noticed an interesting trend lately and I’m curious if anyone else is seeing this.
I’ve got an old Cherokee so I’m involved in a number of Jeep related local Facebook groups.
I’m seeing 3-4 used Wrangler 392’s posted per week lately in Texas. It seems everyone who bought one of these got bored of it fast. And they all think they’re gonna get $90k plus for a used one.
Is the 392 a flop?
My assumption on the glut of high dollar special vehicles (392s, Raptors, TRXs, 4×4 Sprinters, G-Wagens and their ilk) that seem to be hitting the market right now is that the drop in crypto and FAANG stock prices in the last year has made some people who felt very rich re-assess their priorities.
Death wobble in a 392 probably ends interest in such a uniquely packaged vehicle.
Regarding the 392: Short of putting it all in crypto I’m not sure if I can think of a dumber way to spend 100 grand than one of these monstrosities…especially considering there are probably double digit Jeeps for sale within driving distance of you that’ll look just as good in the Starbucks drive through as one of these will for a quarter of the cost.
BUT…I’m an upper middle class car nerd on a blog and there’s an endless supply of rich weird men who lust after this nonsense. It’s all about having THE BIGGEST, HEAVIEST, LOUDEST, FASTEST, LEAST EFFICIENT TRUCK you can to Own The Libs (TM), or something…and Jeep will sell every single one of these, just like Stellantis also sells every single TRX, Ford sells every single Raptor, etc.
My opinion doesn’t mean shit. It doesn’t matter that 90% of this stuff will never see worse than a gravel driveway and essentially amounts to a resource incinerating 3 ton brick with a rocket engine duct taped to it. What matters is (Mr. Regular voice) MY JEEP BEST JEEP!!!!
In regards to the 4XE: I’ll allow it? I’m still going to judge you for dropping goddamn 93k on a Wrangler. But at least it’s…slightly less destructive? Ugh. Idk y’all. The truck/off-roader arms race is pretty much on the polar opposite end of the spectrum to what I’m in to. I’m sure there’s someone here who can explain why these are cool while I continue to flail about and impotently shriek at the clouds…
The 4xe is fairly reasonable in the “normal” trims. And it does get pretty good MPG, and leases insanely well with the tax credit.
So while it may not be your thing it does seem to be the thing to get some people I thought would never adopt a hybrid into a hybrid.
Agreed, which is why I mostly left it out of my tirade.
I think the 392 will hold its value long term. They aren’t going to be doing another V8 Wrangler after this generation – no question.
I mean, it’s really not much different in principle than something like an E63 wagon or M5.
Big loud engine in a vehicle that doesn’t normally have one. Outrageous price, no regard for fuel economy.
Surely some people are in it for the politics, but I’d venture to say not as many as you think. Dropping $100,000 on a mere statement is something very few can do. On the other hand, if I want something fast and powerful that can fit a family in, my choices are somewhat limited.
It is different in that an M5s and E63s aren’t 6,000 pound 6 foot tall death traps you can’t see pedestrians in front of
I mean, if you don’t like a high ride height, I’m not going to be able to convince you. These don’t sit appreciably higher or weigh any more than 10 million “regular” pickups on the roads.
But I stand by my statement that it’s basically the same thing. Of course the 392s, Raptors, and such are often wasted and not using the capability they’re designed for, but so is every supercar stuck in traffic on the 405.
‘so is every supercar stuck in traffic on the 405.’
I can’t speak to the 405 but I see a LOT more brodozers and other rolling cartoons than I do supercars stuck in traffic on SFBA and central valley freeways.
HOWEVER
Given a bread and butter V6 Camry can blow the doors off the supercars of just a couple of decades ago – to say nothing of a Tesla – I dunno what this term even means anymore.
Well yeah, when a regular truck or Jeep can be had for $30-40K new, I’d expect to see more of them around than $200K+ supercars, even in SF.
That said, I bet a higher percentage of Wranglers go off-road than Lamborghinis or McLarens ever see a racetrack in anger.
E63 is 4,497 lbs – Wrangler 392 is only 5,100 lbs.
I feel like I can see pedestrians better in my tallish trucks versus the sports cars with more blinds spots, but honestly what is the pedestrian doing in the street anyway.
My 4 door wrangler is the same size as a new Ranger and smaller than our Pacifica Minivan.
I agree with you about the appeal of big trucks and off-road vehicles but they do seem to have become politicized in a way that sports cars and other specialty vehicles haven’t. I rarely see stickers on a regular four cylinder fwd sedan warning that the driver is armed, threatening death for any one trying to take those arms, or showing enthusiasm for a comic book vigilante killer. Or on crossovers, smaller SUVs, station wagons, cargo vans, box trucks, luxury cars or anything besides pickups, Jeeps and the occasional big SUV.
If nothing else it seems like people who own those kind of vehicles are more likely to support a more permissive interpretation of the second amendment, which in the US generally makes them one party voters. I don’t know why or what’s cause and what’s effect but it seems like the correlation is real.
I suppose people who use trucks and Jeeps are more likely to do outdoor activities that might involve guns but the whole putting odd, somewhat threatening stickers on their vehicle makes it seem like they’re pretty extreme. Plenty of people go hunting or target shooting without telling everyone about it in such a strange way.
And there’s always the old insecurity argument. Same with sports cars to some extent. The conventional wisdom is that a Corvette is the cure for a midlife crisis and a jacked up truck compensates for a small dick. That’s reductive and frankly insulting to a lot of people but a lot of other people believe it. While bringing things down to the size of one’s genitals is pretty childish there may be a grain of truth in there that some people who are actually insecure, not an uncommon thing in a transitory world, grab onto symbolic items like guns and vehicles in order to feel some mastery of their world. I could see that then effecting their political outlook on topics that touch on the items they feel strongly about like environmentalism and gun control.
I think the off road arms race is a bit silly too but probably for different reasons then you. You said off roading is the polar opposite of what your into, tell me what you’re into and I’ll do my best to explain why these vehicles exist
Why isn’t your resident Jeep nut writing this?
He’s currently dealing with moving across the country while a poor couple borrowing his J10 deals with a breakdown.
Oh don’t leave us hanging! We want to hear about the breakdown we all knew was going to happen
And DT calls these poor folks “friends?” They won’t be for long…
HE calls THEM friends….However, if if they stranded somewhere paying hotel bills while the J10 is at the mercy of some shady little shop who has a deal with the tow truck driver who rescued them …
I don’t think the most common descriptor they’ll be using for David is “friend”
I an just joking of course, and I wish them the most happy an pleasant trip anyone in one of David’s vehicles could ever have.
No, this is one that was genuinely unexpected. Aside from hardcore emissions fail, and rot that needs addressed immediately, the J10’s the only one I actually trust mechanically.
The gearbox failed on them. And David actually rebuilt it mostly properly not that long ago. (T176/7, I automatically default to all new synchronizers and bearings. But the synchros are over $500 to replace. So, yeah.) Lost 3-4 abruptly, and lost 3 before 4.
He’s hoping it’s lug, but it didn’t lose reverse, so I’m pretty sure the fork retaining pin backed out or sheared. A dinky little $1 part that, unfortunately, is one of the first likely failures if the transmission is handled roughly. Especially if the fork is even slightly wallowed out.
To clarify ‘slightly wallowed out’: we’re not talking oblong. More like thousandths, and decidedly not visible to the naked eye. The retaining pins are press-in with no retaining clips.
Is there any sentient being on this planet that didn’t clearly see this coming?
😀
We need to hear this story.
Is this the couple that is on their *HONEYMOON* ?
So much to unpack here. First, David is not self-aware enough to avoid foisting his bad life choices on a young innocent couple. Second, this young couple is either desperate, destitute, sight-impaired, danger junkies, or rust-addicted. Third, assuming it was not a mutual lapse of judgement, how long with this couple be such?
In a market with a lot of insane prices, kudos to jeep for being the most outrageous.
Can you imagine dropping six figures on a damn Wrangler? A vehicle that’s unstable at like 70, sucks gas, is uncomfortable, unsafe, has NVH out the wazoo, can’t be parked in a city, etc.? I understand the appeal of Wranglers as a tool for a specific job…if you’re actually going to do serious off-roading their track record speaks for itself. They’re amazing at that one specific thing.
But as a daily, and/or a car you’re just driving on normal roads? You’re literally sacrificing just about everything good modern cars offer just so you can try to look cool. Enjoy getting jostled around in a loud tin can so you can get that perfect shot of you posing with your latte for the gram…
Isn’t compromising practicality for joy kind of what marks someone as an enthusiast?
Don’t come at me with logic! I’m rambling online!
‘Isn’t compromising practicality for joy kind of what marks someone as an enthusiast?’
My “enthusiasm” IS for practicality! Minivans FTW!
I’ll have you know it’s not a latte, just a regular coffee with cream and sugar thankyouverymuch. And that’s only one Sunday a month when I meet up with other Jeep owners.
Is a Wrangler for everyone? Nope. Is a $100,000 Jeep kind of ridiculous? Yep. But nobody is forcing anyone to purchase the AEV build. Or the 392.
I don’t drive mine to look cool, that’s just a side effect. The only thing I really give up over any other modern car daily driving my Wrangler is fuel economy. My preferred ride is a convertible, so dealing with extra noise from a soft top or removeable hardtop is to be expected.
I guess hate on the Wrangler (and their owners) all you want. There are lots of vehicles people shouldn’t be daily driving because many of them are a compromise in some way but that’s kind of a dumb hot take to have on a website devoted to auto enthusiasts and car culture.
MEH, I kind of think the Hummer EV is a bit more outrageous. But honestly even a basic 3.5 ecobost Ford F150 FX4 is outrageously priced to me. Limited starts at 84,910 dollars. the middle of the road Lariat at $57,480 before adding any of the things you might want seems outrageous to me for sure. With the basic fx4 package and and 3.5 ecoboost you are looking at 73K.
They price them that way because they know that they have an endless supply of men with bad credit who will line up to finance them on 7+ year loans at 17% APR
I can’t argue with this – I see a few of the hummer ev’s around metro detroit every week…they’re the worst.