Jeep just dropped a 392 HEMI V8 on the Wrangler

The all-new Ford Bronco may be officially out, but Jeep rained in on the Blue Oval's parade before its launch with an all-new 4x4 concept. After releasing a teaser photo of it yesterday, Jeep has officially revealed the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept.

The concept marks the first time a Wrangler has been fitted with a V8 engine after the 1981 Jeep CJ5 which came with a 5.0-liter V8. With many Wrangler enthusiasts clamoring for a V8-powered 4x4, Jeep says the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept is a sign of things to come.

“Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts have been asking us for a Wrangler V-8 and our new Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept proves that we have the ability to make that happen. We are anxious to gauge their reaction to this new Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept, a vehicle that delivers an incredible and unmatched level of fun-to-drive performance and capability, on- and off-road,” said Jim Morrison, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA North America.

Powering this special Jeep is, you guessed it, a 392 cubic-inch (or 6.4-liter) HEMI V8. The engine pushes out a meaty 450 PS and a staggering 610 Nm of torque. Power is then sent to a more robust eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4x4 transfer case. It can go from 0 – 97 km/h in as little as five seconds, and has a 3.73 gear ratio for better low-end torque delivery. With 165 PS and 258 Nm more than the Pentastar, the 392 HEMI V8 eclipses the V6 by a huge margin.

Despite having a V8 under the hood, Jeep did not forget about the Wrangler's 4x4 capability. It comes with heavy-duty Dana 44 front and rear axles, a Selec-Trac full-time two-speed transfer case, Tru-Lok electric front, and rear differentials, 37-inch all-terrain tires with 17-inch beadlock alloy wheels, and a Jeep Performance Parts two-inch lift kit from Mopar. It also has a steel belly pan that protects the underside of the Wrangler when going off-road.

When will Jeep officially reveal the production version of the Wrangler Rubicon 392 Concept? The automaker has yet to announce their plans to actually make one. But given that the all-new concept looks ready for production, it might arrive sooner than we think. And with the all-new Ford Bronco revealed, Jeep could already be working on it as we speak.