It has been reported that the 2018 Jeep Wrangler will benefit from an eight-speed automatic transmission, doing away with the old-five speed ‘box and cut fuel consumption by more than nine percent.

Eight-speed automatic for 2018 Jeep Wrangler, 9% more efficient

The company is yet to release any detailed information on the 2018 Wrangler which is scheduled to go on sale towards the end of 2017. However, according to Automotive News, in a filling revealed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Jeep stated that “the eight-speed transmission is currently paired with petroland diesel engines in the 2014 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee and is also featured in the new 2014 Dodge Durango. We plan to use this transmission in all of our rear-wheel-drive vehicles, except for heavy-duty versions of the Ram pick-up truck and the SRT Viper.”

The filing further notes that the eight-speed ZF transmission, “reduces fuel consumption by more than nine percent over the five-speed” transmission it replaces.

Apparently the company had no intention of introducing the eight-speed transmission in the current Wrangler because it did not fit. So with the new model, which, is set to receive a fresh aluminium body that will also enable a massive diet, engineers have the freedom to infuse optimum packaging techniques.

Market entry of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler is slated for 2017.