Massive power boost for 2012 Wrangler

With 2011 Wranglers just getting into their sales stride locally, this item's a bit premature, but anyway … as widely reported, the 2012 Wrangler gets the new Pentastar V6 (right), first seen locally in the Grand Cherokee, where it's been about as popular as a dose of herpes. That's probably not a reflection of the engine as much as Grand Cherokee owners who want V8 power or, at a pinch, diesel. In the Grand, Pentastar produces 213kW and 347Nm of torque at 4300rpm. I figured it would be detuned in the Wrangler, but no. I've just seen the American 2012 sales kit and all that power and torque will be available in the Wrangler, whose outgoing engine produces 146kW and 315Nm of torque. Sixty-six more kilowatts, yee-ha!; 32 more Newtons, not so yee-ha!, but any increase is good. In the US, Jeep's talking a 13 per cent fuel consumption improvement.

Hot gossip from the Poms

Just kidding.

There's a hot rumour from within Land Rover circles that the next Defender, or a show vehicle close to it, will be unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Sept 13-25. Given that the LRX show car that became the Range Rover Evoque was introduced three years ago and given that the boss of Land Rover has told 4wdNewz to expect the next Defender around 2014, the rumour could well be true. Start saving, Land Rover enthusiasts …

It's mostly up to the Challenge

I've spending time with the base GLS version of Mitsubishi's Challenger (above), the wagon that's built around a mixture of Triton and Pajero. The original post on the model is here. At $58,290,* a GLS is the cheapest way to get into a Challenger and represents good buying in today's market, especially compared to the $63,390 Exceed version with its marginally useful third row of seats and the extras that Mitsi thinks suburban SUV buyers want. The fact is, you can live without any of the Exceed's extra equipment and put the $5300 you'll save towards some useful extras.

The Challenger is one of the few modern off-roaders you might actually want to use off the road. First of all, it hasn't cost you $100,000, so a scratch or two might not hurt so much. Second of all, it's a good off-roader even off the showroom floor thanks, in part, to its standard rear-axle diff lock. Third of all, it reminds me of the old 4-Runner/Surf and we all know how good they could be.

Challenger's major detraction is the 2477cc turbodiesel. It's not that the motor lacks power or torque (133kW and 356Nm), it's just rough and noisy, especially before it has warmed up. You don't notice it so much in the Triton, but the Challenger is more refined and it's like a stone caught in your sandal. A more practical drawback is a transfer ration of only 1:9, so things can happen in low first a bit faster than you might like. Clearance at the rear diff is 220mm on its standard 265/65 17-inch Bridgestone Duelers. But still, if you want a new wagon and want to go off-road, Challenger is a tempting package.

* That's $1300 more than when we covered its introduction last year.