Kiss. Cher. Lynyrd Skynyrd. The V8-powered Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. Phish.
What do all these things have in common? Multiple farewell tours.
Jeep announced the end of V8-powered Wrangler production in March. It even produced a 392 Final Edition to say goodbye.
Then the Wrangler went home and found that its old friends had changed. It didn’t connect with them like it used to. The house was quiet. It missed crowd noise. It went out to the garage, fiddled with the gears, and found it had something left to sing about.
So it called up its publicist and sent out an awkwardly worded press release titled (we’re not making this part up), “Jeep Brand Continues Wrangler 392 Final Edition for 2025 Model Year.”
That’s right. It’s time for a second final edition.
Most of the Original Members
The 2025 Wrangler 392 Final Edition, Jeep says, “will continue to offer much of the standard equipment found on the 2024 392 Final Edition.” Most of it. Perhaps this is one of those Fleetwood Mac reunion tours without Christine.
From the press release, it’s not clear what’s missing.
Confirmed returnees include a half-inch suspension lift, heavy-duty rock sliders, black Nappa-leather trimmed seats, and a specially monogrammed shifter medallion calling it (perhaps incorrectly) the Final Edition.
The Hemi Delays Its Retirement
The move also means the famed Hemi V8 engine will continue into 2025. Jeep parent company Stellantis has removed it from most of its lineup.
Jeep recently stopped offering the engine in its Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer full-size SUVs.
Ram dropped the Hemi from its 2025 truck lineup. Dodge, meanwhile, has canceled its Challenger and Charger cars altogether, though it’s temporarily offering discounts on the last Hemi-equipped models on dealer lots. The company has also announced a series of Last Call Durango SUVs equipped with V8s.
Jeep still offers it in the Grand Cherokee L for 2024.
Jeep hasn’t discussed pricing. The 2024 Final Edition officially retails for $101,890, including the $1,895 shipping charge. However, dealers have been known to add a markup, given that this is (maybe) the last V8-powered Wrangler.
This Has Gotten Stellantis in Trouble Before
And that “maybe” could be an issue, according to industry publication Automotive News.
“The reprieve is reminiscent of Stellantis’ decision to extend the Dodge Durango Hellcat beyond the single model year it said the high-powered SUV would be produced. Durango Hellcat buyers sued the automaker, accusing it of tricking them” by saying it would be the last of its kind and then quickly bringing back its kind, the publication noted.
