New Wrangler misses AEB for now, coming to Oz for testing

 

The seventh-generation Jeep Wrangler, set for a late-2018 arrival in Oz, will likely launch without autonomous-emergency braking (AEB) systems.

That means the car, unveiled today at the Los Angeles motor show, will be automatically disqualified from a five-star safety rating under European and Australian testing.

The redesigned Wrangler will launch without AEB in the USA, but North American safety standards don’t require the tech for full marks in safety testing. It appears, however, Jeep Australia and other regions have pushed head office to looking into the tech for future updates.

 

Speaking to Australian media at the Wrangler unveiling in Los Angeles, chief engineer for the Wrangler, Brain Leyes, said it’s being worked on at the moment.

“We will investigate, and continue to look at that moving forward. But straight away it won’t be available,” Leyes said.

Leyes would not speculate on timing, nor why it wasn’t included on the model as standard from the get-go, but did say it will be introduced in necessary markets – suggesting Australia will likely get the system in due time.

“We are looking at it, we will see based on the testing as it comes through and we will introduce things that are necessary… We are again looking at it to put in appropriate places, we will put it where it makes sense.”

 

As it stands now, the new Wrangler has no radar or any form of forward-facing sensor capable of supporting AEB.

Meanwhile, and perhaps as part of this AEB discussion, the new Wrangler will make its way to Australia early next year for validation testing on local roads, showcasing the importance of the Australian market for Jeep.

“[We are] finalising that right now, what we want to do, what makes sense, what would be unique in the market. Look and see what’s there, what’s available, is there something in that market that we missed from the testing that we already do?”

Leyes said that if successful, Australia could become a natural testing ground “for future models”.

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