When we first saw the Rubicon 392 concept vehicle we were excited. It had all the gadgets and toys we felt were needed to make it an off-roading monster. So you can imagine how exhilarated we were when Jeep announced that they were officially moving the vehicle to production. That is the kind of good news we’ve been craving for a while.
So it’s official folks, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is headed to production and if all goes well (fingers crossed) it will be available for sale in early 2021. Powered by a 6.4-liter V-8 engine that harnesses 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, this promises to be the most powerful Wrangler to ever come from the Jeep factories.
Just like the concept 392, Jeep’s Wrangler Rubicon 392 is packed full of upgrades and we at Dixie 4 Wheel Drive can hardly wait to put it through its paces on some of the off-roading trails in Southern Utah. We also can’t wait to see what kind of custom Jeep modifications and upgrades this new vehicle will require.
But first, let’s check out what makes this rig one of the most badass Jeeps out there.
An upgraded air intake system
Since it features an air-hungry V-8 engine, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 had to be equipped with a heavy-duty air intake system. This comes in form of the Hydro-Guide – an innovative and functional hood scoop air induction system that ensures that the engine is continuously fed with cooler, denser air. To make sure fresh air always finds its way to the engine, the Hydro-Guide system employs a tri-level ducting system with drains that separate water from the air at 15 gallons per minute. This comes in handy if driving the rig during a torrential downpour or going through river crossings that might have water washing over the hood. Additionally, in case debris, snow or mud blocks the main intake on the hood scoop, a secondary one automatically opens.
A quad-tipped exhaust system
You can’t have an upgraded intake system without a corresponding exhaust. The quad-tipped exhaust on this rig is also pretty exotic with an active dual-mode designed for performance with a distinctive V-8 sound. No input from the driver is required to operate this exhaust and it opens up to reduce backpressure on its own. However, a button on the dash gives the driver the option of activating the system- for those times you want people to notice you.
An eight-speed automatic transmission
This beauty is backed by a high-torque-capacity TorqueFlite 8HP75 eight-speed automatic transmission. The 470 lb-ft of torque the V-8 generates is sent to all four wheels through the eight-speed transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. This eight-speed also utilizes smaller ratio steps between each gear to make the Rubicon 392 more responsive whether you’re taking it off-road or driving it on the pavement. With such power under the hood, it’s not surprising that it can go from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in just 13 seconds.
A beefed up chassis
To handle the power of the V-8, the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s chassis has been upgraded. The strengthened chassis features additional steel, frame rails as well as upgraded front upper control arms, and cast iron steering knuckles. Clearly, the engineers built this to be a sturdy vehicle that can last for years no matter what is thrown at it.
Enhanced off-roading capability
Jeeps are built to be taken off-road and the Rubicon 392 is no exception. It features enough modifications to keep any avid off-roader happy. For starters, the rig comes with a full-time two-speed transfer case. It’s also equipped with heavy-duty breaks alongside wide-track Dana 44 axles and Tru-Lok locking differentials for both the front and rear tires. The rig’s factory 2-inch lift easily accommodates Fox monotube shocks as well as a set of 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels with 33-inch BF Goodrich K02 all-terrain tires. These can be easily replaced with a set of 35s or even 37s, should you wish to.
Thanks to the lift, this Rubicon has a ground clearance of 10.3 inches which makes it taller than other Jeeps. This means it can easily navigate most obstacles on the trail without risking any sensitive vehicle components on the undercarriage. To make off-road maneuvering easier this Jeep has an electronic front sway-bar disconnect for maximum articulation.
To help the driver navigate when off-roading, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 has an 8.4-inch touchscreen (the Uconnect System) with Jeep’s Off-Road pages that display information. This helps the driver keep tabs on the GPS Coordinates, the drivetrain power distribution as well as monitoring the vehicle’s pitch, roll, and altitude. To round things off, the Off-Road Plus mode comes with Rock and Sand modes, which is handy for those who love rock-crawling or playing in the sand.
The aesthetics
With all the upgrades and modifications, the engineers at Ford decided to make this Rubicon as beautiful as it is powerful. While this Jeep will only be offered as a four-door Rubicon model, it will be available in 9 colors. These range from the standard black to the signature Firecracker Red to Sarge Green Metallic, Sting-Gray Metallic, Punk ‘n Metallic, among others.
The interior features black leather with bronze stitching on the seats to match the exterior bronze accents. A host of accessories with be available for those among us who love crafting custom Jeep builds including LED lights, winches, rock rails, etc.
As you can see the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 promises to be a reliable daily driver that can easily transition to a powerful off-roading beast when necessary. It’s also easy on the eye making it an attractive option for a wide variety of people.
If you’re among those lucky enough to test this vehicle on Moab’s trails, don’t forget to bring it to the Dixie 4 Wheel Drive full-service specialized auto shop in Moab both before and after hitting the trails. We have some affordable trail prep and safety packages that will guarantee your rig performs at its best.
