here is my comment
I went to Camp Jeep 2002 in Branson Mo. two weeks ago and saw what I thought was a vintage Scrambler. Upon closer inspection I realized it was a brand new Wrangler based pickup! It looked almost identical to the original Scrambler but it was brand new. The product engineers were looking for public feedback and said that there was a real strong chance that this vehicle could make into production. They also had a stretched Wrangler that had a real backseat AND cargo space behind it! He also told me that there was a good chance it would be produced also.
So there you have it. These vehicles do exist and it is my gut feeling that we will see them soon.

If they don't mess it up this would be a dream come true! Please, no bug-eye headlights, white interior or IFS! And please do offer the Rubicon package and the manual transmission (preferably the NV4500, not just the NV3500). I'd actually have something available in the marketplace with which to replace my Cherokee XJ with if they offer this, and by then I'll have 255,000 miles (currently 211,000 and no problems), so I might be ready. I'd love to see the turbo diesel option in this vehicle that is currently offered on export Liberty's and Grand Cherokees in order to get the better torque and fuel mileage they provide (145-162 horsepower). By 2004, Diesels in California will have to meet the same tough emission standards as gasoline engines, so there would be no pollution disadvantage. And I agree, the Wrangler is not a SUV!! DC, here is your chance to bring back many loyal customers who have been disenfranchised by dropping the XJ--don't blow it this time!

........ugh........ they have Jeep Liberties for the urban family, a 4 door Wrangler with a truck bed would just kick ass!

I owned a Jeep Scrambler. It was a
remarkably convenient vehicles for an urban
family. Four wheel drive capability along with
limited hauling capacity was just right for our
day-to-day convenience. This coupled with
Jeep's usual rock-hard reliability was a near
ideal machine. Bring out a small pick-up 4X
for this customer anytime now.

Make that "you're" not "your". See, nobody is
perfect!

Actually the TJ official was a '97 model, even though it was 1996, so I guess your the "know nothing"!

P.S. make that "important"

I wish these know-nothing sites would stop referring to the TJ as a SUV. It's a TRUCK. Always has been, always will be. "SUV" is a euphemism for station wagon. But regardless of what you call the TJ, it debuted in early 1996, not 1997. File this story in the trash.

here is my comment, After reading all the comments I must add that adding variants of the Wrangler is a great idea, DC should jump on this idea. What about a Wrangler "M". a Military retro version that would add the missing shovel and auxilary fuel/water cans, olive drab green, with the green wheels dont laugh I am very serious. This also could be marketed to military forces as service vehicles, big increase in sales and image to battle against the Hummer and its image. Wouldnt that have a better image for the military and Jeep than the little Ford Ranger pickups they now use? We have to think outside the box! Why isnt the Wrangler in the anti terrorist vehicle test program Dodge and Ford or into the Jeep could be more easly deployed manuver much better than the trucks can. Another version could be a US forest service vehicle this would be great for the department of parks. You have to further the Wrangler back into the roots of the country and bulid tis image up the way it used to be even as a mail truck in the mainstay of a working usefull tool for the working world, in example all manufactures of pickup trucks that have "W" version for work truck, not just recreation, One more thing in reference to minor sheet metal chages, please dont change the way the existing wrangler looks its fine the way it is just add the variants and keep the solid axles. RS.

I disagree the Jeep is the original SUV, with the emphasis in Sport & Utility! It was followed,many moons later, by the original Ford Bronco, IH Scout and Chevy Blazer, but never equaled! Those fell by the way-side as the CJ/YJ/TJ have continued the true Sport & Utility spirit of the originals! These proposed ideas are great if executed correctly! Jeep is still the toughest four letter word on the road or off!!!

thecarconnection.com has always been a great source of info.They usually are correct... so I would hardly call them know nothings, so they messed up on a year, nobody is perfect. The inportant thing is the potentially great news about the Wrangler!

I hope like hell this story is true. It would be a great idea to expand the
Wrangler line, but what becomes of these vehicle when the next generation
Wrangler comes along. Does this mean the current Wrangler platform will be
around for a while? While they did not mention the Dakar by name could they
be stupid enough to expand the Wrangler line without the Dakar, probably.
DC needs to change their whole way of thinking when it comes to their Jeep
lineup. Currently the Grand is their top of the line or their ultimate Jeep. The
past 61 year heritage demands that the Wrangler (TJ) should be the ultimate
Jeep vehicle in the lineup and all the other models should fall behind it. Now
that GM has their new H-2 that is more civilized and refinded that the original
H-1 are they now going to position it ahead of the original. I think not. The
same should be true with Jeep. Position the Wrangler as the top Jeep build a
pickup and Dakar variants with available Rubicon packages and they will have
no problem selling over 100,000 Wranglers possibly closer to 200,000 a year.
Bottom line DC, build different models of the Wrangler but we better not see IFS on any of them or its a moot point. Don't mess with the original!

A story about the possibility of a new TJ Scrambler or even the Dakar, and only 1 comment? Is everyone still alive?

While I am beginning to really like this Turbo S, the lease will be up in 18 months, so maybe I'll go back to Jeep if this artice is true. They lost me when the Cherokee was replaced by the Liberty, but maybe they'll get me back with a 4 door Wrangler (DAKAR) or even better, a 4 door Wrangler with a Truck bed!!!!!!