2013 Jeep® Wrangler Moab Named "4x4 of the Year" by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

• Second consecutive year Jeep Wrangler takes home prestigious award from leading off-road enthusiast publication
• Third award for Jeep Wrangler this week
• New 2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab features Goodyear Silent Armor off-road tires, winch-ready steel bumpers, and an available locking rear differential for increased capability
• Jeep Wrangler sales up 18 percent in 2012

The editors of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine have given their top honor – "4x4 of the Year" – to the new 2013 Jeep® Wrangler Moab edition. Paying tribute to Jeep enthusiasts' favorite off-roading destination, the Jeep Wrangler Moab includes Goodyear Silent Armor off-road tires, winch-ready steel bumpers, and an available locking rear differential for increased capability.

This marks the second straight year that Jeep Wrangler has taken home the magazine's "4x4 of the Year" honor.

"The 2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab edition proved once again what a Jeep is all about," said Rick Pewe, editor-in-chief of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. "The Moab edition has the basic options that allows for great backcountry exploring and 4-wheeling without the fear of not returning to civilization. The Moab edition is another hit for Chrysler in the long 70-year history that is the Jeep brand. It never fails to deliver in this package."

Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road's "4x4 of the Year" competition included hundreds of miles of trails, where editors evaluated suspensions, drivetrains, transfer case functionality, and off-road performance – on sand, mud, dirt and rock – as well as styling and value. They tested everything from how well a vehicle climbs severe, rocky terrain, to how fast it can drive across the desert, and every scenario in between.

"The new Jeep Wrangler Moab edition delivers rugged off-road features such as winch-ready steel bumpers, upgraded rock rails and an available rear-locker in a package that pays tribute to our most diehard Jeep enthusiasts and the off-road playground they love," said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The editors of Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine always put vehicles through the toughest paces in their '4x4 of the Year' testing. We're pleased this opinion-leading publication has recognized the outstanding capability of the new Jeep Wrangler Moab edition."

This latest honor from Petersen's 4-Wheel and Off-Road magazine is the fourth award for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler in the past two weeks. Last week, the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named Jeep Wrangler the "Mid-Size SUV of Texas," while a panel of journalists and professional athletes awarded it the "Best Off-Road Value" in the 2013 Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year, in a competition in Arizona. And earlier this week, Jeep Wrangler was named the "Hottest 4x4 SUV" of the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.

Jeep Wrangler continues to enjoy significant momentum in the marketplace, with sales up 18 percent in 2012 (through September).

New 2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab
To kick off the 2013 model year, Jeep Wrangler debuts a limited-edition model named after one of the most popular off-road destinations in the world – Moab, Utah. The Jeep Wrangler Moab is based on the Wrangler Sahara model and is equipped with hardware popular with off-roading enthusiasts.

Official upgrades include 17-inch Rubicon alloy wheels painted gloss black running new 245/75R17 Goodyear Silent Armor off-road tires and standard Trak-Lok anti-spin rear differential with an available electronic rear locking differential. When equipped with a manual transmission and a 3.73 rear axle ratio, Wrangler Moab has a crawl ratio of 45:1.

Unique exterior features on the Wrangler Moab include a Mopar power dome hood, premium rock rails, black fuel filler door and tail lamp guards and matching premium black front and rear off-road bumpers. Other exterior touches include the new premium soft top, black wheel arches, a matte black Jeep grille badge and "Moab" decals on the hood. A body-color three-piece hard top is optional.

Interior modifications include black or saddle premium leather seats with black stitching, "Moab" embossed instrument panel grab handle, Mopar slush mats and Iron Gray trim on the vent rings, grab handles and steering wheel spokes.

The Jeep Wrangler Moab is available as a two-door Wrangler or four-door Wrangler Unlimited model available in Crush, Dozer, Rock Lobster, Gecko, Black and Bright White.

Like all 2013 Jeep Wrangler models, the Moab edition features Chrysler Group's 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, delivering benchmark capability, excellent every-day on-road driving dynamics, and fuel economy up to 21 miles per gallon.

Jeep Brand
Built on more than 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup includes Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC