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12 Oct 2016

Jeep® Wrangler is “Classic car of the year 2016

• The readers of Auto Bild Klassik awarded the Jeep® Wrangler (YJ) the ‘Goldenes Klassik Lenkrad’ • For the second year in a row a Jeep model receives the prestigious recognition

Jeep® Wrangler is “Classic car of the year 2016

 

  • The readers of Auto Bild Klassik awarded the Jeep® Wrangler (YJ) the 'Goldenes Klassik Lenkrad'
  • For the second year in a row a Jeep model receives the prestigious recognition

 

The iconic Jeep Wrangler, is enjoying increasing popularity among classic car enthusiasts in Germany. Indeed, the readers of the German magazine "Auto Bild Klassik", one of Europe's most renowned publications dedicated to classic cars, selected the Jeep Wrangler (YJ) as their favourite "Classic car of the year 2016" in the 4x4 vehicles and vans category. The award ceremony for the "Goldenes Klassik Lenkrad" took place yesterday, October 11 in Munich. It is the second year in a row that the recognition "Goldenes Klassik Lenkrad" -selecting the readers' favourite classic car - has been awarded to a Jeep model: in 2015 the 1941 Willys-Overland MB was chosen.

 

Every year, the German magazine presents to its readers a selection of vehicles that celebrate an important anniversary since their first market introduction, asking them to vote for their favourite. Launched 30 years ago in 1986, the Jeep Wrangler (YJ) was awarded first place in the readers' choice for 2016. Results of the voting are available online at www.autobild.de/klassik-lenkrad.

 

Jeep® Wrangler (YJ)

On May 13 1986, the first generation of Wrangler - the YJ - was launched, replacing the legendary CJ series introduced at the end of the war (1945) and considered the true descendant of the 1941 Willys-Overland MB, the world's first light-weight 4x4 vehicle. Jeep Wrangler received its characteristic design from the 1953 Willys-Overland M38A1 and its civil version, the CJ-5 - which gave a major contribution to the transformation of Jeep models from utility to life-style vehicles and therefore to the creation of the SUV segment.
The Wrangler integrated this transformation and was designed from the beginning to be a 'fun and freedom machine'. Many components were derived from the Cherokee model and comfort was considered a top priority in its development. In order to represent visually the key design changes, the Wrangler (YJ) featured square headlamps replacing the round ones used on previous models.

 

Until today, Jeep Wrangler has maintained its unmistakable design - with hallmark design cues including its charateristic round headlamps, combined with unrivalled off-road prowess. And it is the combination of design consistency and technical development that allowed the Jeep Wrangler to become an icon. Today, it is one of the few classic cars that customers can still purchase as a new, production vehicle, thus confirming that the "Classic car of the year 2016" is also the classic car of the future.

 

Turin, 12 October 2016

 

 

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