Here is JK Forum’s 2015 Jeep Year in Review

Talk about a wild and interesting ride. Whether it record sales or record recalls, 2015 proved to be quite a year for Jeep. Although, at times it certainly seemed like the later clouded a lot of the car company’s success, right? Still, even when coming under attack from hackers and safety officials, the brand managed to maintain its course to become an even bigger global powerhouse. And as usual, this past year was also filled with some big news in regards to the future of Jeep, which should make 2016 pretty interesting as well.

Compact Jeep Big on Appeal – Some of the biggest news in 2015 centered on the all-new Renegade, which again confirmed that Jeep’s appeal isn’t limited to vehicles like the Wrangler or Grand Cherokee. The compact SUV’s launch wasn’t only a hit in the U.S. but it also helped fuel a lot of the brand’s global buzz in 2015.

Recall, Recalls, Recalls – With some serious safety concerns lingering from the previous year, it seemed certain that Jeep would come under some heavy scrutiny in 2015. And that definitely proved to be the case. Practically no nameplate in the brand’s line-up was able to escape the recall woes as Jeep was called out on problems ranging from potential fire hazards to steering fluid leaks.

Hacking Hits Jeep – In addition to the major fire concerns, Jeep also came under heavy scrutiny when a duo team of hackers that broke into a Jeep Cherokee’s UConnect system, claiming to remotely take control of some of the Jeep’s functions. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles eventually issued a recall to update the tech system. But exactly what impact the hack has had on Uconnect remains to be seen.

Jeep Pick-Up – Talk that a Jeep pick-up could be in the works gained steam in 2015 – although we never quite got an official word from the company that one is on the way. We were, however, treated to a pretty cool tease for the idea in 2015 with the Jeep Red Rock Responder Concept showcased at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.

Next-Gen Wrangler – Whether it was talk of moving production from Toledo, Ohio or going all aluminum, the next-gen Wrangler was a big news in 2015. For now, it appears that the Jeep manufacturing will stay put. It also looks like the Wrangler will keep its steel structure. But there’ve been other reports that the Jeep could lose its iconic soft top, which would mark the end of a historical era for the SUV.

Jeep Gets Blessed by the Pope – The accolades don’t get much higher for a vehicle than getting the blessing of Pope Francis, which generated a lot of buzz around the Wrangler when the Vatican announced the Jeep would be his Holiness’ official ride during his visit to the the U.S. in 2015. The Wrangler Popemobile wound up splitting time with a Fiat 500L. But it was the Jeep that garnered the most attention.

Butler Reclaims Record – Pushing to reclaim its title in the history books, organizers of the Batman Jeep Heritage Festival managed to make big news in 2015. The group lured 2,420 Jeeps to the small town in Pennsylvania to claim the Guinness World Record for the most Jeeps in a parade, eclipsing a previous record of 1,846 Jeeps set a couple of months earlier.

True One-of-a-Kind Jeep – Custom Wrangler are nothing new, but this one definitely stood out among the rest done in 2015. Unlike the traditional builds we’re accustomed to covering here at JK Forum, this Jeep was constructed out of 4,500 food cans. The Wrangler was built by a group of students in Vancouver as part of a food drive.

Grand Wagoneer Buzz Grows – Although we never quite got any official details from Jeep on the long-awaited new Grand Wagoneer in 2015, the buzz was certainly high around talk that one is in the works. The possibility of a new luxury spin on the popular SUV also yielded some pretty cool images of what a new Grand Wagoneer could possibly look like as pictured above.

Jeep Trackhawk – In addition to the Wagoneer and next gen Wrangler, rumors of a 707-horsepower Jeep inspired by the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats also made 2015 interesting. Much like the Wagoneer, there wasn’t much official from Jeep about the vehicle. But it does appear that if it comes to fruition the high-powered Jeep will bear the name Trackhawk due to the fact the Hellcat name is exclusive to Dodge.

Barbie Jeep Goes Viral – The year had a few bizarre Jeep stories as well. And none quite topped the one about college student Tara Monroe driving a toy Barbie Jeep to class after getting a DWI. The move, however, did prove to turn the student into a pop culture sensation of sorts, which earned her a Hero of the Year Award by Gawker.

$50K Tow – It’s hard to ignore the story covered here on JK Forum about a Jeep owner being charged nearly $48,835 for a tow when recalling some of the most memorable news bits in 2015. Then again, racking up a bill for nearly $50K to have your vehicle pulled out of the mud is worthy of a highlight on any car pub’s year in review wrap up.

Jeep Heritage Lives – This upcoming year, Jeep will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the brand. And nothing better captures the rich history of the American nameplate than the Ford GP-No.1 Pygmy, which made the news several times in 2015. The war Jeep, also known as the Pygmy, is a rather fitting segue moving into 2016.