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The Wrangler (also YJ and TJ, as explained below) is a small off-road vehicle from Jeep. It is a successor to the famous World War II GP vehicle by way of the Jeep CJ series. The Wrangler debuted in 1986, was updated in 1997, and is still popular today.
YJ
The Jeep YJ, sold as the Wrangler, replaced the much-loved but slower-selling Jeep CJ in 1986. It was a new design with a longer wheelbase, less ground clearance, and more comfort, and some of its inspiration came from its stable mate, the Jeep Cherokee, rather than from its CJ predecessor alone. 632,231 YJs were built before it was replaced in 1997. The YJ used a 2.5 L AMC Inline-4 or an optional 4.2 L Straight-6 until 1991, when a 4.0 L Straight-6 version replaced the 4.2 L Straight-6. YJs are easily identifiable by their square headlights.
On August 5, 1987, American Motors was bought by Chrysler, and the Jeep marque became a part of Chrysler's Jeep/Eagle division.
TJ
The YJ gave way to the Jeep TJ for the 1997 model year. This updated Wrangler featured a coil-spring suspension (based on that in the Jeep Grand Cherokee) for better ride and handling, and a return to the CJ's iconic round headlamps. The engine is the same 4.0 L AMC Straight-6 used in the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee; a 2.5 L 4-cylinder motor was available on entry-level models until 2003 when a 2.4 L DOHC 4-cylinder motor replaced it.
The Wrangler Rubicon (named for the famed Rubicon Trail off-road test circuit) was introduced in 2003. It features front and rear Dana 44 axles with built-in air-acuated locking differentials, 4:1 low-range transfer case, and other offroad-oriented features. In 2004, Jeep introduced the Wrangler Unlimited with an 18 inch (46 cm) longer wheelbase. In 2005, Jeep will release the Rubicon model of the Unlimited, which will have the Unlimited wheelbase, and the off-road features of the Rubicon.