The “392” is a badge that designates its displacement. Rated at 392 cubic inches, it converts to 6.4 liters. The V8 engine produces 470 horsepower and 637 Nm of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic (electronic gear selector and paddle shifters) and a full-time active transfer case. This new engine enables the Wrangler to hit 100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds, and the quarter mile in 13.

Jeep has lifted it too, giving it a ground clearance of almost 262 millimeters. This has improved not only its suspension articulation and maneuverability, but its approach, breakover, and departure angles as well which are now at: 44.5, 22.6, and 37.5 degrees respectively.

The addition of the 6.4-liter engine marks the first time in nearly 40 years that a V8 has been a factory option for the Wrangler. Tuned specifically for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, it comes with an active intake manifold, variable camshaft timing, twin spark plugs per cylinder, sodium-filled exhaust valves, hollow-stem intake valves, and piston oil cooling jets. It’s capped off with a rear-sump oil pan, high-mount alternator, and free-flowing exhaust manifolds. It also features cylinder deactivation technology.

Keen observers will note the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s hood scoop. While that sounds like trouble when tackling trails, Jeep engineers designed it with a patented Hydro-Guide intake system which gives the engine fresh air regardless of terrain or weather. It contains a tri-level ducting system with a series of drains, including a one-way drain in the air box that separates water—up to 57 liters per minute—away from the engine’s incoming air. This enables the Wrangler Rubicon 392 to traverse water up to 825 millimeters deep worry free, even if a bow wake washes over the hood.

Should the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s functional hood scoop become restricted by snow, mud or debris, a secondary air path within the hood structure feeds the engine, making it possible for the Wrangler Rubicon 392 to reach top speed even with a fully blocked primary air path.

Hammering the point of the Jeep’s V8 engine, it comes with an active dual mode exhaust. The system engages automatically (or manually, if the driver so wishes), opening valves in the exhaust system, under higher engine loads to reduce exhaust back pressure. 

The driver can also activate the system with the press of a button. The dual-pipe performance exhaust system is finished off with unique quad exhaust tailpipes.

Meanwhile, the frame and suspension has been upgraded to take advantage of the newfound power and torque. Aside from toughened frame rails and upper control arms, it also comes with a thicker stabilizer bar (it can still disconnect via a dash button) and FOX shock absorbers as well.

The Jeep Wrangler 392 goes on sale in the U.S. first by Q1 2021.