Jeep reveals Scrambler SRT concept with V-8 power and independent front suspension

Jeep has publicly debuted the Scrambler SRT concept, a two-door, Wrangler-based pickup with a V-8 and a truck bed that revives a nameplate last seen on the CJ-8 Scrambler. The concept is the first public appearance of the Scrambler name since Jeep confirmed plans to bring the model back at its investor relations day in May.

A Wrangler-based pickup with desert-racing hardware

The concept is built on a Wrangler foundation and pairs a high-travel independent front suspension with a Trophy Truck-inspired rear axle, a layout Jeep says builds on the design first shown on the race-winning Gladiator Striker. It is the first Wrangler-branded model to use independent front suspension. Jeep developed the suspension setup with a Dakar-winning off-road driver.

Visually, the Scrambler SRT wears a slightly retro grille with an overbite, a prominent hood scoop on the engine cover and oversize fender flares, finished in Punk'n orange paint. SRT badges sit on its flanks.

The V-8 question

Jeep has not said exactly which V-8 the concept uses. Given the SRT branding, the two candidates are the Hellcat's 6.2-litre supercharged engine or the 6.4-litre "392" unit, and Car and Driver judges the 6.2 the likelier choice. No power or torque figures have been published for the concept.

Tim Kuniskis, head of American Brands, SRT Performance and Direct Connection at Stellantis North America, framed the concept as an exercise in what happens when "SRT stops treating the trail as the limit and builds the ultimate open-air desert weapon". That framing points to a truck aimed at high-speed desert running rather than rock crawling, which is where the independent front end and Trophy Truck rear axle come in.

Production timing and pricing remain open

Jeep has confirmed a production Scrambler is coming but has not announced an on-sale date, official styling or mechanical details. Car and Driver expects the production versions to arrive in 2028, and expects a full Scrambler lineup with an SRT version at the top. Those expectations are not yet confirmed by Jeep.

Pricing has not been announced for the concept or the production truck.

The Scrambler name predates the Gladiator: the original was the first Wrangler-based pickup. Its return would give Jeep a two-door, short-bed pickup slotting alongside the four-door Gladiator, and the SRT concept signals that the brand sees room for a performance variant at the top of that range.

Volkswagen has confirmed the second-generation T-Roc for an early 2027 arrival in Australia, with the local division stating the small SUV will be powered by mild-hybrid petrol engines. Full pricing and model specifications for the Australian market are still to be announced.

What Volkswagen Australia has confirmed

The local arm has confirmed "mild-hybrid powertrains" without naming outputs. CarExpert expects this likely means the 110kW 1.5 eTSI and the 150kW 2.0 eTSI 4Motion, both with 48V mild-hybrid assistance.

Volkswagen Australia is also promising "enhanced comfort and personalisation features throughout the range", though what that includes has not been detailed.

There is no update yet on the T-Roc Hybrid recently confirmed for Europe and the UK. That version pairs a 1.5 TSI turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors and a 1.6kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery, quoting 125kW and 310Nm against the mild-hybrid's 110kW and 250Nm.

In Europe, WLTP combined fuel consumption for the full hybrid is quoted at 5.0-5.6L/100km, versus 5.6-5.9L/100km for the mild-hybrid. The hybrid versions of the Golf and T-Roc use a single-speed transmission in place of the mild-hybrid's DSG dual-clutch auto and can drive on electric power alone at lower speeds. That powertrain has also been confirmed for the related Skoda Octavia and is on the cards for an Australian introduction.

Bigger body, more space inside

The new T-Roc measures 4373mm long, 1828mm wide and 1562mm tall, on a 2631mm wheelbase. That is 122mm longer, 9mm wider and 9mm taller than the original, with a 28mm longer wheelbase.

Volkswagen claims the growth delivers more interior space and practicality. Global specifications point to a 475-litre boot, 30 litres up on before, and improved rear accommodation that lets a 1.85m-tall passenger sit behind a 1.85m-tall driver.

The cabin also moves to Volkswagen's latest infotainment and driver assistance technology first seen in the larger Tiguan, alongside what the company calls "a range of comfort-focused features designed to elevate the ownership experience".

Why the T-Roc matters to Volkswagen in Australia

The outgoing T-Roc was Volkswagen Australia's best-selling passenger model by a wide margin until this year, with 5159 registrations in 2025 ahead of the Tiguan's 3664 (excluding Allspace). It was not the brand's overall top seller: the Amarok ute recorded 5392 registrations over the same period.

That record makes the new model's launch timing significant for the brand's volume ambitions, since the T-Roc has been carrying passenger-car sales despite its advancing age. The mild-hybrid-only start also means Australian buyers will not initially get the lower-consumption full hybrid that Europe receives, leaving the 1.5 eTSI and 2.0 eTSI as the expected core of the range.

Australian buyers will have to wait for the price list to judge whether the larger body and upgraded technology carry a premium over the current car, since no local figure has been released.