Jeep is developing one modular hardtop system This could allow removable hardtops to be stored on board vehicles, which could be big news for the Wrangler.
The current Jeep Wrangler requires owners to leave the hardtop behind, an inconvenience not asked of Ford Bronco drivers. But a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 31, 2024, after being filed by Jeep on April 27, 2023, indicates that the automaker is working on it solve that design problem.
Patent image of Jeep’s modular hardtop
This will be achieved by dividing the hardtop into multiple roof panels and vertical supports. These would be attached to each to enclose the roof and sides of the vehicle, while still leaving small areas for onboard storage.
That would be a big improvement over the current Wrangler, where most of the hardtop is one big piece that can’t be broken down to fit the vehicle, and also takes up garage space if removed. Jeep hasn’t seen the need to change this before, but the Bronco’s more convenient hardtop design might have caused the automaker to take another look. This isn’t the first Jeep patent influenced by the Bronco; the automaker has also patented its own version of Ford’s donut doors.
Patent image of Jeep’s modular hardtop
Not all patented ideas make it to production, but we do know that a The next generation Wrangler is in developmentallowing Jeep to deploy this feature. Known as the J70 seriesAccording to a 2023 UAW document detailing the union’s latest agreement with Jeep parent company Stellantis, it is planned to be built exclusively as an EV or plug-in hybrid. Production is scheduled to start in 2028 at the Wrangler’s current factory in Toledo, Ohio.
The current generation JK Wrangler received a refresh for the 2024 model year to keep it competitive until the J70 arrives, with more features and a full-float Dana rear axle for some trims. Minor changes have been made for the 2025 model year.