What the Heck Is eTorque?
By Nena Barlow
This article originally appeared on fourwheeler.com.
When I first heard there would be a mild-hybrid motor option in the JL Wrangler, I was curious, but not convinced that anything but a diesel would tempt me away from the tried-and-true 3.6L V-6. I reluctantly ordered two for our fleet, just to try them out. First to arrive was a pretty Hella Yella Unlimited Rubicon that we named MaryAnn. Though I can neither confirm nor deny that there was drag racing between the 2.0L turbo eTorque Wrangler and one of our 3.6L V-6 Wranglers, what I can say is that the 2.0L turbo is noticeably faster off the line and in the quarter-mile than the V-6 in the JL Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.
The 2.0L Turbo eTorque makes better horsepower and torque than the 3.6L V-6, but many people don’t fully understand the significance of the eTorque—the electric motor part of the equation that earns it the mild-hybrid title. It gives you an extra 71 lb-ft of torque from 0 rpm up to about 1,500 rpm, where the 3.6L is just starting to get its legs under it. The 2.0L turbo eTorque is also noticeably smoother in the auto stop/start feature (which can be easily disabled) than on the 3.6L V- 6, and the new 48V electric motor makes the restart unnoticeable. And when I found out that stop/start can save you up to a half gallon of gas per hour, I stopped pushing the disable button.
I fully expected to want to re-gear the 2.0L turbo eTorque on our Unlimited Rubicon named Ginger, given the smaller displacement. Ginger rides on a 4-inch TeraFlex ST4 suspension kit and a set of 37-inch Falken Wildpeak Mud-Terrains, and (to my amazement) she runs like the stock 33s are still on, puts you back in the seat, and finds Eighth gear at highway speed. So far we have found that no re-gear is necessary. With the eTorque giving you torque from 0 to 1,500 rpm, there is also smooth power throughout the tall rocks, even pushing the 37s. A few big selling points of the eTorque system are higher fuel economy, smoother stop/start, and better shifting. I was impressed by its ability to push 37s without re-gearing, zip down the highway, crawl big rocks, and still get 18 mpg.
The 2.0 turbo eTorque delivers more than a traditional 2.0 turbo. No turbo lag, no stop/start shudder, and that extra 71 pound-feet of torque never hurts your quarter-mile time. The turbo is mounted off to the driver side, and the eTorque’s motor-generator unit (MGU) is in the front of the engine. No, you don’t have to plug it in, and no, you don’t have to start hanging out with Prius owners.
There are some downsides to the 2.0L eTorque, in my opinion. Like most turbo motors, they seem to run fine on either 87 or 91, but prefer premium (93+) gas, and we’ve seen higher octane improve performance and range. Then there’s the sound. It’s hard to love the sewing machine sound of the fit and fiesty 2.0L turbo eTorque. Also, longevity is a concern for many. Though the turbo motors have endured extensive testing for a full year, eating dust and bashing rocks through the freezing cold and searing heat, we haven’t had one in rental service yet. I look forward to updating you all in another six months.
One thing we were worried about in the undercarriage is that rather large and expensive battery pack. Careful inspection reveals a stout skid plate with about a 3cm gap between the plate and the actual battery housing just in case you do hit it with gusto. Engineers also knew that this battery would be subject to dust, mud and water fording, and is sealed accordingly.
Not only did we worry about rock impact, but also with rubbing the rear driveshaft when the Jeep is flexing its suspension back and forth. Rubbing the gas tank is an issue we have been dealing with since the JK, but now we have something on both sides to deal with.
Suspension installation is a success when you can fully articulate your suspension and not rub or bind anything.
The Teraflex ST4 suspension kit comes with adjustable rear bumpstops. After also moving the battery pack and gas tank out about ¼-inch, these bumpstops were just enough to keep the driveshaft from hitting the gas tank and the battery pack.
That is my finger just squeaking through the tiny amount of space between the driveshaft and the battery pack while the Jeep is at full flex, compressed on the driver rear tire. Plenty of room!
Plenty of room in the wheel wells for the 3.3 Falcon Fast-Adjust shocks.
The JL’s 2.0-liter turbo eTorque has three coolant reservoirs, hence three independent cooling systems: motor-generator unit coolant reservoir in bottom left, turbo coolant reservoir in bottom center, and traditional engine coolant reservoir in top right. And not just any coolant—it must be Organic Additive Technology (OAT), conforming to FCA specifications.
Some gratuitous rock crawling shots. The eTorque provides smooth and steady power, no turbo lag when climbing over the big rocks. Photo by Sierra Palmer.
Same spot, view from the driver’s seat.
One of the cool features of the new JL is the offroad pages, which can alternate from pitch and roll, to drivetrain status, to a 5-gauge cluster.
Wheeling through powder snow and on icy roads was no worry with the smooth power and shifting of the eTorque.
Maryann is in our rental fleet in Sedona, Arizona.