The story of the Brute and the path of the shipment imported here by Jeep franchise holder Fiat Chrysler NZ is an interesting one. And worth a few words here before we delve into the ‘what’s-she-likes?’ and ‘what’ll she dos?.’
Stretched wheelbase double cab Brute utilities are created and marketed by American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), a Montana-based boutique re-engineering business which specialises in Jeep Wrangler accessory products and limited edition builds – the latter completed to award-winning Chrysler-spec at the company’s engineering shop in Detroit.
The Brute is one of four limited edition ‘specials’ AEV makes and the examples on sale here started out as factory RHD models.
The example Fiat Chrysler NZ has on its press fleet is a Sport-spec model with an NZ RRP of $114,990 plus on-road costs. The one-off shipment included Sports, plus the higher-spec Rubicon (RRP $124,990 plus on-road costs) in approximately equal numbers.
With its lift kit, 17 in. dia. wheels and 35 in. tyres, integrated front bumper/winch bar and trick, vented hood, Sport-spec is fairly serious in its own right.
As befits the name, though, the Rubicon cranks up the off-road cred several more notches.
Where the Sport uses Jeep’s Command-Trac drivetrain with full-time (Hi or Lo-range) 4WD recommended for loose and/or slippery surfaces only (because when required to the transfer case simply locks the front and rear axles together with no differential action), the Rubicon gets the higher-spec Rock-Trac one which adds a Dana 44 heavy duty front axle, Tru-Lock electronic locking diffs front and rear, a lower (4.0:1) low-range ratio, as well as an electronically-disconnectable front anti roll bar for extra axle articulation.
For years Jeep faithful have been asking the factory to build a long wheelbase, double cab Wrangler ute and just this year one was included (see pic of the Jeep Crew Chief) in the limited edition, design exercise line-up ahead of the 50th Jeep Safari meeting at Moab.
For now the Brute is the only game in town and though it is nominally still an aftermarket build you can buy one at a Jeep dealer here (or at least you can while stocks last!!) complete with factory-backed three-year/100,00km warranty.
To read the full story in the July 2016 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (June 20) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
