Internally referred to as the JL, the fourth-generation Jeep Wrangler will be a Wrangler of many firsts. As recurring readers know from our previous stories and spy shots, the JL Wrangler will be the first Wrangler model to get a turbo four-cylinder engine. How does 300 horsepower sound? Appropriate, isn’t it?The thing with the 2018 Jeep Wrangler, however, is that rumors haven been suggesting that the manual transmission will get the axe. That won’t be the case, though, as you can see in the spy photographs inserted in this thread on the JL Wrangler Forums Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that's a stick shift with six ratios and reverse located to the upper left (Tremec TR-3160, anyone?). The Chrysler NSG370 in the JK, on the other hand, has its reverse to the lower right.This, then, signals the death of the Chrysler NSG370 transmission that’s been standard in the JK since 2005 with the similarly standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. If my intuition is correct, the new unit will also come as a no-cost option in the Pentastar-engined 2018 Jeep Wrangler Other than the Pentastar and Hurricane turbo-4, the JL will be available with the EcoDiesel V6 that’s been around since forever. A hybrid powertrain and a pickup truck body shell are also on the cards, which is jolly good news for Wrangler enthusiasts.Other than the manual, the JL Wrangler will get an eight-speed automatic transmission developed by ZF. More to the point, the 8HP75. This cog swapper is an update over the 8HP70 and it is good for a maximum torque of 750 Nm (553 lb-ft). The BMW 7 Series (G11/G12) full-size luxury sedan also makes use of it.