Jeep Wrangler Whitecap debuts with white hardtop and heritage cues

Discover the Jeep Wrangler Whitecap special edition, inspired by the CJ-5: white hardtop, heritage details, Sahara and Rubicon options, pricing and engines.

Jeep is keeping up its yearlong run of special editions marking the brand’s 85th anniversary: after the recent announcement of the more attainable Wrangler Moab with the 392 Hemi V8, the company is rolling out the second drop—the Wrangler Whitecap. The premise is straightforward: each month this year brings a distinctive Wrangler tailored for fans and collectors.

Whitecap takes its inspiration from the early-1960s Jeep Universal CJ-5 with a hardtop and a then-unusual door option. In the modern reading, the spotlight falls on a contrasting white hardtop and a grille finished to match. Depending on trim, body-color fender flares are available, while Sahara and Rubicon add a white “1941” stripe that runs rearward from the door; Rubicon also features matching script on the hood. The contrasting top crisps up the silhouette and nods to heritage without overplaying it.

Pricing for the Whitecap package varies: on the Wrangler Sahara the surcharge is about $2,690 (including the hardtop), while on the Rubicon it’s $3,185 (with the hardtop and body-color flares). On the flagship Rubicon X, the bump is minimal—around $495. Orders are open, and buyers can choose between the 2.0-liter turbo and the 3.6-liter V6, a sensible spread that keeps the special within easy reach for different tastes.

A small marketing flourish ties the series together: Jeep creates a themed “duck” for each drop to hint at what’s coming next. The next figurine is in a check pattern, which could point to interior changes.