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Jeep is bringing out the ultimate retro version, duplicating the model that created the off-roading revolution. The retro version of the 1941 Willys has a modern twist. Jeep has unveiled the 2025 Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 Special Edition. The original Willys Jeep was designed for combat in 1941. The new limited-edition has 4xe capability and comes in military drab colors. The huge 33-inch tires will take new explorers further off the trail than any of the original drivers ever dreamed of going.
“Eight decades after cementing a reputation for all-terrain capability, straightforward design and tough versatility, the spirit of the original Willys MB lives on in everything we do at Jeep brand,” said Bob Broderdorf, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “The new 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 is a testament to that heritage. It's a celebration of our past that inspires us, while we keep pushing the boundaries of capability and innovation."
How the Original Jeep Got its Start
In July 1940, the U.S. military told automakers that it needed a “light reconnaissance vehicle.” It invited 135 manufacturers to bid on production. The new vehicle had to have a 600-lb. load capacity, wheelbase less than 75 inches, height less than 36 inches, a smooth-running engine from 3 to 50 mph, a rectangular-shaped body, four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case, fold-down windshield, three bucket seats, blackout and driving lights and a gross vehicle weight below 1,300 lbs.
After several prototypes, the Army asked Jeep’s predecessor, Willys-Overland, to build 1,500 examples of its Quad. Further testing and evaluation led to the Army's selection of the Willys vehicle as the standard. A contract was signed on July 15, 1941, to begin production. With modifications and improvements, the Willys Quad became the MA and later the MB. But the Army, and the world, came to know it as the Jeep. According to Jeep, “Some claimed that the name came from the slurring of the letters “GP,” the military abbreviation for “general purpose.” Others say the vehicle was named for a popular character named Eugene the Jeep in the Popeye cartoon strip.”
“Willys-Overland produced almost 360,000 Jeep vehicles at the Toledo, Ohio, plant between October of 1941 and August 1945. WWII reporter Ernie Pyle once said, "It did everything. It went everywhere. Was as faithful as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat. It constantly carried twice what it was designed for and still kept going."
Willys trademarked the Jeep name and, even before WWII was over, began building the brand's first civilian model, the CJ-2A.
2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 Limited-Edition
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe limited-edition is a mix of Jeep’s old and new. It may look like the military olive drab '41 version complete with period-correct Drab Blue hood-side decals and 17-inch painted wheels, but it features Jeep’s 4xe technology. Available roofs include a body-color hardtop, Sky One-touch powertop roof and a future, exclusive tan soft-top. Standard features include a rear locker for enhanced traction and front and rear steel bumpers for added off-road protection.
The class-exclusive 4xe system combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine, two electric motors and a high-voltage battery pack to deliver 49 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) and 21 miles of all-electric range. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the top-selling plug-in hybrid in the U.S. A similar model debuted at the 2022 Easter Jeep Safari and was so well received that Jeep decided to produce a special edition.
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 special edition has a U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $59,930 plus $1,895 destination charge. Orders are now open. The special edition should be in Jeep dealer showrooms before the end of the calendar year.
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Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.
Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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