New ’41 Special Edition Celebrates Jeep Wrangler’s Military Roots
Did you know that Willys-Overland produced almost 360,000 Jeep vehicles at the Toledo, Ohio plant between October 1941 and August 1945? The company trademarked the Jeep name and, even before WWII was over, began building the brand's first civilian model, the CJ-2A.
As yet another celebration of Jeep’s military roots and the 1941 Willys MB in particular, a new special edition of the Wrangler 4xe Willys joins the lineup for 2025.
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“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."
If the vehicle looks familiar, it’s probably because it draws inspiration from the Jeep '41 concept that was introduced at the 2022 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The main highlight is a new, military olive drab-inspired '41 exterior paint colour evoking the spirit of the original Willys MB. Exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels, painted in the same hue, are wrapped in aggressive 33-inch all-terrain tires.
The Jeep design team also crafted the hood-side “WILLYS / 4XE” and American flag decals that are finished in a period-correct Drab Blue as a nod to the original factory stenciling mandated by the U.S. Army on Willys MBs during World War II. A black hood decal with a '41 logo completes the look.
Inside, the Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 is fitted with a unique tan interior with Heritage cloth seats, an olive drab fabric dashboard insert and a '41 shifter medallion. Customers will have the choice of a body-coloured hardtop and an exclusive tan soft-top (later availability).
Arguably the biggest departure from the original 1941 Willys MB is the 4xe plug-in hybrid system under the hood, combining a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. That powertrain delivers 375 horsepower, 470 lb-ft of torque and 35 km of electric range, although it’s had its fair share of troubles since launching in 2020.
The 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys '41 special edition can be ordered now alongside the rest of the 2025 Wrangler lineup and starts at an all-inclusive price of $72,290 in Canada. The first units will show up at dealers before the end of the calendar year.