An Anniversary With Monthly Surprises
Jeep is gearing up for its 85th birthday in 2026, but rather than dropping just one anniversary edition and calling it a day, the brand is rolling out a year-long celebration called Twelve 4 Twelve. Basically, every month, a new special-edition Wrangler arrives, each one spotlighting a different piece of Jeep’s story. Things started strong in November with the Wrangler Moab 392, a V8 brute built for serious off-roaders. December goes a bit differently with the debut of the Wrangler Whitecap.
The Whitecap isn’t about raw power – it’s about heritage. Jeep brings back the white-roof look last seen in 2021, but this time, it goes further. The bright white now covers the signature seven-slot grille, giving the Wrangler a sharper, more intentional two-tone vibe – much like the Ford Bronco Heritage Edition introduced in 2022. It’s a small change, but it’s a direct nod to the early CJ-era Jeeps, when white tops were part of Jeep’s DNA.
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What Makes the Whitecap Different
Jeep took clear inspiration from the classic CJ-Universal models – especially those 1940s versions with Arctic White hardtops – and reimagined that look for today. The Whitecap package is only available on the Sahara and Rubicon, pairing the Bright White hardtop and grille with body-color fender flares. On the Sahara, those flares come standard; on the Rubicon, they’re bundled in a package.
Both trims can be optioned with Bright White 1941 side stripe decals, and the Rubicon can be optioned with a matching hood decal. If you’d rather have open-air driving than a throwback look, Jeep also offers the Sky One-Touch power top, finished with Bright White accents.
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Same Powertrain Choices
Under the hood, nothing changes. The Whitecap sticks with the familiar 2.0-liter turbo-four (270 hp, 295 lb-ft) or the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 (285 hp, 260 lb-ft). Both engines are paired with Jeep’s proven 4×4 systems, so capability stays right in line with the rest of the Wrangler lineup.
You can order the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap now as an option for your off-roader. Pricing depends on trim and options: the Rubicon X package starts at $495, the Sahara version is $2,690 with the body-color hardtop, and the Rubicon package comes in at $3,185 with both the hardtop and fender flares included.
Ten more Twelve 4 Twelve editions are still on the way, so expect more from the Jeep brand in the following months around this date.
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About the author
Jacob Oliva
Senior Editor, Autoblog