As we creep closer to the release of the much anticipated 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL model, more and more leaked photos are starting to surface, the most recent being the grille. The fine folks over at JLWranglerForum received a photo of what is supposedly the grille from an anonymous source. Keeping in line with its predecessors, the grille features the iconic seven slots, however the simpler design appears wider than the current JK model. The grille itself looks like it has a slight kink or angle to it, reminiscent of the YJ model and the recessed headlight provisions are somewhat CJ inspired. The outer most slots look like the headlamp provisions "dig" into them, separating this model from the JK. Although the photos are hard to confirm as being legit, the grille seems to match up almost perfectly to the prototypes that first landed in forums and articles in the late fall of 2016. 

I had mentioned in a previous blog that there would be some more noticeable changes to the grille's appearance, according to the prototypes. Keeping consistent with said prototypes, the JL grille does not have the marker lights. Those are most likely going to be incorporated into the fenders. You may also notice that the recognizable "Jeep" emblem is no longer on the grille at all.

The new JL hood was also leaked a few weeks back when a JK owner purchased what he expected was a 2014 Hard Rock 10th Anniversary hood from a recycling yard in the Detroit area. The hood didn't quite fit his JK, extending over the grille area and hanging off. That hood turned out to be a pre-production JL hood instead. It was approximately 2" longer than his factory hood and featured two prominent vents, similar to the current 10th A hood. The JL hoods are designed to be longer in order to fit the new 8-speed ZF transmission and judging by the photos, this confirms it. Once the mixup was discovered and the recycling yard was contacted, they asked for the hood back. JL forum user Redrockjk was told the purchased hood would be going back to the FCA, which just adds proof that it was in fact a JL hood.

Stick with us for more information and leaked footage when we get it here! 

**Photos Courtesy of JLWranglerForums.com (http://www.jlwranglerforums.com/)