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Jeep has spent the last 85 years building vehicles that look just as comfortable covered in mud as they do parked outside a coffee shop, and for its latest anniversary celebration, it’s digging back into the archives. Meet the 2026 Wrangler Whitecap, a limited-edition take on the iconic off-roader that brings one of Jeep’s classic design cues back into the spotlight — the contrasting white roof.

The Whitecap is the second release in Jeep’s year-long Twelve 4 Twelve programme, which sees a different special-edition Wrangler arrive each month as the brand celebrates 85 years of off-road history. Inspired by the classic CJ-Universal and its Arctic White top, the Whitecap combines that old-school look with the technology and capability of today’s Wrangler. And thankfully, Jeep hasn’t gone overboard trying to make it look retro — sometimes a white roof, white grille and a few well-placed details are all you really need

The obvious place to start is that roof. Jeep says the Whitecap takes inspiration from the Arctic White top found on the classic CJ-Universal, bringing the contrasting look into the modern era with a Bright White painted hardtop paired with a matching Bright White seven-slot grille. It’s a relatively simple change, but against the Wrangler’s boxy shape, it immediately gives the Whitecap a different personality.

More subtle heritage details appear on the exterior, like Bright White “1941” side graphics that mark Jeep’s founding year. Rubicon models also get a Bright White hood decal. For the open-air Wrangler feel, you can choose the Sky One-Touch power top with a Bright White accent. This keeps the two-tone look without the hassle of removing roof panels whenever the sun is out.

The proportions, lighting and cabin remain thoroughly modern, while those white details give it just enough vintage personality to make you look twice. It’s the automotive equivalent of finding an old jacket that somehow still works decades later. And this is what makes the Whitecap work — Jeep hasn’t tried to turn the Wrangler into a rolling museum exhibit.

Retro styling is nice, but a Wrangler that can’t get dirty would rather miss the point. Underneath the Whitecap treatment sits familiar Wrangler hardware, and buyers can choose between the 270-hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and the 285-hp 3.6-litre V6. Depending on configuration, Jeep’s 4×4 hardware remains underneath too, so the white roof isn’t hiding some watered-down anniversary special.

• Model: 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap
• Series: Twelve 4 Twelve
• Anniversary: Jeep 85th Anniversary
• Inspiration: Classic CJ-Universal Arctic White roof
• Trims: Sahara, Rubicon & Rubicon X in the U.S.
• Engines: 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder or 3.6-litre V6
• Power: 270 hp (2.0L) / 285 hp (3.6L)
• Drivetrain: 4×4
• Exterior: Bright White hardtop & seven-slot grille
• Optional Roof: Sky One-Touch power top with Bright White accent
• Heritage Detailing: Bright White “1941” side graphics; Bright White hood graphic on Rubicon
• Production: Limited edition

The result is essentially the Wrangler we already know underneath, only dressed for Jeep’s birthday. That’s probably the right approach too. Nobody buying a Whitecap needs Jeep to reinvent solid axles and four-wheel drive just to celebrate an anniversary — give us the proven hardware, add some genuinely good heritage details and let the white roof do the talking.

The Whitecap isn’t celebrating Jeep’s birthday alone. It’s part of Twelve 4 Twelve, a year-long programme built around revealing a different special-edition Wrangler each month. Whitecap arrived as the second instalment following the Wrangler Moab 392, with each release giving Jeep another opportunity to explore a different part of its heritage and personality.

It’s a clever way to celebrate 85 years without trying to squeeze Jeep’s entire history into a single commemorative model. Some editions can lean into performance, others into colour, capability or heritage, while Whitecap is arguably one of the simplest ideas of the bunch — take a visual cue people remember from old Jeeps and put it back on a modern Wrangler.

Orders for the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap are now open in the United States, with pricing depending on which Wrangler trim you start with. The Whitecap package costs USD $495 on the Rubicon X, $2,690 on the Sahara (which includes the hardtop), and $3,185 on the Rubicon (which includes the hardtop and body-colour fender flares). So while that $495 starting figure sounds surprisingly affordable, you’ll need to move further up the price list depending on the Wrangler sitting underneath.

Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf describes the Whitecap as “more than a special edition, it’s a statement,” and that pretty much sums up what Jeep is going for here. The Whitecap doesn’t radically change how the Wrangler drives or what it can do off-road; instead, the Bright White roof, grille and heritage graphics give owners something visually different while keeping the familiar Wrangler underneath. Personalization is also a big part of the Twelve 4 Twelve programme, with Jeep using these special editions to give buyers more ways to make their Wrangler feel like their own.

And that’s probably all the Whitecap needed to be. It doesn’t pretend to reinvent the Wrangler just because Jeep is celebrating its 85th birthday. Instead, the brand dug through its history, brought back one of the CJ’s most recognizable looks, and gave it just enough of a modern update to work in 2026. Sometimes you don’t need to redesign the whole thing — a white roof and 85 years of history can do plenty of the talking.