UPDATE: 2026/10/15 13:45 EST BY SILVIAN SECARA
How Did Those Mismatched Doors And Hoods Come About?
We added some new information related to the Wrangler Switchback’s mismatched bodywork.
Through the decades, automakers have occasionally stepped a little outside the box for interesting color combinations. As Jeep wraps up its yearlong Twelve 4 Twelve special edition Wrangler campaign, we get another such combo. It’s not that black, gray, and green are interesting by themselves. In this case, it’s the randomness of how those colors are applied.
This is the Jeep Wrangler Switchback. Each one is black, gray, and green, but they aren’t all identical.
Emphasis On The Switch
2027 Jeep Wrangler SwitchbackJeep
Jeep says the Wrangler Switchback is inspired by the SUV’s “mix-and-match” nature, notably in how body bits like the hood and doors are relatively easy to remove. That also means other body bits are easy to reinstall, and they don’t have to be the same color. Now, instead of Wrangler owners exercising some creativity on their own, Jeep is doing it right from the factory with Wrangler Switchback.
Based on the Rubicon X in either two-door or four-door guise, the Wrangler switchback gets a coat of either black, or gray (Sting-Gray, to be exact) paint for the exterior. But, the doors and hood will be the opposite of whatever the body color is. So, if you get a Sting-Gray Wrangler Switchback, you’ll have black doors and a black hood. Similarly, black Switchbacks have gray doors and a gray hood.
Regardless of body color, all Switchbacks get one other very noticeable shade: Gecko green. It’s an accent color used for graphics, the grille surround, and beadlock wheel rings. It’s safe to say that, with such a bright green accented into the black and gray, the Switchback stands out in a crowd.
How Did Those Mismatched Doors And Hoods Come About?
Interestingly enough, Jeep came up with an ingenious way of simplifying the painting process while making the whole thing more authentic. The vehicles are first assembled with doors and hoods whose color matches the rest of the bodywork – a grey Wrangler Switchback will have a grey hood and doors, for instance.
And once the paint job is out of the way, only then will Jeep switch (no pun intended) the parts around to create that mismatched look. Dealers ultimately get the Switchbacks in pairs, one bearing the other’s components and vice versa. So, this isn’t just about creating the impression of retrofitted bits and pieces; Jeep is actually going through the trouble of swapping those around. It also means that, should you buy a Wrangler Switchback, somewhere out there is another one with the parts your Jeep originally had.
Is The Interior As Random As The Outside?
2027 Jeep Wrangler SwitchbackJeep
Jeep envisions a more upscale experience for the Switchback’s interior, but unlike the exterior, each one is the same. Gray adorns the dash, with black inserts and green sticking providing contrast. Nappa leather seats are black with more contrast stitching, offset with more gray on the center console and doors. A satin chrome Willys shifter medallion and HVAC vent graphics are special touches for the interior, and Jeep says the Switchback also has a special cupholder plaque. There’s also the swing-gate plaque identifying this Wrangler as Switchback, same as all the other Twelve 4 Twelve drops.
“Twelve 4 Twelve unleashed creativity across the Jeep brand, bringing teams together to reimagine an icon through different perspectives while staying true to what has always defined Wrangler. What this team accomplished with Twelve 4 Twelve is truly unique, a testament to the creativity, passion and collaboration that define the Jeep brand. Switchback is the perfect finale. It takes Wrangler’s inherent spirit of personalization somewhere unexpected, pairing bold contrasts and interchangeable elements with the legendary 4×4 capability at the heart of every Wrangler. Even after 85 years, there are still new ways to express what Wrangler can be.”
What’s Under The Hood?
2027 Jeep Wrangler SwitchbackJeep
Unfortunately, those of you hoping for another Hemi Wrangler, or possibly even a bonkers Hellcat to wind down the yearlong program will be disappointed. The Switchback’s suspension and powertrain are completely unchanged from the Rubicon X. That means either the 3.6-liter V6 making 285 horsepower, or the 2.0-liter turbo-four with 270 hp. A six-speed manual or eight-speed auto sends power to the ground.
The Rubicon X comes standard with 17-inch wheels, and buyers can upgrade to 35-inch tires at no additional cost. A 4.10 rear axle ratio is standard, but a 4.56 is a zero-dollar option.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
2027 Jeep Wrangler SwitchbackJeep
There’s no question that Jeep makes good money on special-edition Wranglers. There are few enthusiast groups as passionate about their vehicles as Wrangler owners, and Jeep knows exactly what they want at this point. Some of the Twelve 4 Twelve drops have been a bit dull, but this one with its contrasting doors and hood reminds us of the old Harlequin Golfs that Volkswagen did back in the 1990s, and that’s not a bad thing. We can help wondering how long it will be before a Switchback owner decides to get a pair of matching doors to really stand out.
But, we also can’t help wondering about the Hellcat Wrangler that seems like an obvious thing at this point. With Stellantis stable-mate Ram dishing up all kinds of muscle trucks, a bonkers SRT Wrangler seems all but inevitable at this point. It would’ve been one heck of a way to wrap up the Twelve 4 Twelve program, but alas, if the Hellcat Wrangler ever does happen, it won’t be soon.
2027 Jeep Wrangler SwitchbackJeep
The 2027 Jeep Wrangler Switchback goes on sale in November. The package is a $2,870 addition to the Rubicon X and starts at $66,695 for two-door models. Four-door versions start at $69,995. All prices include Jeep’s destination fee.
