Jeep is sticking with a familiar strategy to keep the Wrangler feeling fresh: make small styling adjustments, then roll out region-specific special editions aimed at local tastes. In the United States, that approach shows up as the Whitecap edition, which leans into winter imagery through white exterior accents. Japan is getting a similar seasonal twist with its own market-exclusive model called the Wrangler Snow Trace. The concept is essentially the same, but the details, graphics, and branding are tailored specifically for Japanese buyers.
Sold only in Japan, the Wrangler Snow Trace starts with the mid-grade Wrangler Unlimited Sahara as its foundation and then layers on a group of appearance upgrades intended to capture the mood of “snow activities.” The most eye-catching change is a set of retro-inspired white “2-Way” wheels. Buyers can also choose silver centre caps that are engraved with a Willys Jeep silhouette, a nod to the brand’s heritage and an attempt to give the package a more collectible feel.
Jeep says the Snow Trace look was created with help from its US design team, and the finished theme clearly draws from winter sports culture. A blue and light-blue decal package stretches across the bonnet, blending in familiar Jeep elements such as the iconic grille motif and the Jeep logo. Matching graphics appear again on the fenders, but here the artwork shifts toward alpine action, showing skier and snowboarder silhouettes carving their way down snowy slopes.
More small touches continue the winter-focused styling. The mirror caps are painted white and carry a Jeep emblem for extra contrast. Around the back, the spare-wheel cover features an illustration of a Wrangler parked in front of a mountain range, reinforcing the outdoorsy storyline. Jeep also added a couple of hidden “Easter eggs” for owners to discover: on the left rear window there are small outlines of a Yeti and the original Willys Jeep.
Mechanically, the Snow Trace does not introduce any changes compared with the Sahara trim it is based on. For Japan, the Wrangler is offered exclusively with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 269 horsepower and 400Nm of torque. Like the standard Sahara, the Snow Trace comes with Jeep’s Select-Trac full-time 4×4 system, rather than the more hardcore Rock-Trac setup reserved for the flagship Wrangler Rubicon.
Exclusivity is part of the pitch. Jeep will build only 150 examples of the Wrangler Snow Trace for the Japanese market. Pricing begins at about US$58,000 when converted at current exchange rates. That positions it roughly US$3,200 above a regular Sahara, and it lines up with the price of the range-topping Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon.
To sweeten the launch, Jeep is offering small promotional gifts. Anyone who takes a test drive receives either a beanie or a neck warmer, while customers who purchase one will get a special blanket developed through a collaboration between Jeep and K2, the well-known American ski and snowboard brand.