Few vehicles today have made an impression like the Jeep Wrangler. With its specialized off-road handling and military roots, the Wrangler has garnered a passionate fan base and considerable industry recognition over the years. Industry insiders and fans pay close attention to new announcements from the brand, and every so often, Jeep delivers buzzworthy news. While many prefer their Wrangler to come in a rugged color like black or grey, others prefer some of the company’s flashier color options, like Hydro Blue or Crush Orange. However, even for customers who prefer a splash of color, it’s hard to imagine they might buy a pink Wrangler. Yet, Tuscadero Pink is just what the next color offering for the 2021 Jeep Wrangler is.

The rugged history of the Jeep Wrangler

While the modern-day Wrangler is not quite a modern version of the military jeeps commonly used during World War II, it’s understandably pretty close. This is understandable because Jeep is owned by Chrysler (later FCA and now Stellantis), which purchased the AMC Corporation in the late Eighties. The AMC Corporation itself purchased Kaiser-Jeep in the Seventies, resulting from a merger between Kaiser Motors and Willys-Overland. These two companies manufactured the Jeep CJ (Civilian Jeeps) after directly manufacturing combat jeeps for the U.S. military during the Second World War.

From those Jeep CJ models of the 1940s to the Willys Motors Jeep line of the 1950s and 1960s to the Jeepsters of the 1970s, the commercial Jeep underwent some significant changes over the years. The Jeep CJ series was discontinued in 1986, the same year the Wrangler was announced. The Wrangler’s first model year was 1987, and this YJ series sported an open body like its immediate predecessors and the same wheelbase and axle configuration. However, the Wrangler YJ also featured less ground clearance, a wider track, and more amenities designed to ensure comfort.

The Wrangler was redesigned in 1996. This TJ series was distinguished with round headlamps and coil-spring suspension (rather than the YJ’s leaf-spring suspension). Another redesign followed in 2007 with the JK series, which sported a longer wheelbase, four-door models, and navigation, among other features. The latest Wrangler (the JL series models) has a newly designed automatic transmission, more powerful engine options, a backup camera, a modernized interior, and blind-spot monitoring. The JL series also recently debuted a plug-in hybrid model as well.

Why did Jeep pick Tuscadero Pink?

While many consumers count pink as their favorite color, it does seem to undercut the historically rugged image of the Wrangler. So why did Jeep’s marketing department opt for it?

Well, some enthusiasts believe that the color is, in fact, a homage to the classic sitcom Happy Days. Tuscadero likely refers to the Happy Days character “Pinky” Tuscadero, who could be calm one minute and fiery the next. She was the girlfriend of the Fonz, and older fans of the show might recognize the reference right off the bat.

Interestingly enough, though, the color “Tuscadero Pink” is not pink at all. It’s actually Furious Fuschia, a commemorative color Dodge offered a decade ago to celebrate 40 years of the Charger. Furthermore, Jeep itself has described the color as a “chromatic magenta,” as per Autoblog. Still, to the untrained eye, pictures of the Tuscadero Pink-outfitted Wrangler look quite pink. For those looking for a pink (or pinkish) Jeep, you can order it now through November.

The many shades of the Jeep Wrangler

As with the Tuscadero Pink color option, Jeep is known for releasing new Wrangler models in many colorful shades, often with even more colorful names. In addition to the aforementioned Hydro Blue and Crush Orange, recent colors have included Xtreme Purple Pearl, Flame Red, Gecko Pearl, and Cosmos Blue. However, many of these colorfully named colors are available for a limited time. Standard colors include gray, white, black, red, orange, yellow, and dark green.

Some Jeep drivers prefer basic or natural colors. If you do, you can buy one, such as the Anvil option, a mix of navy and gray. For a different version of gray that stands out, Granite Crystal Metallic is also available. Or you can get one in Gobi, which is a nice shade of beige.

If you’re looking for one of the more flashy offerings that aren’t currently available, being patient may pay off. Jeep releases new colors each year. So you may find next year’s model has the paint offering you want if you’re not up for an aftermarket paint job. However, this year, Wrangler enthusiasts can order their next Wrangler in Tuscadero Pink for an extra $395.