Jeep’s latest Wrangler Special Edition has already won the hearts of many Jeep enthusiasts. The Jeep Wrangler Rewind concept was so popular at last year’s Easter Jeep Safari that Jeep is giving the retro design a spot in the lineup. The company has also decided to give the 2026 Jeep Gladiator the same special trim. You may have noticed that crocheted sweaters and brightly colored pants are in fashion once again. The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rewind is a throwback to that period of time with bright colors and lots of retro interior touches.
“Jeep owners have always had a deep emotional connection to their off-road vehicles, and the Jeep Rewind taps directly into that sense of freedom and first car nostalgia,” said Bob Broderdorf, Jeep brand CEO. “Easter Jeep Safari has long served as our real-world test bed for future Jeep capability and design, giving us immediate, unfiltered feedback from the most passionate enthusiasts in our community. When we saw how strongly fans responded to the concept vehicle at last year’s Easter Jeep Safari, we knew we had to bring it to life. The Wrangler and Gladiator Rewind special editions are the perfect example of how we’re celebrating our heritage while delivering fresh, unexpected ideas that resonate with our community.”
An 80’s Jeep with Modern Capability
The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rewind is the sixth of 12 limited-edition Jeep Wrangler models, marking the halfway point of the brand’s yearlong Twelve 4 Twelve series. Jeep’s retro celebration extends to the Jeep Gladiator Rewind special edition, livening up the industry’s only open-air pickup. The Rewind special editions add on to the Willys packages, so they are fully capable on and off road.
Rewind special editions add retro exterior graphics, gold-accent wheels and tow hooks, off‑road tires, steel rock rails and heated Nappa leather seats with 8‑bit–inspired embossing. The Rewind package is a $1,900 upgrade over a comparably equipped Wrangler or Gladiator model.
Nostalgia is a huge part of Jeep’s appeal to drivers. There is a deep emotional connection to brightly-colored Wranglers. Nearly everyone has a story from their past that is tied to a Jeep. Whether it was out on a trail or in a high school parking lot, Jeeps are part of our collective history. Those old vehicles, and the carefree memories tied to them, inspired the 2026 Jeep Wrangler Rewind.
Jeep Rewind’s Path to Special Edition
Originally unveiled as a one-off concept at the 2025 Easter Jeep Safari on real terrain with real enthusiasts, the Jeep Rewind quickly became one of the most talked about vehicles of the event. The enthusiastic response was so overwhelming that the Jeep brand decided to bring it into production for consumers.
The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Rewind are perfect outlets for Jeep designers to reimagine the vehicles that were popular when they were younger. That sense of nostalgia hits perfectly for them bringing back memories of first cars, first adventures and the sense of freedom that made the Jeep brand iconic. The design team leaned into the colors, patterns and playful details of their youth, taking cues from everything, from early digital visuals and arcade games to the bold, geometric designs once found on 1990s food‑court cups. At the heart of the Rewind is Jeep capability and the continuing Willys legacy.
Exterior highlights:
- Exterior graphics inspired by the bold hues and patterns of the mixtape and roller skate era
- Limited‑run exterior color palette features vibrant, era‑accurate shades
- Gold accent wheels and tow hooks add a premium, retro touch
- Off-road tires and steel rock rails
- Painted body-color fender flares
- Limited body-color combinations available, including Bright White, Granite Crystal, Anvil, Gloss Black, Hydro Blue, Joose, Earl (Wrangler only) and Reign
Interior highlights:
- Nappa Leather seats with embossed patterns influenced by classic arcade graphics
- Era‑inspired accent stitching and matching painted interior
- Dot-matrix-inspired shift knob cap, paired with exclusive cupholder plaques for Wrangler and Gladiator, plus a swing‑gate plaque and spare tire cover for Wrangler
- 7-inch driver information display
- Heated front seats and heated steering wheel
- Remote start
- Keyless Passive Entry
- LED headlamps and fog lamps
- Adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning
- Locking rear differential and Off-Road+ mode
- Trailer hitch and programmable auxiliary switches
The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator Rewind special editions will be available to order in May and will be priced $1,900 on top of comparably equipped Willys models.
Previous Twelve 4 Twelve Models
The fifth special edition of the 2026 Jeep Wrangler is the Rockslide, that features three different shades of blue. Blue Agave, Jean Blue and Indigo Blue accents add layers of color to the 2026 Wrangler Rockslide inside and out. The blue highlights create a design theme. Anvil body‑color roof and matching grille surround carry the layered look to the exterior. Standard steel rock rails, featured on a Wrangler Sahara for the first time since 2017, included as part of the Sahara‑only Rockslide content.
The Jeep Wrangler’s fourth special edition is designed to thrill off-roaders who want true HEMI power at a more affordable price. It may anger some people who bought the 2024 Jeep Wrangler 392 Final Edition because the 2026 version is $30,000 cheaper. Of course, the 2026 Wrangler Willys 392 doesn’t have all of the upgrades and luxury appointments of the Final Edition, but most Wrangler buyers don’t care. In fact, many have complained about too much technology was being forced on them as the prices climbed higher and higher. Many Wrangler buyers just want a vehicle that they can hit the trails and have fun with. It appears that the 2026 Wrangler Willys 392 is exactly that vehicle.
The Jeep Wrangler’s third special edition debuted in January and is a commemorative 85th Anniversary edition. This special Wrangler harkens back to some earlier Jeep Americana with plaid upholstery and other design touches. The celebration also extends to the Jeep Gladiator 85th Anniversary edition, bringing the same heritage‑inspired designs to the industry's only Wrangler-inspired mid-size pickup.
Jeep’s second special edition throws it all the way back to 1941 with special detailing honoring the classic CJ-Universal and its iconic Arctic White top. The 2026 Jeep Wrangler Whitecap has a white painted hardtop and grille making it look retro. The special edition is only available on the Sahara and Rubicon trims, so while it looks old-school, it will have the most modern off-road equipment.
The first special edition was the Wrangler Moab 392. The 2026 Wrangler 392 is almost exactly $20,000 dollars cheaper than the 2025 model. The head of Jeep is using phrases like “no frills” and “back to basics” to describe the more affordable HEMI-powered Moab Wranglers. “Our community made their voices heard, and we listened. The 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 will remain a defining force within the Jeep lineup,” said Bob Broderdorf, Jeep’s CEO.
Image by Jeep
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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