Chelsea’s 2017 Jeep Night Eagle Has A Thing Or Two To Show The New Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler has traditionally been one of the most extensively modified vehicles on the market. And with the new JL model now upon us, you can bet there’ll be many customized options to follow. But before the previous JK exits Stage Left, one tuner is offering a rather alluring take on the outgoing model.

Called the Night Eagle, it’s based on the 2017 Wrangler Unlimited Black Hawk edition, in right-hand drive for the British market, and packs the 2.8-liter diesel that’s been most popular overseas. But Kahn Design’s sport-ute division – the Chelsea Truck Company – has taken the iconic SUV even further.

Decked out in Kahn’s trademark Cromax matte bronze paint, the Night Eagle wears a new front grille, LED headlights, vented hood, front bumper, and wider wheel arches packing 17-inch satin-black alloys. But the biggest upgrades have been made to the interior, where Chelsea has reupholstered the seats in quilted and perforated leather and fitted a new sat-nav system and metallic trim – all of which brings it up to a higher standard than we’d expect from even the most optioned-out new JL Wrangler.

It all comes at a cost, though. As our compatriots at Motor1 point out, his example is being offered for sale, second-hand with 3,800 miles (6,115 kilometers) on the clock, for £59,999 – which works out to the better part of $80k. That’s nearly twice as much as the MSRP on even the top new 2018 Rubicon Recon, and approaches the $86k sticker on the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Which only goes to show just how far you can take even a work-a-day machine like the Wrangler once the aftermarket gets a hold of it.