With the 2027 Jeep Wrangler Smoky Mountain Special Edition, Jeep is putting another limited-edition model in its Wrangler lineup. The new offering was put on display at this year’s Smoky Mountain Invasion in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a fitting stage for a vehicle that honors one of the nation’s premier Jeep gatherings and puts a distinctive spin on the Wrangler Willys.
As the 10th entry in the Twelve 4 Twelve series of special editions, the 2027 Smoky Mountain Special Edition is not about reworking the Wrangler formula. Instead, it marries the Willys’ no-nonsense off-road credentials with some exclusive touches that will have an appeal to the collector-minded enthusiast.
Based on the four-door Jeep Wrangler Willys, the Special Edition keeps the Trail Rated bona fides but stands out from the rest of the line with a few cosmetic changes. The most striking are the exclusive hood decals in the form of Smoky Mountain graphics, drawn from the peaks and trails of the national park in Tennessee.
To lend the Wrangler a more upscale air, Jeep has fitted it with a Gloss Black seven-slot grille, body-color hardtop and fender flares, and 17-inch smoky black wheels. Off-road grip is handled by standard 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain tires, though there is an option to step up to 35-inch versions for those who want more.
There is no trade-off between looks and function here. Underneath, every Smoky Mountain Edition has Dana 44 front and rear axles, 4.10 axle gearing, a locking rear differential, steel rock rails and a factory trailer hitch. It is as at home on a rocky trail as it is in town.
The cabin has been styled to make a quiet reference to both the brand’s past and the Smoky Mountains. One finds Black Ferndale cloth seats with a rugged texture and firm side bolsters; the upper seatbacks even carry a 1941 Willys parachute graphic, a tribute to Jeep’s military lineage and the “drop” special editions.
Accents of metallic Blaze Orange and terracotta stitching are meant to evoke a sunrise over the Smokies, while the anodized carbon trim rings have a smoked finish you won’t find elsewhere on the model. Other details are harder to miss: the rear swing gate has a plaque with a night sky and parachute motif, and a custom shift medallion shows a mama bear and cub, one of the region’s better-known wildlife icons.
For comfort, the list of standard equipment includes a universal garage door opener, dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats and steering wheel.
In a way, the Smoky Mountain Edition is as much a nod to the community as it is a product. Events like the Smoky Mountain Invasion draw close to 50,000 people and some 20,000 Jeeps, so it made sense to debut another special edition there.
Those wishing to order the 2027 model can do so now on the four-door Wrangler with either the 2.0-liter turbo four or the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, both with an automatic. Then there is the matter of cost. According to Jeep, the Smoky Mountain package is only $80 steeper than a comparably equipped Willys, which is a small price to pay for the commemorative styling.
