Auto News 5

When Disneyland closed Space Mountain in 2009 for refurbishing, Internet message boards erupted with apprehension. “Don’t screw it up!” collectively exclaimed the enthusiasts at micechat.com and others. A signature attraction for almost thirty-five years, the thrill ride embodied the Disney experience nearly as much as Mickey Mouse himself. But the theme park isn’t alone in having to safeguard an icon: it’s much the same whenever Jeep changes the Wrangler. (Heck, some of us still haven’t accepted the name Wrangler, given in 1987, because “Jeep” is the quintessential eponym, the word perfectly representing the object.) Nevertheless, change becomes necessary as demand grows for more power and better fuel economy.