Doug Johnson says too many people don’t know that leather can be an option on pretty much any new vehicle, or that the price is less than they might expect. To change those perceptions, Johnson, director of original equipment programs for custom automotive leather producer Katzkin, is touring the country in a 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL with a unique Katzkin leather interior.
During the tour, several Katzkin interiors will be given to people who participate in a special social media event.
Katzkin’s newest-generation Jeep Wrangler JL features new TekStitch designer stitching, which can be done in a diamond or double diamond pattern.
The Jeep also features several thousand dollars in Mopar aftermarket parts, with more being added as soon as Johnson can get the Jeep off the road and into the shop. So far, those changes include Mopar beadlock wheels wrapped with Mickey Thompson off-road rubber, a trailer hitch for pulling a matching trailer to events, a reinforced rear spare-tire hinge to deal with the larger and heavier wheel-tire package, floor mats and molle bags mounted on the front seatbacks so rear-seat passengers can stow their gear.
Coming next are Mopar bumpers and a lift kit.
Katzkin took delivery of its Jeep the last day of February and completed the preliminary build — parts and custom wrap — in March. As of the middle of this past week, it already showed 13,000 miles on its odometer.
Next up is an event in Frankenmuth, MIchigan, than the We Are Mopar gathering at Texas Motor Speedway, the Toledo Jeep Fest, the women’s fast-pitch softball national championships in Chicago, the Woodward Dream Cruise in metro Detroit, some off-roading in Moab and then just enough time to get the Jeep cleaned up for its showcase display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.
If you spot the Jeep on the road or at a show, post a photo with the #KatzkinJeep tag to be entered in the contest to win a Katzkin interior.
Johnson noted that when people learn a Katzkin interior can be fitted into seemingly any new vehicle, they typically guess the cost will be $3,500 to $4,000, not the more typical $1,750, which includes a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Installation can be done at Katzkin’s network of 2,500 installers across the country.
“Katzkin’s customized leather packages include a personalized style process that is easy, seamless and affordable – bringing consumers a real value,” he said.
“The even larger value story includes trucks and SUVs, often claiming a ‘luxury’ trim level but offering expensive base models that still include cloth.”
For more information, visit the Katzkin website.
