Chrysler has confirmed that production of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee has been delayed one month.

The delay, however, won’t cause a supply issue as the American automaker is confident that sufficient inventory will be available at dealerships this fall. Chrysler wouldn’t elaborate on what issues are causing the delay, but stated that they are common when launching an all-new vehicle.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Jeep Cherokee Officially Unveiled as Liberty Replacement

A couple of issues making the Jeep Cherokee’s production more complicated including the fact that its underpinned by an underbody adopted from Fiat. The Cherokee will also be the automaker’s first vehicle to be powered by a ZF nine-speed transmission.

“These are pretty much common issues with everything we launch,” said Mark Chernoby, Chrysler’s senior vice president of engineering. “Especially if there is a major change with the powertrain.”

GALLERY: 2014 Jeep Cherokee

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Discuss this story at CherokeeTalk.com

Since its founding in 1936, Consumer Reports has become the go-to source for shoppers. From new refrigerators to bottles of wine, Blue-ray players to homeowner’s insurance, if it’s on the market it’s likely the non-profit organization has scientifically tested it. Of course the consumer watchdog is probably most famous for its vehicle reliability ratings.

Conscientious shoppers in the market for a new ride turn to the magazine’s pages for advice. They search out cars and trucks with most the red dots, and shun ones that get black marks. The group’s survey methodology, while controversial, paints a broad and easily understood picture for buyers.

To earn a coveted “Recommended” rating, vehicles must perform well in the organization’s testing and have a reliability score of average or better. But what about cars and trucks that fail to make the grade? Here’s a list of the Top 10 Least Reliable Vehicles according to Consumer Reports. If you’re familiar with their ratings you’ll know products from the Detroit Three typically don’t score as well as their Japanese competitors. Needless to say there’s trouble brewing in Dearborn. Team America… oh no.

British luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is placing heavier emphasis on hot weather testing by opening a new facility in Dubai. 

More than a sponge for high-priced automobiles, the region often sees temperatures above 120 degrees, which is why the brand is replacing its smaller facility with the  11,120 square-foot testing center. It will offer a range of hot weather and humidity tests along with off-road and sand driving tests. The facility will also put the maker’s powertrains, chassis and heat venting systems through rigorous testing.

“Our new facility in Dubai is four times the size of the previous test centre and will enable us to enhance our testing of future products and technologies,” said JLR director of engineering technical services Martyn Hollingsworth.”

Currently, the brand has five testing facilities worldwide: the new center in Dubai, one at the Nurburgring in Germany, another in Sweden and two in the U.S.

The BMW Group, which consists of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, has posted its best April global sales yet with a total of 155,419 vehicles sold last month.

The strong April, which was an increase of 6.8 percent in sales, gave the BMW Group a new all-time high of 603,619 vehicles sold during the first four months of the year. BMW brand vehicles rose 7.5 percent to 130,598 last month compared to April 2012 while worldwide MINI sales increased 3.3 percent. The BMW Group is enjoying success thanks to strong gains in the Asian and American markets.

Deliveries of the BMW X1 increased 14.8 percent compared to last year, with 11,837 units delivered in April. The 3 Series climbed 16 percent compared to last year to 38,491 units while the 3 Series Touring more than doubled with 104.6 percent growth. A total of 512,000 BMW vehicles have been delivered to customers worldwide in 2013, an increase of 7.1 percent.

Last month, MINI delivered 24,581 vehicles and its worldwide sales increased 3.3 percent.

China accounted for 30,311 deliveries last month while the Americas sold 36,547 vehicles for an increase of 11.7 percent. Europe contributed to the total with 69,957 vehicles.

Discuss this story at BimmerWerkz.com

There’s a lot to love about the 2014 Range Rover Sport and the British automaker is banking on its popularity by expanding the lineup by offering even more powertrain options.

Land Rover will be adding to its Range Rover Sport lineup with a diesel-electric hybrid model and a conventional model powered by the automaker’s V8. Further down the line, the Range Rover Sport will also be offered with a four-cylinder “EcoBoost” engine, which is now possible thanks to its weight loss.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Range Rover Sport is 15% Lighter, 100% Sexier

According to Stuart Firth, Land Rover’s Chief Program Engineer for the Range Rover Sport, by shedding over 925 pounds, the Range Rover Sport is now able to be powered by a smaller four-cylinder without compromising the performance and off-road capability that the SUV is known for.

The V8 model will bring 516 lb-ft of torque to the Range Rover Sport and will join the lineup later this year along with the diesel-hybrid model. The diesel-hybrid Range Rover Sport will be a diesel V6 engine and will have its hybrid goods located under the floor of the SUV, allowing it to retain its seven-seater configuration and cargo space will be left as is. The hybrid technology will also be introduced to the standard, larger Range Rover model at the same time.

GALLERY: 2014 Range Rover Sport Mega Gallery

[Source: Carsales.com.au]

Discuss this story at RangeRovers.net

Lamborghini has confirmed that the Urus SUV has received the green light for production.

Rumors can now rest as the Italian automaker made the announcement officially today while celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Audi boss Rupert Stadler made the announcement at a send-off dinner at the conclusion of the Grande Giro 50th anniversary tour, where Lambo CEO Stephen Winkelmann also wowed the audience by revealing a new single-seater supercar.

AutoGuide can also confirm that the Urus SUV will begin production in 2017.

SEE ALSO: Lamborghini Egoista Single-Seater Revealed

No other details about the Urus have been revealed, but in concept form, the automaker claimed the SUV would have around 600 hp and combines exotic styling with the utility and luxurious interior one would expect from a sport ute. The Italian automaker hopes to produce around 3,000 units a year and is targeting the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Middle East, and China markets.

GALLERY: Lamborghini Urus SUV Concept

Discuss this story at Lamborghini-Talk.com

A total of 469,000 Jeep SUVs are being recalled for a faulty circuit board that can send a wrong signal causing those vehicles to shift into neutral on startup and even roll away.

The recall affects 2005-2010 Grand Cherokees and 2006-2010 Commanders. 295,000 vehicles being recalled are in America, 28,500 are in Canada, and 4,200 are in Mexico. The remaining 141,000 affected are outside North America.

U.S. safety regulators have concluded that cracks in a circuit board that turns the four-wheel-drive system on and off can result in a faulty signal when the SUVs are being started, causing them to roll away when it’s shifted to neutral. According to the American automaker, there have been 26 crashes related to the recall and two injuries. Affected owners will be contacted so that dealers can update the software free of charge.

Discuss this story at JeepCommander.com

Two separate probes into Ford and Chrysler vehicles have been closed by U.S. auto safety regulators now that both automakers have conducted safety recalls.

Both investigations were closed earlier this month after Ford recalled 230,000 minivans and Chrysler recalled about 30,000 Jeep SUVs. In March, 2004-2007 model year Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey models were recalled to repair a problem that could prevent the third-row seat from folding down and locking in place. 230,000 minivans in total were recalled, 33,500 of them being outside the U.S.

SEE ALSO: Ford Recalling 230,000 Minivans

In a separate filing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed the probe on 115,000 Jeep Patriot SUVs after complaints of the engine stalling at high speeds were reported. In April, the American automaker recalled 2012 model year Patriot and Compass SUVs for the issue.

Discuss this story at JeepForum.com

Marrying two of the world’s high-efficiency automotive systems, Land Rover will debut its diesel hybrid Range Rovers later this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Both the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will be offered with the diesel hybrid system, although neither will reach North America because the diesel engines don’t meet emissions standards. Despite that, the SUVs will offer a preview of what to expect from future products once those standards are on a level playing field.

The product offered to Europeans will use a 3.0-liter diesel engine in tandem with an electric motor that sits between the engine and transmission.

According to Land Rover engineer Stuart Frith, the SUVs will be on sale in Europe before the end of the year. Alongside those, he also said the brand will debut a new diesel V8-powered Range Rover Sport at the show capable of as much as 516 lb-ft of torque.

Aside from that, Land Rover will also eventually offer the Sport with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine that currently powers the Evoque — a change made possible by the roughly 800 lbs lost for the 2014 model year.

[Source: CarSales]

Discuss this story at Luxury4Play.com

Improperly torqued bolts anchoring second-row seat belts in a total of 272 Mercedes-Benz GL SUVs are cause for a new recall.

The recall reaches through the product range to include the GL350 BlueTEC, GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG.

Mercedes will fix the flaw free of charge to owners through its dealer network by checking to be sure the bolts are correctly torqued. A total of 272 units, all from the 2013 model year, could be affected. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz with further questions at (800) 367-6372.

Discuss this story at BenzWorld.org

Alfa Romeo’s UK brand manager has confirmed that an SUV model will be brought to market in the next two or three years.

Now that Alfa Romeo has access to all of Jeep’s portfolio of technologies, the Italian automaker is working on an SUV that will share much with the new Jeep Cherokee.

SEE ALSO: Alfa Romeo SUV Won’t Launch Until 2015

The new Cherokee platform is also used on the Dodge Dart and Alfa Romeo Giulietta, further reinforcing Marchionne’s motives of sharing platforms across the automaker’s portfolio.

Pictured above is the Alfa Romeo Kamal concept, which debuted in 2003. Needless to say, the mythical Alfa Romeo SUV needs to become a reality sooner than later.

GALLERY: 2014 Jeep Cherokee

[Source: The Telegraph]

Discuss this story at AlfaOwner.com

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