We got an up close and personal look at the Mopar’s take on the Jeep Compass, which they call the “True North” edition, today at the Chicago Auto Show.

The modifications gave a bit of practical improvement while leaving the SUV’s off-road ability untouched. Among those changes, front and rear brush bars offer the Compass’ underside some protection. Beyond that, the Mopar treatment is strictly cosmetic. A two-tone burnt orange and matte black finish make it look more aggressive, as do the larger fenders.

Inside, the car gets neoprene seats, which is a cool touch for a vehicle aimed at outdoorsy types. The dashboard also gets tilt and pitch gauges, which would be a cool edition for a trail rated vehicle if we hadn’t touched them and the carbon fiber shifter knob was also a cool touch. Unfortunately, the unit felt like flimsy and poorly attached. Finally  The car also got an improved sound system which we could see working well during beach nights or camping trips where the flip-down rear speakers get their best use.

Have a look through our gallery and lend us your thoughts in the comments section.

GALLERY: Mopar Jeep Compass “True North”

Plans for a new Jeep model below the Compass and Patriot have been pushed back as part of a larger financial reorganization within Chrysler parent company Fiat. The new model, code named B-SUV, was to be built at the automaker’s Mirafiori plant in Italy, but a $1.3 billion expansion of that facility has been pushed back a year.

Further delaying the process, Fiat will first move ahead with a sister-vehicle to the B-SUV for sale in Europe to replace the Sedici model, which is currently based on the Suzuki SX4. That model will begin production in later 2013, with the Jeep not planned for assembly until mid 2014. Once the expansion is completed, Fiat expects to built up to 280,000 of the compact crossovers based on the new Small Wide platform, which underpins the recently revealed Fiat 500L.

The new platform is capable of running all-wheel drive and so it’s expected the B-SUV will get Jeep’s “Trail Rated” stamp of approval.

[Source: AutoNews]

The ongoing investigation into the unwarranted air-bag deployment of almost 387,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs has been upgraded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The affect model years are from 2002-2003 and the investigation began when NHTSA received seven complaints from owners last September. Investigators now have 87 reports of either the driver or passenger-side air bags deploying without the vehicle being involved in a crash.

The random deployments of the airbags have resulted in 50 injuries including cuts, burns and bruises. The investigators currently believe that an electronic circuit that controls the air bag deployment “fails due to an electric overstress condition caused by a transient voltage spike” and triggers the deployment.

Chrysler recently told NHTSA that it had not been able to duplicate the issue even though they conducted tests that included exposing the system to various radio frequencies. Chrysler also stated that while its own investigation continues, it hasn’t yet determined the existence of a safety-related defect.

Calls for a recall of the 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee have been redoubled after the release of a new report documenting the growing list of fatalities associated with the SUV.

The report, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has added 14 more deaths to the SUVs total, resulting from fires that occurred in rear end collisions. In total, the Jeep from that era has claimed 284 people in 198 accidents due to the vehicle catching fire, says the Center for Auto Safety (CAS).

Jeep Grand Cherokees are at an unusually high risk of catching fire during these types of crashes alleges the CAS, due to the gas tank being located behind the rear axle.

The Ford Pinto was made infamous for a similar design that resulted in fiery rear end collisions, and CAS points out in a letter to Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne that at the time of its recall the number of deaths associated with that car were relatively small, totaling 28.

The rather sensational letter asks Marchionne to act on this news and says, “Your predecessor as CEO of Chrysler once said that part of his decision to install airbags at Chrysler was the prospect of St Peter at the gates of heaven asking him about airbags in cars. Just as surely, St. Peter will ask you about fuel tanks in Jeep Grand Cherokees.”

In response Chrysler says that, “…rear impacts resulting in a fire are extremely rare. Rear impacts resulting in a fire occur no more often in 1993 – 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles than in peer vehicles, and the 1993 – 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles are at no greater risk of exposure to fire in rear-end collisions than peer vehicles. Accordingly, Chrysler Group has concluded that 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles are neither defective nor do their fuel systems pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in rear impact collisions.”

The 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee is currently under investigation by NHTSA but no recall has been issues.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

The Houston Auto Show isn’t known for big reveals, but that didn’t stop Jeep from unveiling a new Grand Cherokee special edition concept at the venue today. To name the new concept, Jeep is staging a contest, putting out the call to the public at http://www.jeep.com/en/2012/namemyride/ to put a badge on the back of this machine, which has been confirmed for production.

The choice of the Houston auto show isn’t surprising when you consider that Jeep sales increased 153 percent in Texas in 2011, and Grand Cherokee sales in Texas increased 226 percent. The custom Grand Cherokee is much more aggressive than the standard model thanks to the blacked out theme contrasting with small chrome bits here and there. The 20-inch wheels are blacked out with a glossy finish, the regularly chrome grille is all black, and even the lift gate light bar appears in black to accentuate the stealth look.

Some amenities that will come standard on the new Jeep are leather trimmed heated front seats, Parkview rear backup camera, keyless enter and go, a nine speaker 506 watt stereo system with subwoofer and the Chrysler groups Uconnect hands-free communication system.

Jeep is trying to branch out a little further into uncharted territory with its new design, “Highlighted by a unique platinum-chrome front-end appearance and distinctive black-gloss 20-inch wheels and exterior treatments, our new Grand Cherokee concept provides a completely new look – one that is edgy and aggressive, and certainly different than any Grand Cherokee on the road today,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of the Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.

GALLERY:  Jeep Wrangler Concept

While past reports have suggested that the Dodge Avenger is dead, speculation has apparently been a bit premature. Chrysler/Fiat have plans for a number of new cars in the future including the introduction of new midsize sedans which will update the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger for 2013. The new Avenger and 200 will be based on the Dodge Dart platform. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne also intends to have a Chrysler premium compact hatchback in the mix, known for now as the “Chrysler 100.” If given the ‘okay’ for production, then the Chrysler hatch will be exported as Fiat European luxury brand Lancia as well.

Also, next generation crossovers 2013 Jeep Compass and Jeep Liberty will receive the Dart platform too. Despite the small-car platform, Marchionne insists, ”It’s going to be a trail-rated, full-blooded Jeep that has its origins in the architecture of a sports car.”

But more importantly, Italian sports car enthusiasts of the western hemisphere have long awaited the return of Alfa Romeo ever since the merger of Chrysler and Fiat was first announced. While Alfa Romeo’s return to the United States has been delayed until 2013, Marchionne insists the legendary Italian marque will return. “There will be plants making Alfas in the United States and Europe,” says Marchionne. “I need to export to Europe from the U.S. The volumes I get here are how I reintroduce Alfa to Europe.”

Expectations are high for the Alfa vehicles as an upcoming 1.8-liter engine producing a staggering 300-hp is currently in the works. In regards to Alfa Romeo vehicles for the United States, Marchionne said, ”We had to make sure they were lightweight, fast cars with Alfa powertrains.

[Source: USA Today]

In an industry which has recently seen generally negative news regarding sales figures, Jeep is bucking the trend. Global sales for this purely SUV brand are up by 41 per cent, while in the US, sales grew by 44 per cent.

However, that is nothing when compared to the growth the brand has enjoyed in Europe in 2011. In Germany for instance, sales have grown by 124 percent, and in Italy by 117.6 percent. In France they are up by 71.7 percent and even in economy stricken markets like Spain and UK, sales grew by 21.2 and 18 percent respectively.

On a whole, European sales for the Jeep brand have swollen by 61.8 percent. This is certainly great news for the brand and its investing partners.

“The increase in Jeep sales in Europe is evidence that Chrysler Group’s integration with the Fiat Group is clearly working,” says Mike Manley, President and CEO, Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Much of the Jeep brand’s success in Europe can be attributed to a strengthened dealer network, as well as a roll-out of new Jeep models for the European market – including the incorporation of Fiat’s fuel- and emissions-saving MultiJet II technology on the new 3.0-liter CRD engine that powers the Grand Cherokee.”

If Jeep can continue on this upward swing, it can become the most popular North American import brand in Europe.

Two years ago the first Pentastar V6 engine rolled off the line. The person who made it might not have known, but that engine was the first of what would prove to be one of the best engines in the world.

Today, Chrysler is celebrating their millionth Pentastar V6, a sophisticated and flexible piece of technology that powers most of the company’s lineup. We knew the engine was going to be a big deal back when it was first announced, we just didn’t know it would be this big.

Dont feel bad if you missed the Pentastar’s magnitude, it doesn’t sound sexy, it’s a V6 and thanks to it’s prolific placements it’s probably easy to look past from a consumer perspective. That’s unfortunate, because it’s a remarkable achievement on Chrysler’s part.

It powers small cars like the Dodge Avenger, big cars like the Chrysler 300 or Dodge Charger and even minivans like the Chrysler Town & Country. With a few modifications to stave off water-bogging, it even powers the Jeep Wrangler.

Most impressive, it does all this while making as much as 305 hp and achieving as much as 30 mpg depending on which vehicle you choose. Since it’s release, the Pentastar has been one of Ward’s Automotive Group’s 10 Best Engines too. Of course it isn’t turning out that much power in all applications, but the 3.6-liter V6 has more than proven its mettle in the two years we’ve had the pleasure of getting to know it.

[Source: Detroit News]

It’s official: The Chrysler Group has announced that a diesel variant of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered in the North American markets and will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit.

The press release didn’t focus on just the Grand Cherokee Diesel announcement, as Chrysler also mentioned that it would be adding a third crew of workers and about 1,100 new jobs at the same plant next year. Unfortunately no actual details on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel have been released but it’s likely to be the same as the European version of the Grand Cherokee Diesel.

In Europe, the Grand Cherokee Diesel is powered by a 3.0L V6 CRD turbo diesel, one with 190-hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and another with 241-hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Both are combined with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Look for more news on the diesel Jeep from the Detroit Auto Show next week.

GALLERY: 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel

Since Fiat restored Chrysler after its humbling bankruptcy, the third American automaker has been reinvigorated, and boasts industry leading statistics in growth.

Chrysler Group ended 2011 with U.S. sales in December amounting to 138,019 units, an increase of 37 percent over the same period last year. What’s more, December also marks Chrysler’s 21st consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains and the seventh consecutive month of sales increases of at least 20 percent. Plainly speaking, the incredible December results are the automaker’s best performing monthly sales since May 2008, indicating extremely positive signals of Chrysler’s recovery.

According to President and CEO of the Dodge Brand and the Head of U.S. Sales Reid Bigland, “Chrysler Group finished a year of growth on a strong note with our December retail sales soaring 45 percent to our highest dealer retail sales in four years. Looking back, we were the fastest growing automaker in the country, increasing our market share 1.3 percentage points during 2011.”

Chrysler Group owes much of its success to the strong sales of the Chrysler 300 and 200, Dodge Charger and Avenger, Ram pickup, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, and Compass. Without a weak link in the company,  sub-brands Dodge, Jeep, and Ram Truck have all earned double-digit percentage sales gains.

Going forward, Chrysler will introduce the 2013 Dodge Dart with high expectations for the upcoming product to carry Chrysler’s momentum into the future.

GALLERY: 2011 Chrysler 300