The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel wasn’t long for this world in its previous iteration, but the oil-burning Jeep will soldier on in Europe, where diesels enjoy massive popularity.
Bowing at the Geneva Auto Show in March, the Grand Cherokee CRD will likely use a version of Chrysler’s previous diesel engine which made 218 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Despite the highly touted Pentastar V6 and HEMI V8 sold here, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see the diesel make a return.
[Source: Jalopnik]
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is one of the most iconic vehicles produced by the brand, with a major aftermarket industry dedicated to faithfully restoring and preserving existing Wagoneers.
“It’s time we gave the market an upper-scale Grand Wagoneer,” Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne told Automotive News. “You’ll see it in January 2013.” While the Wrangler defined Jeep’s rugged off-road appeal, the Wagoneer was the first upscale luxury SUV, and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is hoping to evoke memories of the truck when it launches the new Wagoneer. With 7 seats, the three row vehicle will slot above the Grand Cherokee and likely act as Jeep’s flagship.
[Source: Automotive News]
Finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the Year have been announced, with Chrysler dominating the truck field, and electric vehicles comprising 2/3rds of the car category.
The Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, both built on the same platform, were nominated in the truck category, as well as the re-designed Ford Explorer.
In the car segment, both the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are nominated, with the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T as the lone traditional car.
The jury deciding on the awards is made up for 49 journalists from the United States and Canada. 50 vehicles are sampled, while only 14 make it to the second round.
The outgoing Chrysler 300 was a great value thanks to a number of cost cutting initiatives, like sharing a platform with Mercedes-Benz’s old E-Class and using interior materials made out of melted down children’s toys. That might have been passable five years ago, but with even small cars boasting high quality interiors, the awful tortoise shell trim and cheesy analog clock isn’t going to cut it anymore.
With most of Chrysler’s new offerings getting substantially upgraded interiors, the 300 range wasn’t going to miss out, and the first officially released photo looks pretty good, echoing products like the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and the upcoming Dodge Charger and Dodge Durango. We’ll likely get our first look at the car during the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, and you can check back starting January 10th for live shots.
[Source: Automotive News]
Chrysler recorded it’s third straight profitable quarter, raking in $239 million in Q3, as the company rode a wave of optimism regarding increased sales and a new product lineup.
Chrysler is due to launch roughly 16 new products by 2012. “We are not only living up to our commitments, but we are exceeding our 2010 financial objectives,” Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a statement. “Our 2010 accomplishments are just the beginning of building Chrysler into a vibrant and competitive automaker.”
Sales in the United States rose 20 percent this quarter, amid strong demand for the Chrysler Town & Country minivan and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
[Source: Automotive News]
Aside from the Challenger 392, Chrysler has a whole other lineup, including special editions of the 2011 Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango, Fiat 500 and and special, competition only Dodge Challenger V10.
Here’s a breakdown of Mopar’s big releases at the 2010 SEMA Show
2011 Dodge Charger Red Line: The Charger Red Line will be the first glimpse that the public will get of the 2011 Dodge Charger. The Red Line will get a 20″ wheel package, a blacked out roof, a unique red leather interior and a Mopar intake, exhaust and header kit.
2011 Dodge Durango Citadel “Black and Tan”: The Durango Citadel is basically the same car as the 2011 Dodge Durango, but with 22″ wheels and a Black and Tan exterior/interior color scheme inspired by “some of the finest super cars in the world”.
2010 Fiat 500: A concept version of the Fiat 500 that will be sold here, this car gets 18″ wheels, fender flares reminiscent of a widebody kit, red interior accents for the driver’s side and a special “liquid grey” paint scheme.’
Dodge Challenger V10 Drag Pack: Dodge touts this car as the world’s first V10 factory drag car. No, it’s not street legal (with Mopar stating it’s for “competition use only) but comes with a V10, a 2-speed transmission, roll cage, fuel cell and a striped out interior with a full racing gauge package.
Hit the jump to read the official press release and Mopar video
Gallery: Chrysler SEMA Cars
[Source: Chrysler]
New images of the 2011 Dodge Durango have been released, showing the new SUV in a fetching shade of red.
Along with the firetruck hue, there’s shots of the new model’s interior in Citadel trim, and like the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, it looks better than anything that’s come out of the Chrysler stable in some time.
Notice the “Citadel” motif on the seats? That signifies the car in question is the new Citadel trim level, expected to be the priciest and best equipped new Durango.
Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango
[Source: Dodge]
It’s a common truism that unionized auto workers have the most secure jobs in the world. But 13 Chrysler line workers caught drinking and smoking marijuana during their lunch break better start looking for new jobs.
Chrysler has announced that the dirty dozen (and one other poor shmuck) have been fired for their actions. Their behavior was a massive embarrassment for the company, since it was documented and broadcast by Fox News, a network that’s not exactly an ally of the UAW or government-owned Chrysler. To add insult to injury, the workers were employed at the same plant that President Obama visited just weeks ago, where he praised the workers, and the new Jeep Grand Cherokee that’s built there.
Chrysler even issued a statement, which you can see below the jump
[Source: Chrysler]
Chrysler has been targeted by the Center for Auto Safety (a consumer advocate group founded by outspoken lawyer Ralph Nader – the same one that threw the book at Chevy’s Corvair in the 1960s), about fires resulting from alleged fuel tank defects on Jeep models.
The CAS probe focuses on the original 1993-98 ZJ and second generation 1999-04 WJ Jeep Grand Cherokees and the group claims that the location of the fuel tank on these models and the lack of shielding leads to rupture in the event of rear end collisions. Since the Grand Cherokee was introduced to the market in 1992, there have been 44 recorded crashes relating to fire, of which 55 people were killed.
The CAS claims that 13 of these deaths were the result of rear end collisions. However, the center also said that these post-crash fires, on their own do not establish a manufacturing defect with the vehicles, hence further investigation is needed.
Noted Michael Palese, a spokesperson for Chrysler, “our company is cooperating fully with the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration in this investigation.” He also stated that it is just that, “an investigation, not a recall.”
Source: [Bloomberg Businessweek]
Dodge launched a teaser site for their 2011 Durango SUV, and a series of pictures that show some styling elements of the car. Autoguide brought you a leaked camera phone picture of the Durango earlier this summer, and these are the first shots from Dodge, and they essentially confirm the styling cues seen in the grainy snapshot.
The Durango will share underpinnings with the much lauded 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, so expect the 3.6L Pentastar V6 and 5.7L Hemi V8. No word on whether the upcoming 6.4L SRT V8 will make an appearance, but with the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 established as a much-loved performance car already, a Durango SRT-8 may not make much sense for Chrysler.
Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango
[Source: Dodge]
The big, bulky owners manual occupying precious glove box space may soon become a relic for Jeep owners, as the 2011 Grand Cherokee will be the brand’s first vehicle to bring the owners manual to a variety of smartphones. In addition to the owners manual, users will be able to view videos, contact other Grand Cherokee owners and give Chrysler feedback on various aspects of the car.
The smartphone owners manual will be available first for the iPhone, and then hit the Blackberry and Android platforms. As Autoblog astutely pointed out, when smartphones become obsolete in a few years, what will happen to the owners manuals? We hope that a hard copy will still be available. For all the wonders of technology, paper will never suffer from technical glitches, and when a Check Engine Light comes on ten years down the road, we doubt that anyone will dust off their old smartphone to look up the possible problem.
[Source: Autoblog]
Chrysler will build a licensed version of a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox at their Indiana transmission plant. Production is expected to start in 2013, and retain roughly 1,200 jobs.
The total cost for the project will be roughly $300 million, but Chrysler Senior VP of Powertrain Paolo Ferrero said that the new 8-speed transmission will lead to a 25 percent increase in fuel economy. With a new Chrysler 300C and Dodge Charger due in 2011, the 8-speed automatic’s debut in 2013 would be perfect for a mid-cycle refresh, however another Chrysler spokesman said that the gearboxes would be imported prior to their domestic production, meaning that it could launch with the new vehicles from the get-go.
The 8-speed automatic could also see use in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram pickups. The transmission saw its first application in BMW’s 5-Series Gran Turismo and BMW 760Li.
[Source: Autoweek]
Chrysler is recalling 40,000 2010 Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, Charger and Ram, Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee vehicles due to a faulty ignition system.
The vehicles use a Wireless Ignition Nodule that has the key sit in a special slot before the vehicle is started. The wireless transmitter could malfunction, allowing the key to be removed before the vehicle is placed in Park. This could cause the vehicle to move unintentionally, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
Dealers will replace the defective part free of charge, and owners are encouraged to contact Chrysler at 1800-853-1403.
[Source: Consumers Report]
Jeep‘s 2011 Grand Cherokee is one of the most important products for what is arguably Chrysler’s strongest brand. The new 2011 model represents a move upscale for the Grand Cherokee, but the base price will rise to $32,995, a fair bit more expensive than its main rivals, the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Traverse, which start at $29,280 and $29,224 respectively.
Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is hoping that the Grand Cherokee, with its upscale styling and luxury features like full-length sunroof and integrated wi-fi, will spearhead his goal of selling 800,000 Jeep vehicles worldwide by 2014. A refreshed Wrangler, Jeep’s best-selling vehicle, is expected to follow in late 2011.
[Source: MLive]
The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a vehicle commonly driven by backwards-hat types, who like to blast loud music and cut you off indiscriminately, as well as ostentatious chairmen of multinational corporations. With a new Grand Cherokee premiering in 2011, a void will be left in the lineup for those who aspire to the heights of a Mercedes-Benz ML63 or BMW X5M, but can’t afford the fairly steep price tag.
Enter the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8, which is expected to come with a new 6.4L Hemi V8 putting out an estimated 525-horsepower, and rides on a rumored air-suspension platform. According to a report by Car & Driver, Jeep is attempting to best the X5M’s performance figures, which means a 0-60 time of 4.0 seconds or less. While its the owner’s prerogative to buy a car like this, we can’t help but ask “why?”
[Source: Car and Driver]
To help boost sales Jeep has just launched the new Rocky Mountain Edition versions of the Patriot, Liberty and Grand Cherokee. This new trim level delivers $2,300 in options for an add-on price of just $1,595 over the base MSRP.
The Jeep Patriot Rocky Mountain Edition gets 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, a leather steering wheel with radio controls, “Rocky Mountain” badging and a uconnect tunes 30-gigabyte stereo with SIRIUS Satellite Radio and a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system with a subwoofer and 458-watt amplifier.
The new Jeep Patriot Rocky Mountain Edition will also come with a monochromatic paint scheme in four colors including a new Optic Green Crystal Pearl.
The new Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition is based on the Jeep Liberty Sport model and gets 17-inch wheels, a power sunroof, tinted glass, “Rocky Mountain” badging, a uconnect tunes 30-gigabyte radio and speed control. It will be offered in Deep Water Blue, Bright Silver Metallic, Inferno Red and Brilliant Black paint colors.
The final model, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Rocky Mountain Edition gets many of the same options including 17-inch wheels, a power sunroof, a uconnect tunes 30-gigabyte Boston Acoustics sound system and Rocky Mountain badging. It also gets a 12-volt power outlet, chrome side moldings and heated front seats. Jeep will offer this model in Light Graystone, Bright Silver, Brilliant Black and now in Inferno Red.
“The new 2009 Jeep Patriot, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee Rocky Mountain Editions add more value and features to our iconic Jeep lineup,” said Mike Accavitti, the Director of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge Brands. “And with Jeep’s best-in-class legendary 4×4 capability, our new 2009 Jeep Rocky Mountain Editions are ready to make any adventure—from the snow-covered mountain trails to sand dunes at the beach—even more fun.”
Pricing is listed as $19,765 for the Jeep Patriot Rocky Mountain Edition, $25,355 for the Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition and $32,825 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee Rocky Mountain Edition. All three new trim models are available to order now with vehicles arriving in dealerships later this month.
More on the Rocky Mountain Edition Jeeps after the jump:
 "Pin It")
