Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of their 2012 Best Resale Value Awards with Toyota being the best resale value brand and their luxury counterpart, Lexus, topping best resale value luxury brand.

Coming out on top of the list of this year’s top 10 best resale value vehicles however is (In order from first to last): Audi‘s Q7, Chevy‘s Camaro, Honda‘s CR-V, Hyundai‘s Tucson, Infiniti‘s FX, Jeep‘s Wrangler, Lexus’s RX, Nissan‘s Frontier, Toyota’s FJ Cruiser and their Tacoma.

Resale value is always important to those spenders hoping to get the best bang for their buck for their vehicle down the road. But oftentimes these are just estimates and market changes should be taken into consideration as that can impact resale value of vehicles.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Higher than anticipated demand for the JK-8 Independence  conversion kit, designed to turn a Jeep Wrangler into a pickup truck, led Mopar division president Pietro Gorlier joking that,” Santa Claus is coming early.”

Given that orders for the kits are now outstripping original estimates (400 sales so far versus  250-300), clearly Christmas has arrived early for both Jeep enthusiasts and dealers alike.

It also shows there’s pent up demand for a factory built Jeep pickup, giving further traction to the idea that such a vehicle, based on the Wrangler might materialize down the road.

It’s no secret that Jeep brand president Mike Manley is a fan of the concept and now, Gorlier’s stance seems to echo Manley’s sentiments, the Mopar chief stating that, “when we go to the next generation of the Wrangler, (a pickup) will probably be considered.”

At present, the Wrangler is Jeep’s best selling SUV, so far some 111,045 units have been delivered this year, quite impressive for a vehicle that hasn’t seen a major update since 2006. And, given vehicle life cycles these days, an updated Wrangler probably isn’t too far off.

When it does eventually materialize, based on current demand from the JK-8 kits, having a pickup would no doubt bolster sales of the existing Wrangler lineup. It could also draw in buyers from other small pickups who, next year, will have very few options when it comes to new, compact truck offerings.

In the meantime, Mopar plans on supplying as many JK-8 kits as it can to dealers, though given the size of each package, it’s proving difficult for them to carry a large amount in stock. “The kit is too big and too complex to have too many on the shelf,” remarked Gorlier. That said he’s enthusiastic about the response so far. “It’s exciting for an aftermarket product.”

[Source: Ward's Auto]

w

At the 2011 Paris Boat Show, Jeep decided to debut their collaboration with design studio Style & Design with two variants of their Wrangler Nautic Concepts. The two companies worked together to show off two different Wrangler Unlimited concepts, one white and one black.

Both vehicles feature contrasting color-themed accessories, equipped with 20-inch wheels, a chrome grille, trunk opening with finished deck, running boards with finished deck and chrome door handles and trunk hinges. Further accenting the interior are navy wings sheathed in color-matched (for their theme) leather while the spare wheel cover also has been redone in its respective shade.

The interior features plenty of customized upholstery, one with Navy White while the other has been outfitted with Navy Black. The console dashboard and door handle inserts have the matching deck finish while the shifter gate and headliner have been redone in their matching color.

Both vehicles clearly draw inspiration from luxury yachts and come equipped with canvas awnings and canvas folding chairs. The pair of Wrangler Unlimited models is just another step towards the right direction as Chrysler continues to focus on the European market.

GALLERY: Jeep Wrangler Nautic Concepts

According to Advertising Age, a sister publication to Automotive News, Chevrolet‘s Cruze, Kia‘s Soul and Jeep‘s Wrangler are among America’s top 25 hottest products for 2011, alongside Dove soap, Arizona Tea, Goldfish crackers, Sharpie markers and the Forever 21 clothing chain.

There’s no doubting those three vehicles’ success, but we’d be willing to debate that they belong in America’s 25 hottest products. But nonetheless, the Cruze has sold more than 200,000 units as of October, which allowed it to surpass the Malibu as GM’s hottest selling model. Media spending by Chevrolet totaled more than $1.1 billion last year with a huge bulk of it towards marketing the Cruze’s 40-mpg fuel economy rating.

The good ‘ol Kia Soul has benefited from collaborating with stylish and hip hamsters, perfectly targeting younger buyers. Through October, Kia has racked up 405,095 in total sales, with over 85,000 of those being Souls. We’re not really sure if the Soul is a hot new product or if the hamsters are just that cool.

Lastly, Jeep’s Wrangler is Jeep’s best-selling vehicle with 101,820 vehicles sold through October. Their partnership with virtual Wranglers and the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 fans probably won’t hurt either. By bringing together live action and game footage, Jeep is clearly targeting a huge audience and perhaps a different market with their Wrangler. Jeep as a brand has had overall sales up 44-percent this year through October.

[Source: Automotive News]

When you think of right-hand-drive Jeep Wranglers, no doubt an obvious reference would be those sold in export markets such as the UK, Ireland, Japan or the Pacific Rim.

However, this particular recall actually affects some 5,334 vehicles in the United States; consisting of 2008-2012 models, primarily used for postal delivery on rural routes, where right-hand-drive vehicles are often employed because they provide more convenient access to roadside mailboxes.

In fact, the recall centers around driving conditions in such areas, citing the fact that dusty roads can allow dirt to enter the airbag clockspring assembly, causing the airbag light on the dash to come on.

“Following field investigations by our engineers, it was determined that the condition is being caused by the dirt, dust, rain, etc., that the interior is exposed to when letter carriers lower their windows frequently,” said Chrysler Group’s David Dillon, who heads up Product Investigations and Campaigns for the company.

So far, no accidents or injuries have been reported on the airbag issue, though Chrysler has said it will inform owners of the affected vehicles late this month, though at present, a fix still hasn’t been determined.

Congrats go out to the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, the winner of the 2012 Motor Trend SUV of the Year.

The Evoque was up against some stiff competition this year. Other contenders up for the award included  BMW X3, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, Ford Explorer, Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, MINI Countryman, Saab 9-4x and Volkswagen Touareg.

According to Motor Trend, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque passed each of its six criteria for the distinction (Advancement In Design, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance Of Intended Function) with flying colors.

Based on the Land Rover LR2, the Evoque is an evolutionary leap over its predecessor, says Motor Trend. Even though it shares a platform with the LR2, the Evoque performs considerably better in every way. “The Evoque is meant to appeal to the buyer who ranks style, content, and fuel efficiency above approach and departure angles,” says Motor Trend.

Just a few of Evoque’s perks that wowed the judges included its Terrain Response handling and AWD system, its stylish design, roomy cargo area, emission reduction, improved fuel economy and impressive value (it has a price tag of $43,995 – not too shabby when you see all the great features it comes with).

Discuss this story at RREvoqueForum.com

The auction for the first 2011 Jeep Wrangler customized with Xplore’s Stage 4 package is now up on eBay with 100% of the profits to benefit the National Park Foundation. The unique, hand-built and highly exclusive Wrangler will also come with an annual pass to all national parks and monuments, a once-in-a-lifetime camping experience at a national park of the winner’s choice, plus the winner will be featured in an upcoming issue of Xplore Great Outdoors Magazine.

The stage 4 Xplore package features a great collection of modifications to the Wrangler but most noticeable is its matte clear over dark green paint. Mopar equips the Wrangler with 2.5-inch suspension lift kit, equipped with Bilstein shocks, while the Wrangler has a menacing note thanks to a stainless steel exhaust from Mopar. On all four corners are black wheels from Method Racing wrapped with BFG’s MK2 mud terrain tires. ARB gives the Wrangler aesthetic upgrades with their front and rear bumper while a Thule roof rack should satisfy every hardcore campers needs.

On the inside, Xplore embroidered floor mats and cargo mat enhance the look while Katzkin black leather and suede interior gives the Wrangler a little bit of luxury. Options included on the Wrangler include GPS, power steering, power brakes and more.

The auction will be up until the 29th, so make sure you jump on in if you’re interested!

GALLERY: Xplore Adventure Series Jeep Wrangler

Chrysler has said that it is recalling some 11,351 vehicles from the 2011 model year, including Chrysler 200s and Town & Country minivans, Dodge Avengers, Calibers, Journeys, Nitros and Grand Caravans, as well as Jeep Compass, Patriot and Wrangler models.

The problem? An incorrectly installed steering column rivet that could potentially cause the steering system to fail, resulting in loss of vehicle control and even an accident.

The automaker said the cause of the problem was “improper identification of rejected components by new employees during the second shift.” Out of some 14,000 steering columns Chrysler inspected, it found that seven of them boasted missing or incorrect rivets.

So far the Auburn Hills, Michigan automaker has said there have been no consumer complaints nor records of accidents or injuries resulting from the issue. Nevertheless, owners of the affected vehicles will be notified starting next month and urged to contact their nearest Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealer to have the problem fixed free of charge.

[Source: The Detroit News]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently opening a probe on 2007-2008 Nissan Altimas and 2007-2008 Jeep Wranglers for issues that may or may not result in a recall.

For the Nissan Altima, NHTSA is responding to 20 complaints in regards to a possible brake issue though none of the complaints have resulted in crashes or injuries. As for the Jeep Wrangler, NHTSA has received 29 complaints (again, no injuries) in regards to the front driver’s air bag.

The Altima’s complaints consist of the brake master cylinder springing an internal leak which can cause the warning light to turn on. Those who ignore the light can eventually lose braking power.

The Jeep Wrangler is being investigated for issues where the front driver’s air bag can fail to deploy due to a broken electrical circuit. Of the 29 complaints, NHTSA has contacted 14 of those owners and six of them were right-hand-drive models, typically used by postal carriers.

[Source: Associated Press]

Professional wrestling legend Macho Man Randy Savage died today after apparently suffering a heart attack and crashing his 2009 Jeep Wrangler into a concrete median and then colliding with a tree in Seminole, Florida.

While Savage was wearing a seatbelt and alcohol was not a factor in the crash, Savage later succumbed to his injuries. Savage started in the WWF in 1985 and became a wrestling icon during his career.

[Source: TMZ]