Jeep Archives

Chrysler has delayed the production kick for the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee by at least a month, but remains confident that inventory will be strong by the fall. We did start with an initial scheduled plan of the third week in May, and now we are into mid-June," Mark Chernoby, Chrysler's senior vice president of engineering, told the Free Press. "That is just due to a wide range of issues."

After all the controversy of its new styling, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee has officially arrived. The 2014 Cherokee is the replacement for the Liberty and features an extremely polarizing exterior, which has put many Jeep enthusiasts on edge.

Jeep has unveiled its six new concept vehicles that will debut at this year's 47th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. "Off-road enthusiasts will be pleasantly surprised by the range of Jeep models we're bringing to this year's Easter Jeep Safari," said Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "We go to this extremely popular event in Moab each year to showcase the latest production vehicles from Jeep, as well as a host of new customization and personalization ideas. In doing so, we connect with and receive a tremendous amount of feedback from our most loyal customers."

Jeep and Mopar have joined forces to create a selection of concept Jeep vehicles for the upcoming 47th annual Easter Jeep Safari, which takes place in Moab, Utah, in a few days. Jeep will unveil six new vehicles at the event, but has released teaser photos of two of them, the Jeep Grand Cherokee "Trailhawk II" concept and the Jeep Wrangler "Slim." The event runs from March 23-31.

Last week leaked shots of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee basically forced Chrysler to unveil the Liberty successor ahead of its scheduled debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The 2014 Cherokee's polarizing design has sparked so many comments, mostly negative that have now prompted Chrysler to go on the defensive. Chrysler design chief Ralph Gilles recently spoke to WardsAuto about the new Cherokee, which he described as "very contemporary."

Following yesterday's spy shots of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, Jeep has quickly responded by releasing the first photos and details for the Liberty's replacement. It's actually quite interesting since the first photos that were sent to Jalopnik were obviously not very flattering photos of a few prototypes in a factory. Of course the new polarizing design raised quite a few responses, most of them not so flattering, so Jeep has responded by releasing the first set of official photos of the new Cherokee.

Next month Chrysler is expected to debut the replacement for the Jeep Liberty, which will reportedly revive the Cherokee name here in the U.S. It looks like a facotry insider managed to grab some shots of a few prototypes that were then sent over to the guys at Jalopnik.

Jeep already ended production of the current Jeep Liberty, but we won't have to wait too long to see its replacement. Jeep's boss Mike Manley has confirmed that the Liberty's successor is going to be unveiled next month at the 2013 New York Auto Show. Although the new Liberty is going to be unveiled in just over a month, it still hasn't been confirmed if it will be called the Liberty, Cherokee or something entirely new.

Jeep officially unveiled the diesel powered 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee in Detroit last month. If sales of the new diesel Grand Cherokee are a success, then chances are high that Jeep may offer a diesel powered Wrangler.

Jeep is hard at work on a replacement for the Jeep Liberty, with its replacement due to be unveiled at the upcoming 2013 New York Auto Show in March. According to Wards Auto, although the D-segment SUV is a direct replacement for the Liberty, Jeep may decide to revive the historic Cherokee nameplate in the US.

Jeep has announced the upgrades to the 2014 Jeep Compass and Patriot models. The biggest news for the new model year is the introduction of a new six-speed automatic transmission, which should significantly reduce the noise, vibration and harshness from the previous models. The six-speed automatic can be mated to either a 158-horsepower 2.0L or 172 horsepower 2.4L engine. Both engines can also be mated to a five-speed manual.

Chrysler is updating the popular Jeep Grand Cherokee for the 2014 model year. In addition to a facelift, the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a new available 3.0L diesel engine and an eight-speed automatic for its entire engine lineup.

Last year was a great year for Jeep as it recorded global sales of 701,626 units, setting a new, all-time high - bettering the brand's previous high of 675,494 units sold in 1999. Last year Jeep vehicle sales increased 19 percent globally and 13 percent in the United States with a total 474,131 units sold.

It's been 10 years since Jeep originally released the Wrangler Rubicon and to celebrate the past ten years, Jeep has announced the release of the 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition. Jeep says that it is the most capable Wrangler ever produced.

Jeep has unveiled the 2013 Jeep Patriot Freedom Edition, which joins the Wrangler Freedom Edition as a tribute to U.S. military members past and present. Available in red, white or blue with military-inspired features, the limited edition Patriot model starts at $21,445.

This year's 2012 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show kicks off in Las Vegas on Oct. 30. Chrysler is bringing 24 custom "Mopar-modified" models to the show. Unique Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, SRT and FIAT brand vehicles outfitted with more than 500 Mopar performance parts and accessories will be on display.

Jeep has announced the production of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, which is the production version of the concept that was unveiled at the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah.

Next week, Chrysler will reportedly end production of the Jeep Liberty SUV after 11 years and two model changes. Chrysler will replace the Liberty with a yet to be named new SUV early next year, that will share its platform with the Dodge Dart.

Chrysler hasn't released a lot of details about the jeep Liberty's successor, but it's expected to be powered by a 3.2L V6 mated to a new nine-speed automatic.

Jeep has announced two special-edition versions of its high-performance 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, the bright white "Alpine" edition and brilliant black "Vapor" edition. Both models feature the addition of Black Vapor Chrome finish to the standard split 5-spoke, 20 inch wheels along with unique gloss black exterior appointments including: Jeep hood badge, Grand Cherokee door badge, front grille surround and inserts, and the rear light bar and step pad.

The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is powered by a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 that delivers 470 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. According to Jeep, the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 runs from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the mid-16 second range, can cover the quarter mile in the mid-13 second range, has a top speed of 160 mph, and brakes from 60-0 mph in 116 feet.

Chrysler has unveiled the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Freedom edition as a tribute to U.S. military members. Available in red, white or blue, the new Jeep Wrangler Freedom edition features a military-inspired star decal on the hood and rear quarter panels, along with an "Oscar Mike" (military jargon for "on the move") fender badge.

The new limited-edition 2012 Jeep Wrangler Freedom model is based on the Jeep Wrangler Sport model, and is available as a two-door Wrangler or four-door Wrangler Unlimited model. It features unique Mineral Gray-painted 17-inch alloy wheels, Mineral Gray-painted grille and front and rear bumper inserts, body-color wheel arches and side steps, prominent "Oscar Mike" star-in-circle fender badges and decals on the hood and rear quarter panels, black sidesteps with matching black tail lamp guards and a Mopar fuel fill door, and a Sunrider soft top with deep-tint rear windows.

Chrysler has already confirmed that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is set to get a diesel in the U.S. Automotive News is now reporting that the 2013 model year will be shorter than normal for the Grand Cherokee as the 2014 model will see the introduction of the diesel engine and a new 8-speed transmission.

Dealer orders for the 2013 Grand Cherokee have already started and production of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee will begin in August. The 2013 Grand Cherokee will still be offered with a five-speed automatic, but in January production of the 2014 Grand Cherokee will begin with a new 8-speed ZF transmission. Production of the 3.0L diesel powered Grand Cherokee is also set to begin at the same time.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed that the Chrysler Town & Country minivan and Jeep Compass crossover will be dropped in 2014. Marchionne wants to eliminate any product overlaps in the Chrysler Group lineup. The Chrysler Town & Country is the Dodge Caravan's twin and the Jeep Compass shares its platform with the Jeep Patriot.

The announcement means that Chrysler will only have one minivan, since the Town & Country will be replaced by a new crossover, which may keep the same name when it is introduced in 2014. The Jeep Compass will be produced alongside the new Dodge Dart until August 2014.

Chrysler has announced plans to return to the Chinese market. To celebrate this decision, Chrysler is bringing two new design concepts to the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 23, 2012.

Chrysler is going to unveil a Chrysler 300C design concept created specifically with Chinese elements in mind and a Jeep Wrangler design concept that is inspired by the Year of the Dragon.

Jeep has unveiled six new concept vehicles that it's bringing to the 46th annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Utah.

"We're delighted to showcase six new vehicles to our loyal Jeep fans at this year's Moab Easter Jeep Safari," said Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "The Jeep Safari has long been a great way for Jeep to connect with its core audience. We look forward to spending the week demonstrating our latest potential production and customization ideas and gathering instant feedback from the most knowledgeable 4x4 enthusiasts in the world."

The concepts are versions of today's Grand Cherokee and Wrangler models to retro Jeeps like the Jeep Forward Control that was built from 1956 to 1965.

Thanks to the positive response that Jeep received for the "blacked-out" production-intent Grand Cherokee concept and the related "Name My Ride" contest, Jeep has announced it will produce three new limited-edition Jeep vehicles: the Grand Cherokee, Compass and Patriot Altitude models.

In January, Jeep introduced unveiled the "blacked-out" production-intent concept Grand Cherokee at the Houston Auto Show, and connected with consumers to name the model. With more than 100,000 entries from Jeep fans, "Altitude" emerged as the winning vehicle name.

The Altitude editions combine a variety of exterior design changes to create a unique model with an aggressive chrome and "blacked-out" look.

Chrysler's "It's Halftime in America" commercial aired during tonight's 2012 Super Bowl. The commercial stars Clint Eastwood and seeks to draw a parallel between the game and the city of Detroit.

"It's halftime. Both teams are in their locker room discussing what they can do to win this game in the second half. It's halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they're hurting. And they're all wondering what they're going to do to make a comeback. And we're all scared, because this isn't a game. The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together, now Motor City is fighting again."

Chrysler is celebrating Mopar's 75th anniversary with four custom vehicles, the Mopar '12 300, 2013 Dodge Dart "GTS 210 Tribute", 2012 Fiat 500 "Stinger" and the 2012 Mopar Jeep Compass "True North."

"Customization is king," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "These head-turning 'Moparized' vehicles show how we can go to the next level of personalization. With our best-in-class offerings of parts and accessories, we give our customers every opportunity to further enhance the appearance and performance of their vehicles."

Jeep has unveiled a new production-intent concept version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee at the Houston Auto Show.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Production-intent Concept is based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo X package. The concept's face is more aggressive with a chrome and "blacked-out" look. The front fascia gets a unique platinum-chrome and "blacked-out" appearance with a chrome mesh grille and black headlamp bezels. The "blacked-out" theme continues out back with a black liftgate light-bar. The concept also rides on black-gloss aluminum 20-inch wheels.

Inside the concept gets standard leather seats, heated front seats and a 9-speaker 506 watt audio system.

Jeep also announced that it has created an online contest for consumers to name the new production-intent Grand Cherokee concept. The person who chooses the winning name will have an opportunity to win a new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

If the concept attracts enough interest, it will be in showrooms this spring.

Chrysler has confirmed that the Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered with a diesel in the U.S. The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee will get a new diesel engine that will be produced in Detroit, but Chrysler hasn't confirmed the official specs. It's likely that the diesel will be the same diesel engine sold in Europe. In Europe the Grand Cherokee diesel is a 3.0L V6 that puts out 237 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque.

In addition to the announcement about the new diesel-powered Grand Cherokee, Chrysler also announced plans to add a third crew and 1,100 new jobs at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. Chrysler is also adding 150 jobs by reopening its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant for production of the the SRT Viper.

This year Ford created the EcoBoost concept sleigh for Santa Claus that is powered by a small 1.0L three-cylinder engine that is supposed to be greener than Santa's fleet of reindeers. Hennessey Performance (HPE) has also created a high-performance version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 that Hennessey has described as an 800 horsepower Twin Turbo sleigh.

HPE has taken the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and turned it into quite the beast known as the HPE800 Twin Turbo. The standard 6.4L HEMI V8 has been bumped up to 7.0 liters with twin turbochargers. The result is 805 horsepower and 823 lb-ft. of torque. The HPE800 will reache 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds.

The HPE800 also gets an upgraded transmission, 15.1 inch Brembo brakes, a lowered suspension and a unique front fascia with a carbon fiber front splitter.

Jeep has announced the introduction of two new special edition models that will arrive in dealers next month, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic and Jeep Liberty Arctic.

The special edition Jeep Wrangler and Liberty are inspired by the extreme winter conditions of the arctic. The Jeep Wrangler Arctic is based on the Wrangler Sahara and available in Winter Chill, Bright Silver and Bright White. It features a body-color hardtop and fender flares, "Arctic" badges on the front fenders, a "Yeti Footprint" decal over part of the driver's side fender and hood, black hood decal and Mopar black fuel filler door and taillamp guards. It also rides on 17-inch wheels wrapped in 32-inch tires. Inside the Wrangler Arctic gets seats that are covered in black Tectonic fabric with Polar White accents and orange piping and accent stitching. The front seats are heated and the door trim and nets are accented in orange, and all grab handles and dashboard vent rings are finished in Polar White trim.

The Jeep Liberty Arctic is available on Liberty Sport 4x4 models and gets many of the same features as the Wrangler Arctic. Available exterior colors are Winter Chill, Bright Silver, Bright White and Mineral Gray. "Arctic" badges on the front fenders are shared, though the "Arctic" decal on the hood is unique to Liberty. The Liberty Arctic rides on semi-gloss black 16-inch aluminum wheels. The inside gets seats that are covered in black vinyl with a Gortex embossment, and the inserts are Tectonic fabric with Polar White accents. The front seats are also heated and the Liberty Arctic also gets a nine-speaker Infiniti audio system.

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango have been awarded the "SUV of Texas" and "Full-size SUV of Texas" awards by the Texas Auto Writers Association.

"We are delighted that the influential journalists representing the Texas Auto Writers Association have once again recognized Jeep vehicles with several awards, and particularly the Jeep Grand Cherokee as the 'SUV of Texas,'" said Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Winning this award last year started a string of Grand Cherokee accolades that made it the most-awarded SUV of all-time."

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler was also named the "Mid-size SUV of Texas."

"The 2012 Dodge Durango made quite an impression at this year's TAWA Truck Rodeo," said Mike Herzing, President of TAWA. "With its spacious and refined interior, impressive driving dynamics, and class-leading towing capability, it's only fitting that the Dodge Durango is named the 2012 Full-Size SUV of Texas."

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is slated to be the next Chrysler model to get the new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. The eight-speed transmission has already been confirmed for the V6 versions of the 2012 Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is expected to get the new transmission next year and it's also been revealed that a nine-speed transmission is also possible in the future.

Jeep CEO Mike Manley recently told Autocar, "Our approach to lowering CO2 is a deployment of lots of different technologies," he said. "Hybrids, improved aerodynamics, more diesels, eight-speed gearboxes and nine-speed gearboxes for front-wheel-drive cars will all help us improve economy and CO2."

Jeep also confirmed that the eight-speed transmission can be applied to all the engines in the Grand Cherokee lineup, so it's a good possibility that the Grand Cherokee SRT8 will also get the new transmission.

Have you been dying for Jeep to release a pickup truck? Well if you are and also aren't satisfied with the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Pickup conversion, you will have to wait another four years for a true Jeep pickup.

According to Jeep CEO Michael Manley, a Jeep pickup is high on Jeep's priority list, but it won't happen until the next-generation Wrangler is released. ""It is too late in Wrangler's product cycle to add a pickup. The 2015 or 2016 time frame makes more sense."

Manley is keeping an eye on the demand for the kit that is offered by Chrysler's Mopar aftermarket division that essentially turns the Wrangler into a pickup. The kit costs $5,499 and includes a steel bed, inner and outer bedsides, sport bar extensions, Freedom panel assemblies, fiberglass hardtop and bulkhead.

Chrysler has officially announced the updates to the 2012 Jeep Wrangler. And as previously reported the biggest changes to the 2012 Wrangler are under the hood.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler is ditching the old, slow 3.8L V6 for Chrysler's new 3.6L Pentastar V6 that has 285 horsepower (40 percent improvement) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (10 percent improvement). The 2012 Wrangler also gets a new five-speed automatic, which helps the Wrangler get 21 mpg.

"Jeep Wrangler - the most capable and iconic vehicle in the world - has a new heart but retains the same soul for 2012," said Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our new 3.6-liter V-6 engine gives the ever-capable Wrangler a completely new, more refined on-road driving experience - complete with more fuel efficiency, power and torque.

"Available in 2-door and 4-door models and boasting an untouchable combination of efficient design, open-air freedom, significant towing capability, improved real-world drivability, and unique 4x4 systems that deliver unmatched off-road prowess, Jeep Wrangler once again resets the benchmark and offers consumers the ultimate vehicle for any driving adventure," Manley added.

Maserati's upcoming SUV is going to be produced at Chrysler's Jefferson North plant in Detroit, according to the Automotive News.

What will Maserati's new SUV look like? Well it's based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and we will get a preview of the SUV at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, when the concept version debuts.

The biggest concern is how much Maserati and it's parent Fiat can differentiate the Maserati from the Grand Cherokee.

"The important point is that whatever Maserati we launch will be a product that respects the entire heritage, image, characteristics, and customer expectations of this brand," Harald Wester, Maserati's CEO, said in an interview earlier this year. "What ends up in the dealer shops should be 100 percent Maserati."

We do know that the Maserati SUV will be powered by the Grand Cherokee's HEMI V8.

Chrysler has announced the changes to the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the biggest change is that the base Grand Cherokee now starts at $26,995, which is about $3,000 cheaper than the 2011 model.

Other changes to the 2012 Grand Cherokee include a new six-speed automatic transmission for V8 models and electro-hydraulic power steering for V6 models. The V6 Grand Cherokee now gets slightly better gas mileage at 17/23 mpg for the rear-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee compared to 16/23 mpg for the 2011 model. The four-wheel-drive V6 gets 16/23 mpg, while the 2011 model got 16/22 mpg. The fuel economy numbers for the V8 have yet to be released.

How did Chrysler manage to knock $3k off the base price of the Grand Cherokee? Chrysler hasn't released all the details, but it looks like the base Laredo no longer has a standard eight-way power driver's seat and many of the option packages are now more expensive.

The Wrangler also gets updates for the new year, with the most important update being the new 290 horsepower Pentastar V6 that can be mated to a new five-speed automatic. The 2012 Wrangler starts at $22,045.

Jeep's lineup is expected to get some new models in the next three years, which will come thanks to Fiat.

A Jeep subcompact is still reportedly in the works that will be based off a Fiat platform. Back in 2009 it was confirmed that Chrysler was working on a new small Jeep. Jeep CEO Michael Manley confirmed again in April that the small subcompact Jeep will debut in late 2013 or early 2014. The smallest Jeep will be built at the same Toluca, Mexico plant that currently produces the Fiat 500 and Dodge Journey models.

On the other end of the Jeep lineup, Jeep is reportedly set to revive the Grand Wagoneer as a large seven-seater. The Grand Wagoneer will share its platform with the Dodge Durango when it arrives as a 2014 model.

It was already reported that the 2012 Jeep Wrangler is getting Chrysler's new Pentastar V6, which replaces the underpowered 3.8L V6 in the 2011 model. Today its been announced that the 2012 Wrangler is going to be a little more fuel efficient as well thanks to the new V6 and five-speed automatic.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler now gets 17 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. Those numbers may still not seem that great, but they are an improvement over the old 15/19 mpg rating. Jeep still hasn't announced the power ratings for the new V6, but in other Chrysler models the Pentastar V6 puts out between 283-305 horsepower. More power and better fuel economy...good news for Wrangler fans.

Chrysler is serious about its new SRT8 versions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger and Challenger and Chrysler 300. All four models are being offered for the 2012 model year with a 470 horsepower 6.4L V8. But what if you were hoping for even more power? Well the latest rumors claim that Chrysler is planning even more powerful SRT8 versions of the 300, Charger and Challenger.

Rumors are circulating that Chrysler is going to unveil more powerful versions of the Chrysler 300 SRT8 and Dodge Charger SRT8, which will get more power from an Eaton supercharger. While the standard 2012 SRT8 models put out 470 horsepower, the supercharged versions are reported to pack between 540-570 horsepower.

If the rumors are true, the supercharger will be offered on 2013 models and an eight-speed transmission will also be added to the equation.

Unfortunately these rumors do not include any mention about upgrades to the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.