Chrysler's Design Chief Ralph Gilles Defends the 2014 Jeep Cherokee

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, but the comments have not been kind.

2014_Jeep_Cherokee
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.”
2014 Jeep Cherokee

“When you contrast it to the outgoing Liberty…I think it’s a huge departure, obviously from the previous one,” Gilles told WardsAuto. But it’s also going to be seen as very current in the way that Jeep has evolved its aesthetic to a very contemporary place. That was very much a purpose for us.” Apparently Chrysler officials were worried that the Cherokee’s design would be polarizing and they were correct.

2014_Jeep_Cherokee

Most of the comments on The Torque Report and its Facebook page have been extremely negative about the new Cherokee. “There’s a lot of physics in play,” Gilles said at the reveal in Auburn Hills. “There are dynamics we have to take care of. There are certain things this new styling has to respond to. I personally see a very cool DNA strain going back to the Grand Cherokee.”

What do you think? Is the new Cherokee the right direction for Jeep or an utter disaster?

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