Section: Jeep
Written By: Seyth Miersma
March 24th, 2008 12:00 PM
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Mexican police confiscated a Jeep Grand Cherokee last week that would seem to be appropriate for use by the world’s most famous fictional spy.
Referred to as a “James-Bond-style” vehicle, the Mexican Jeep had been specially outfitted with devices designed to stymie potential pursuers. The SUV had been equipped with a smoke machine as well as a device that would spread spikes out along the road behind the vehicle. The Bondesque Jeep was previously owned by members of a drug cartel and abandoned after it was reportedly rammed into by a “military truck.” Police are unclear as to whether or not the Jeep’s innovative defensive systems were ever used, as the former owners chose to escape the crippled Cherokee under the cover of a lobbed hand grenade.
While it’s certainly good news that the modified vehicle is out of nefarious hands, we can’t help but be a little sad that it was destroyed before being put through a good bench test. After all, who doesn’t love road spikes?
+ Edmunds Inside Line: Police Confiscate “James Bond” Car Customized With Smoke Machine, Spikes
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Written By: Winding Road Staff
March 17th, 2008 9:00 AM
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We found the 2008 Jeep Liberty to be a welcome update from the fabled off-road marquee, with nice added value features like a nicer interior and the cool power sliding canvas roof. Slightly less inviting was the indoor snowstorm our art director was subjected to, click through the jump to read all about it.
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
March 3rd, 2008 3:30 PM
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Last week we brought you Consumer Reports’ Top Picks of 2008. Now, we’re letting you in on the worst 11. Chrysler takes a huge hit from Consumer Reports with four out of the bottom 11 belonging to the struggling automaker.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited bottoms out on the list, along with the Hummer H3. Both were cited for poor fuel economy and poor reliability. However, keep in mind that Consumer Reports does not take into the off-road ability of the vehicles. The Wrangler and Hummer are both championed as off-road vehicles, so, (maybe?) they didn’t get a fair shake.
(More details after the jump)
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
February 26th, 2008 1:00 PM
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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has rated the redesigned 2009 Nissan Murano as this year’s Top Safety Pick among the nine four-door midsize SUV models. The Murano was the best overall performer in the front, side, and rear crash tests.
The 2009 Nissan Murano is the only vehicle to earn “good” ratings in all three categories. It was also one of two vehicles that earned a good rating for protection against whip-lash injury in rear-end crashes. While usually not life threatening, whiplash injuries were reported in 2 million insurance claims last year, costing $8.5 billion, according to the IIHS.
(More details and press release after the jump)
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
February 18th, 2008 1:00 PM
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Generally, if you’re going to off-road your Jeep, it needs some accessories. Something Jeep dealers have known for years, but have had nothing to offer customers. Now, thanks to Mopar, Jeeps can get trail-ready before customer delivery.
At the National Automobile Dealers Association, Jeep displayed a glow-in-the-dark Jeep Wrangler Unlimited four-door packed, bumper-to-bumper, with Mopar accessories.
Stephen Shugg, Chrysler director of service and parts operations, said, “It’s a huge opportunity” for Jeep dealers looking to increase profits.
The Mopar additions included an off-road navigation system, heavy-duty bumper, winch, chrome grille, and a 200-watt stereo system. However, the lift kit on the Jeep was not Mopar’s – although, they plan to have an available lift kit soon.
(More details after the jump)
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Written By: Dustin P. Walsh
February 11th, 2008 1:00 PM
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Mahindra and Mahindra is looking to expand in the global market, according to India’s Economic Times. The company is actively seeking a partner to aid it in globalization.
The company was already in the early running to purchase Land Rover and Jaguar, but, obviously, lost out to Tata. M&M vice-chairman Anand Mahindra said, “The auto industry of the future will be collaboration-driven for the benefits of scale and synergy and that’s in the DNA of Indian companies.”
The company is also reportedly in talks with Chrysler LLC over the Jeep brand – a brand the company distributed on India. However, Mahindra isn’t denying or confirming the rumor, as of yet. He said, “We are talking to automakers around the world to discover whether there are opportunities.”
Mahindra and Mahindra is already planning to bring a diesel-hybrid pickup and SUV stateside by 2010. A partnership (or flat-out ownership) of Jeep could help the company make a splash in the U.S.
+ The Economic Times: M&M in talks with Chrysler for Jeep ride
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Written By: Winding Road Staff
January 31st, 2008 10:45 AM
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David E. Davis, Jr. found the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to ride like an agricultural vehicle, but quickly points out that true Jeep fans would be upset if this weren’t the case. To read what other WINDING ROAD staffers thought about this Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, follow the jump.
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Written By: Peter Nunn
January 30th, 2008 11:00 AM
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Let’s hear it for Chrysler Japan which has just extended the new car warranty to a class-leading level of five years or 100,000 kms.
High mileage warranties are hardly something you come across everyday in Japan, but Chrysler Japan which was already offering three years/60,000 kms, has now upped the ante even further as a move to boost sales and dispel lingering doubts about the reliability of American cars among Japanese buyers.
American cars are sometimes seen as expensive to maintain and prone to breakdown, said Christopher Ellis, President of Chrysler Japan. The new warranty is one credible way to change that mindset.
Written By: Seyth Miersma
January 21st, 2008 11:00 AM
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After facing widespread derision for their interior fit and finish, the Jeep Compass and Patriot will be seeing an upgrade sometime this fall.
The news of the redesign comes courtesy of Chrysler designer Ralph Gilles, who said that Dodge’s Caliber will get an interior refresh a little later than its Jeep cousins.
(Click through the jump to read more about the Jeep refresh.)
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Written By: Stan Baldwin
January 17th, 2008 2:00 PM
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Exotic hardware is abundant at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, but comes later in the week. One of the strengths of this auction is the effort made to include cars of interest to those of us with somewhat less than six figures in the bank. An early offering was a garage kept 1985 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. With 110,000 miles on the clock this Jeep has the AMC 360 V-8, the tacky, yet traditional, faux wood trim, and factory driving lights. “Never off road,” the description reads, which has always seemed a strange thing to brag about when off-road was where the vehicle was intended to shine.
(Click through to find out how much this clean Jeep sold for.)
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Written By: Evan McCausland
January 16th, 2008 1:00 PM
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We didn’t think we’d see the Renegade, Jeep’s concept for the Detroit auto show, driving over terrain other than Chrysler’s display stage, but we were wrong. As we were making our way to the press conference for the Subaru Forester, we suddenly were forced to give way - the Renegade was cruising the main walkway.
Okay, so this doesn’t make the odd two-seat diesel-electric series hybrid “Trail Rated” or, in the minds of Jeep aficionados, a “real Jeep.” Perhaps those enthusiasts will sleep better knowing that the Renegade - like all three of Chrysler’s electric-based concepts - have virtually no chance of making it into production.
Still, we can’t help but say this is slightly better looking - slightly - than the production Compass, although that isn’t saying much. Perhaps it’s that Warthog influence that’s urging us to rekindle our romance with Halo, Halo 2 and Halo 3.
Written By: Evan McCausland
January 14th, 2008 12:01 AM
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When we first posted design sketches of Jeep’s Renegade concept, many readers connected the green off-roader to the Warthog combat vehicle in Halo. After seeing photos of the actual concept, debuting today at the Detroit auto show, the real thing seems slightly less cartoonish.
Like the ecoVoyager and Zeo, the Renegade is another chance for Chrysler to display the alternative powertrain ideas developed by its ENVI group. Much like the series-hybrid system in the ecoVoyager, the Renegade uses a 16 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery to power electric drivetrain – in this case, twin 200-kilowatt motors for the front and rear axles.
(Click through for more on the Renegade’s diesel-backed hybrid system and a release from Chrysler)
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