Archive for News
Dana35 Dead?
Is the infamous Dana35 finally dead? Looks like it. Despite the fact that initial press releases stated that a completely revised (30-spline, non-c-clip) Dana35 would be the standard rear axle on non-Rubicon 2-dr JK Wranglers, Jeep engineers at a recent info session at Michigan Tech stated that the Dana35 rear axle had been discontinued and that all JK Wranglers would come equipped with the also-revised Dana44 axle. Jeep.com’s 2007 Wrangler section seems to confirm this by listing only the next-gen Dana44 as the rear axle for all JK Wranglers.
The funny thing is, at least at the time of writing this, even though the next-gen D44 is the only one in the list of rear axles on the online spec page, it’s marked as ‘Not Avaiable’ for non-Rubicon 2-dr Wranglers. Considering the Chrysler Group’s recent history of having incorrect, incomplete, or contradictory specs listed on their websites, this really shouldn’t be all that surprising though…
2 commentsFuture Jeeps to get a Cummins?
Cummins Inc. announced in a press release today that they will be starting a new line of light-duty diesel engines. The new engines wil be produced in their Columbus, IN, plant and preperation for the new line is planned to start mid next year with production starting by 2010.
The press release states that DaimlerChrylser will be the main customer for the new line of engines, which will be intended for vehicles with a GVWR “below 8,500 pounds”. That’s not being very specific though since the only Dodge vehicles with a GVWR over 8,500 pounds are the Ram 2500/3500 Heavy-Duty trucks and the Dodge Sprinter (which apparently already has a 2.7L CDI turbodiesel motor available).
Considering that DCX is putting their new Mercedes-sourced 3.0L BLUETEC CRD motors into the 2007 Jeep Grand Cheroke and 2007 Jeep Commander it seems unlikely to me that these vehicles would get the light-duty Cummins after only 3 years with the Benz motor, but the US-spec 2.8L CRD Jeep Liberty was only produced for 2 years, so anything can happen I guess.
The 2007 Jeep Wrangler JK has an at-best GVWR of only about 5,340 pounds for a Rubicon Unlimited (DCX hasn’t explicitly stated the GVWR of the new JK Wranglers yet), which is fairly light compared to the 6,400# GVWR of the Commander, the 6,700# GVWR of the Durnago/Aspen, and the 6,800# GVWR of the Ram 1500. So as much as I, and probably you, and tons of other Jeep fans, would love to see a diesel Wrangler, I think we’ll only see the light-duty Cummins motors in the Ram 1500 and the Durango/Aspen. I sure hope I’m wrong though.
You can read the complete Cummins press release here.
No commentsTeraFlex releases 2007 JK Wrangler Product Guide
TeraFlex has released their new product guide (pdf link) for the new 2007 Jeep JK Wranglers. The guide shows off their new suspension kits which range from 2.5 – 6”, swaybar disconnects, single and dual-rate S/T swaybar systems, control arms, trackbars, wheel spacers and adapters, front/rear bumpers, and rocker guards. It also mentions a gas tank skid plate and CB antenna mount as products that are “Coming Soon”.
The pics in the guide are relatively low quality but the photo showing the 6” lift ‘looks’ real, even though the color of the Jeep is oviously photoshopped (along with the colors of most of the other JK images from Tera – their JK Unlimited is white, they just photoshop the images to change the color).
While Tera isn’t the first company to market with suspension components and bumpers for the new JK Wrangler, they are the first to release info on rocker guards and it looks like they’re currently offering the largest selection of suspension components and overall products for the JK by a single company.
1 commentJeep Drops Floor on Pricing for All-new 2007 Wrangler
Jeep® Drops Floor on Pricing for All-new 2007 Wrangler
Lower Price and More Content Provide $3,000 of Added Value
- Jeep brand icon starts at $18,765
- First-ever four-door Wrangler Unlimited starts at $20,410
- New Standard features include 3.8-liter V-6 engine, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM), four-wheel-disc anti-lock braking system and hundreds of door and top configurations
Auburn Hills, Mich, Sep 1, 2006 Chrysler Group today announced U.S. pricing for its allnew 2007 Jeep® Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited – reducing prices throughout the lineup by an average of $1,200, while adding an average of $1,800 in content compared to outgoing 2006 models.Evolving from more than 65 years of legendary 4×4 leadership, the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited feature more comfort and space, more versatility, more open-air options, more off-road capability, more on-road refinement, more power and fuel efficiency, and more convenience and safety features.The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler is $18,765, including $660 for destination. Jeep’s first-ever four-door Wrangler Unlimited is $20,410 (two-wheel drive) and $22,410 (four-wheel drive), including $660 for destination.
No more Gladiator?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or just don’t spend much time on the internet, you’ve probably already heard the
Right… Having the Dodge Durango and Caliber didn’t stop DCX from building the 7-seat Hemi-powered Jeep Commander, or the Caliber-based mall-cruising Jeep Compass. So why not build the Jeep Gladiator truck? In all likely-hood the Gladiator would appeal to different customers than the Dakota does anyway, and it might actually give DCX a truck to compete against the Toyota Tacoma. By basing it off the new JK platform they could cut production and development costs of the truck and probably increase the overall profitability of the JK platform. DCX is really missing the boat on this one.
1 commentConsumer panel gives the Compass a big THUMBS DOWN.
When a consumer panel put together by the Detroit News recently reviewed the new 2007 Jeep Compass they unanimously gave it a failing grade, despite the same panel giving the 2007 Dodge Caliber (the Compass’ production sibling) a glowing review. 10 of the 10 panelists would recommend the Caliber and 6 of 10 said they’d buy it themselves, but none of those same panelists said they would buy the Compass, and only two said they would recommend it to friends or family. One of those two said they felt the Compass was really only suitable for a “mature” audience, which totally flies in the face of DCX’s youthful target marget for the Compass.
Many of the panelists expressed concern that the Compass was “pointing the brand in the wrong direction” and one even said that they felt the Compass was “spiritually wrong.” In his driving log, one panelist wrote, “Jeep, to me, no longer can justify having that ‘rugged’ reputation attached to its brand name.” And another wrote simply, “That thing is ugly.“
And these weren’t died-in-the-wool Jeepers talking here! The panel was made up of regular men and women from the Detroit area—a hair stylist, two young college students, a Detroit bus driver, an area architect, an insurance executive, two school teachers, and a Ford pipefitter.
My favorite quote by one of the panelists in th article: “If I want a Jeep, I’ll buy a real one.“
Check out the whole article here.
1 comment2007 Liberties WON’T get a CRD!
That’s right, the popular Liberty CRD has ceased production as of May. DCX quietly announced on monday that they’re discontinuing the 2.8L CRD Liberty due to the increased emissions standards for MY2007 diesel motors. They haven’t even put out an official press release on it yet, so I figure they’re trying to downplay the news to keep the media focused on last week’s announcement of the upcoming 3.0L CRD that will be available in the Grand Cherokee (and hopefully the Commander).
Even though the CRD Liberty greatly exceeded DCX’s sales expectations, prompting increases in production and selling over 11,000 units since it’s introduction in 2005, they couldn’t justify the expense of upgrading the 2.8L to meet the new emissions standards, and the 3.0L won’t fit under the KJ’s hood. So just when the Jeep line gains a new diesel model, it looses one too. And, not only have the Fed’s new regs killed off the CRD KJ, they’re going to cause about a $3,000 increase in the cost of diesel motors in pickups from what we’ve been told. So starting in 2007, instead of looking at $5,000 to get a diesel under the hood of a Dodge, Ford, of GMC/Chevy, it’ll cost more like $8,000+... That’s one reason why we hurried to get into a 2006 Dodge MegaCab 3500 with the Cummins, but more on that later, heh-heh…
No comments2007 Grands get a CRD!
Chrysler Group To Announce First Full-size Diesel-powered SUV in U.S. With Introduction of 2007 Jeep® Grand Cherokee CRD
- 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee to run on gas, diesel and E-85
- First full-size sport-utility vehicle with 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel in the U.S.
- Up to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy
- Class-leading towing, torque, driving range
Auburn Hills, Mich, Jun 1, 2006 -
Chrysler Group will announce today its plans to produce the first diesel-powered, full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to be offered in the United States. The 2007 Jeep® Grand Cherokee with a 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine will arrive at Jeep dealerships in the first quarter of 2007.
“DaimlerChrysler is a leader in automotive diesel applications in Europe, and it makes sense to continue to build on that experience by offering a modern, clean diesel for the U.S. market,” said Craig Love, Vice President—Rear-Wheel-Drive Product Team, Chrysler Group. “The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel will offer consumers increased fuel economy, class-leading torque, towing and driving range.”
The new 3.0-liter CRD engine, built by Mercedes-Benz, produces 215 hp (160 kW) @ 3800 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. torque (510 N•m) @ 1600-2800 rpm and gets an estimated fuel economy of 19 miles city and 23 miles highway. The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD offers class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (7,400 lbs.), and class-leading driving range of approximately 425 miles. And, clean diesel technology improves fuel economy by up to 30 percent and has up to 20 percent fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The 3.0-liter CRD engine will be available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, Limited and Overland models.
“The 3.0-liter CRD is an efficient, smooth-running, clean engine that delivers fuel economy and performance,” said Bob Lee, Vice President—Power Train Product Team, Chrysler Group. “Advanced diesel technology has improved over the last several years; engines are quieter and cleaner due to electronic controls, higher fuel pressures and advanced after-treatment systems.”
Chrysler Group was the first automotive manufacturer in the United States to offer a mid-size, diesel-powered SUV, the 2005 Jeep Liberty with a 2.8-liter CRD engine. Based on consumer response, the diesel-powered Jeep Liberty exceeded the company’s expectations. More than 11,000 diesel-powered Jeep Liberty vehicles have been sold since production began. The Jeep Liberty diesel continues to be a strong seller, as consumers realize the benefits of diesel technology.
The Jeep brand also announced earlier in the year that the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee would have a flex-fuel capable 4.7-liter SOHC V-8 engine, which gives customers the ability to use a fuel with an 85 percent concentration of ethanol (E-85) in their vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles support renewable sources of fuel and reduce emissions. The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues Chrysler Group’s commitment to alternative fuels and technology.
More than 60 percent of Chrysler Group vehicles sold in Western Europe are diesel-powered. Between 2003 and 2007, Chrysler Group will triple the number of diesel offerings outside North America. Of the estimated 20 vehicles available, 12 or more will have the option for a diesel powertrain (up from four in 2003).
The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. The 3.0-liter CRD engine is built at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin Marienfelde Plant in Berlin, Germany. Pricing will be announced closer to availability.
16 commentsCampJeep2006 will be in… Wisconsin?!
Yep, you read it right, CampJeep2006 is going to be in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The dates for this year’s CampJeep are August 10-12, and if you hussle and register by June 15 you save $50 off your registration—normal registration is $395, the ‘early bird’ registration is $345. Registration is per vehicle, and you’re only limited to as many passengers as you’ve got seatbelts for.
2006 marks the 12th year for CampJeep, and the this will be the first time it’s been held in Wisconsin. CampJeep got its start at Camp Hale in Colorado (which is where it should really be held every year), and has since been held in Virginia, California, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
The many popular activities available at CampJeep include:
- 4×4 off-road trails, ranging from scenic to difficult
- For those who want pre-trail training, there will be the Trail Rated® Off-Road Course, where owners learn off-road driving skills by navigating steep grades, large rocks, log crossings, sand and other obstacles
- Engineering Village is where Jeep owners can talk to Jeep engineers about every aspect of their vehicles
- The Camp Kids Village will feature arts and crafts for youngsters and a driving course with miniature Jeep vehicles
- A variety of outdoor adventure sports are slated for the Sports & Adventure Village, including a 60-foot Adventure Tower, rock climbing, hiking, fly-casting, scuba diving and more
- The 65-year history of Jeep—complete with memorabilia and vintage vehicles dating back to WW II —will be in the World of Jeep Village
This year’s event will also feature a 45-minute air show over CampJeep featuring rare WWII aircraft.
If you’re a Jeep enthusiast, I highly recommend attending CampJeep at least once. I’ve been to CampJeep1998 in Colorado and CampJeep2002 in Missouri and had a great time at each event. CampJeep is not a “wheeling” event though, it focuses more on the Jeep “lifestyle”, so don’t go expecting an offroad event. CampJeep does offer trail rides, but they aren’t the main focus, and historically haven’t been quite as good as what you’d find on a JeepJamboree or some other offroad or club-sponsored event.
1 commentThe H1 receives an honorable discharge.
Well, I guess the end of another era is here… GM announced today that 2006 will be the last model year for the civillian Hummer H1, which originally debuted in 1992.
Check out the scoop on TheCarConnection.com No comments
Jeep to offer E85-capable models in 2007.
DCX just announced that Jeep will be one of the brands to offer their new E85-capable flex fuel engines for 2007. The 4.7L V8 found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander has been converted to an E85-capable engine for 2007, meaning that all 2007 Grands and Commanders with the 4.7L will be FFVs (Flexible Fuel Vehicles). In addition to the Jeeps, the 2007 Dodge Durango will be available with the new E85 4.7L. Check out the complete DCX press release (and some discussion) here.
Now, if only they’d put the upcoming 3.0L CRD in the ‘07 Wranglers!!
1 commentJeep.com updated for 2007 Unlimited and Patriot
DCX just updated their Jeep.com website with info and pics on the new ‘07 Wrangler Unlimited and ‘07 Patriot. While the info really isn’t anything that wasn’t already covered in the press releases, they do have additional photos of both vehicles, showing the new ‘07 Unlimited in a dark blue, a red, and in Rescue Green. The Unlimited photos also show both a hard top with full doors, and a soft top (or rather, no top) and half doors. Unfortunately it’s all done in their painfully slow Flash design, and the photos haven’t been released on DCX’s media site, so you’ll just have to check it out for yourself and see the new pics.
Also, Jeep.com is currently listing the release dates of the Wrangler as fall ‘06 for the SWB 2-dr model, and summer 2006 for the new 4-dr Unlimited. This jives with the rumors I’ve heard for quite some time that the 4-dr model would actually hit dealers a couple of months before the 2-dr model.
No comments