Jeep

William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com December 16, 2011 For the longest time, Jeep enthusiasts have been clamoring for a Wrangler pickup. The closest Jeep has come to making this dream come true is offer a kit called JK8 Independence that changes a Wrangler Unlimited into a Wrangler Truck. And the kits are flying off the shelf. Ward’s Auto reports that Mopar was estimating orders for the kit to be around 200-300. However, dealer orders for the kit are around 400. Mopar President Pietro Gorlier said Mopar is stepping up and getting kits sent out to dealers. Of course, thoughts turn to whether this means a production version will come out. Gorlier said tha…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 15, 2013 It has been a few weeks since we reported on the Jeep Cherokee and its transmission woes and the news hasn't gotten better. The Detroit News is reporting that Cherokees are still parked at the Toledo factory where they are built. There is some good news though. Chrysler appears to be in final stages of testing a new powertrain calibration that should help the transmission and get vehicles onto dealer lots. “Chrysler Group is in the final stages of validating the updated powertrain calibrations,” said Gualberto Ranieri, vice president of communications for Chrysler. “Once the latest powertrain calibratio…

We know a fair amount of information about the 2018 JL Wrangler thanks to various leaks and rumors. Now Jeep has surprised all of us on Halloween night by revealing some pictures of the 2018 Wrangler. It looks like Wrangler from the three photos Jeep released. We can tell the front grille is slightly flatter and a set of LED lighting on the fenders. No pictures of the interior are provided, but we're expecting some big changes including a new UConnect infotainment system. More details on the Wrangler will be revealed on November 29th at the LA Auto Show. But we know that a 3.6L V6 and turbocharged 2.0L will be the engines at launch thanks to a leaked owner's manua…

Jeep is finally offering the 3.0-Liter EcoDiesel from the Ram 1500 in the Jeep Wrangler as a late availability option for 2020. For the Wrangler, the engine will produce 260 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. The diesel will be offered on Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon editions, and only on 4 door models. The only transmission available to pair with the diesel is the 8-speed automatic. Electronic Start-Stop (ESS) is standard on the diesel and all other engine options. Other changes for the Wrangler include the addition of the mild-hybrid 48 volt eTorque system to either the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo or the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. The eTorque system takes the place of…

The EPA has officially released its assessment of the 2020 Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel. The EcoDiesel is only available as a 4-door with an 8-speed automatic and in that configuration, the EcoDiesel manages to get 29 mpg highway, 22 mpg city, and 25 combined. That is slightly better than a 4x4 Ram 1500 with the same powertrain. The next closest model in terms of fuel efficiency is the 2-door, 4-cylinder, manual transmission, rear-wheel drive Wrangler at 24 highway mpg, 22 city mpg, and 23 combined. The diesel engine is a $4,000 option though so you may not ultimately save money. Instead, Jeep believes the EcoDiesel option is best suited for those who need the gobs of to…

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles knows Jeep is one of the hottest selling brands in the U.S. and they have been thinking about ways to exploit that further. According to Automotive News, one possible way the company is thinking about is to allow dealers to open satellite centers for the Jeep brand. According to a source, this move mirrors an effort by FCA where they encourage dealers in truck-heavy marketplaces to open up satellite stores for their Ram Trucks brand. This allows dealers to create a storefront that can cater to truck buyers with a lot filled with a number of trims and configurations of trucks, and truck specialists to help buyers. By doing this for Jeep, it co…

Back at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, Jeep introduced the Yuntu SUV concept. Designed for the Chinese market, the Yuntu features 3-rows and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Jeep is going forward with bringing the Yuntu to production as evidenced by a new set of spy photos. Despite the camouflage, there is no mistaking this is a Jeep thanks to the seven-slot grille. The overall shape matches up with a design trademark filing made last year in China with a boxy profile and a rear end similar to the Dodge Durango. It appears the design of the headlights and taillights carry over. A source tells Motor1 the Yuntu provides a preview of what Jeep has in store for their …

During an announcement that FCA will be building a new manufacturing plant in Detroit, FCA let it known that in addition to the forthcoming full-size Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, another new 3-row SUV was in the works for Jeep. Auto Express UK reports today that this new SUV will technically be a 3-row version of the Grand Cherokee, but Jeep President and FCA Boss Mike Manley thinks it will not wear the Grand Cherokee name, instead taking on an new moniker. His reasoning for not re-using the name is that the Grand Cherokee is such an iconic name and image. It would be like if Jeep dramatically changed the Wrangler, he'd face a customer revolt. The last 3-row…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 22, 2013 Jeep's long-standing nightmare is over. Automotive News is reporting that deliveries of the Cherokee will be heading off to dealers within the next ten days. Chrysler is in the process of installing new software smooth out how the engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system interact. After the new software is installed, car haulers are loaded up and sent out. The trucks drop the Cherokees are taken to a test facality where they are unloaded and driven on a test track to see if the software has worked. From there, Cherokees are either sent to a lot where they await being shipped o…

At a press conference today, Stellantis unveiled the third-generation Jeep Compass. This version for Europe is expected to be close to the version we will see in North America with some tweaks to the powertrain and lighting options. The Compass' direction in North America has been in flux after the sudden departure of former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares in December of 2024. More on that later. While the new Compass cuts a familiar shape with the present model, it is built on an entirely new platform capable of supporting gas, electric, and hybrid configurations. Now blockier and more rugged looking the new Jeep Compass retains all the familiar Jeep styling cues. T…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com March 21, 2013 Jeep is making some very ambitious goals with the introduction of the new 2014 Cherokee. One of those goals is to produce 250,000 Cherokees annually at Jeep's Toledo, Ohio plant. "We are going to build almost half-a-million cars a year here in Toledo. We are going to do 220,000 with the Wrangler and we are going to do 250,000 on the Cherokee side," said Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12. Whether Jeep meets this ambitious goal or not with the new Cherokee remains to be seen. Jeep does have a couple things going for it though. For starters, the Cherokee name in the nineties was a very popular ve…

Previously, we heard that the next-generation Jeep Wrangler would have an all-aluminum body. But that doesn't appear to be the case anymore. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters yesterday that the Wrangler would shed the aluminum body, but would have certain parts made from aluminum. “There will be a large portion of that vehicle that will be aluminum. It will not be all aluminum. We've run the numbers and we've simulated mileage and the impact. Because of the difference in cost -- not just of the material but the actual assembly process -- I think we can do almost as well without doing it all-aluminum. I think we can get very close,” sai…

Jeep is rumored to be testing a Mercedes-Benz supplied 2.0 liter Turbo-Diesel in 14 test vehicles in the Detroit, Michigan area. However, it is unlikely that such a vehicle would be sold in the U.S. The most likely scenario is that this is testing for the European and Asian markets. The Compasses were converted by an independent supplier for FCA and the suspected engine of choice is the Mercedes-Benz OM654 2.0 diesel producing 192 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. The engine was released in 2016 for the E-Class, but the engine was designed to be mounted in transverse applications as well. In the U.S., the Compass is only sold with a 2.4 liter gasoline engine. In Eur…

We have seen the emergence of compact SUV's in the automotive world. Nissan has given the Juke and Ford the EcoSport. Back in March, the 2015 Jeep Renegade was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The 2015 Jeep Renegade sits 166.6 long and 71.0 inches wide, a bit big category. Wheelbase is at 101.2 inches, outmatching the Juke and other competitors like Mini's Countryman. The base Sport model features a 1.4 liter, turbocharged engine that produces 160 HP and 184 pound-feet of torque and is only available in a six-speed manual. Other features include Hill Start Assist, remote keyless entry and 16 inch alloy wheels. The Latitude model will include a leather-wrapped steering…

Jeep is understandably reluctant to mess with success, and the Jeep Gladiator has been one of the brand's greatest success stories in the last decade. So when it came time to give the Gladiator a nip-tuck, Jeep went in with the gentlest of hands. The biggest visual update is a refresh of Jeep's iconic 7-slot grille, windshield-integrated trail-ready stealth antenna, and seven all-new wheel designs. Inside is a redefined interior with more technology and amenities, including available 12-way power-adjustable front seats and all-new instrument panel featuring Uconnect 5 system with a best-in-class standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and …

Trying to figure out the fate of the Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer has been quite daunting. One minute, the project has been canned. The next, it has been put on hold. But now the air has been cleared as to the Wagoneer project. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed this week at Detroit Auto Show that the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer would use a body-on-frame chassis that will underpin the next-generation Ram 1500, not the unibody platform that we have been hearing for the past couple of years. Jeep CEO Mike Manley told Car and Driver that the Grand Wagoneer would use a stretched version. “It’s a place we’ve been, we walked away from it, now…

In Goes One Fiat; Out Comes Three Jeeps William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com August 9, 2011 Jeep's lineup has been going under a massive transformation since Fiat has taken over; the new Grand Cherokee and revised interiors and powertrains for the Compass, Patriot, and Wrangler. That doesn't mean Fiat is all finished with Jeep. Fiat will be providing three platforms for three upcoming Jeep products due out in 2013 or 2014. The first product is a subcompact model that will be designed for use in North and Latin America. The model is expected to be built alongside the Dodge Journey and Fiat 500 at at the automaker's plant in Toluca, Mexi…

2019 marks some key changes for Jeep's smallest vehicle, the Renegade. The big news is a new turbocharged 1.3L four-cylinder that will take the place of the turbo 1.4. The smaller engine produces 177 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque - up 17 and 16 respectively from the 1.4. The engine will also feature an auto start-stop system and active grille shutters to improve fuel economy. It will come standard on the Limited and Trailhawk, and be available as an option for the Sport and Latitude. The base engine will continue to be the 2.4L four-cylinder. Interestingly, the Fiat 500X (sister model to the Renegade) will not get the turbo 1.3L. There are some chang…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 31, 2013 Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne vowed this week that the company would not repeat the mistakes that caused the new 2014 Cherokee to be delayed. "What we've learned is that we'll never repeat it. We're never going to take a plant down and be out of the market for over a year," Marchionne said on a call with analysts. The Cherokee is the first Chrysler vehicle to use a new nine-speed automatic transmission. However, problems arose with how the engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system interacted with each other. Engineers worked for months to create a software patch to smooth out…

Jeep Pickup Possibly Coming In Four Years William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com September 19, 2011 Related: Jeep's CEO Wants A Pickup, But Does Chrysler? Jeep CEO, Mike Manley is still interested in a pickup for the brand. Speaking with reporters at Frankfurt, Manley said if a Jeep Pickup was approved, it could take four years for it to come to market. "It is too late in Wrangler's product cycle to add a pickup. The 2015 or 2016 time frame makes more sense. That's when we will refresh the Wrangler." Rumors of a Jeep pickup have been growing since last fall, when dealers saw a concept of a Jeep truck. Also, Manley has been keeping a close …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com June 25, 2012 Back in January, Chrysler made the announcement that the Jeep Grand Cherokee would be getting a diesel engine in 2013. We thought that would be for the 2013 model year, but it appears that it will be for 2014 Model Year. Now that seems like some bad news, but don't fret. According to Automotive News, Jeep will shorten the 2013 Model Year Grand Cherokee to make way for the 2014 Model Year to come out as soon as January. A source says the diesel engine that will be used in the Grand Cherokee is the same one used in Europe; a 3.0L diesel V6 from VM Motori delivering 241 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Also comin…

Earlier this month, we reported that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was delaying a number of products due to company trying to find a partner. One of those products that was reportedly delayed was the Jeep Grand Cherokee, originally planned to have a redesigned launched in 2017. Now we have confirmation of the Grand Cherokee delay. Jeep CEO Mike Manley told reporters yesterday that the next Grand Cherokee would launch in late 2018 or 2019. No reason was given as to the delay, but Manley revealed a 'mild refresh' would be incoming before the redesign. Source: Reuters View full article

Fiat Chrysler has issued a stop-sale and recall of 3,427 Jeep Gladiators for the potential of the rear drive shaft fracturing. The cause is a rear drive shaft that was assembled without grease on the monoblock joint portion of the drive shaft. The lack of grease could cause the joint to overheat and seize which may result in a fractured rear driveshaft. The vehicles were manufactured between December 15th 2018 and June 25th of 2019. If the driveshaft fails, the driver could experience a total loss of power and potentially cause dangerous road debris if the driveshaft separates from the vehicle completely. Jeep said they noticed the grease error when four Glad…

The parent company for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and RAM announced details of the new STLA Large platform. Stellantis says this flexible architecture will underpin vehicles at Dodge and Jeep later this year. Confirmed by Jeep, the 2025 Jeep Wagoneer S EV will arrive this fall. Dodge released a few teaser images of the 2025 Charger on social media, saying it will be "available later 2024" Since these announcements started last week, it isn't surprising that Stellantis revealed the STLA-L platform. This will underpin six unspecified vehicles from Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Chrysler. Interestingly, STLA Large can accommodate hybrid and internal combustion powertrains. The E…

Jeep shared some more details of the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer S today. While it shares its name with the Ram 1500-sized Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, Jeep is billing this new entry to its lineup as a mid-size. Looking roughly similar to the Grand Cherokee in size, the Wagoneer S cuts a more athletic profile. While no performance specs were released with this announcement, Jeep has previously said it is targeting 600 horsepower, a 3.5-second 0-60 time, and up to a 400-mile range. We will have to wait and see if those numbers hold up. The Wagoneer S will maintain some off-road prowess in spite of its city looks with a Selec-Terrain dial to adjust the S for various surface cond…

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William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 12, 2012 We've been talking about the new Jeep Liberty for the past couple of months. We've learned so far the new Liberty will use Fiat's new CUSW Plus platform, and come with a new 3.2L V6 and nine-speed ZF transmission. Now, some new spy shots from Automobile Magazine show a new powertrain undergoing some tests. The spy shots show a raised Alfa Romeo Guiletta mule (Jeep Liberty) wearing a prominent sticker warning that premium gasoline must be used. The front end features a large intercooler. If this Jeep mule does have a turbocharged engine, it could be the 1.4L turbo four from that will be offered in the 2…