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Jeeps could soon be built in India

No other brand is as patriotic as Jeep, boasting the WWII-era General Purpose military vehicle that helped win the war for the Allies. As it stands, current Jeeps are all U.S. made, with the Grand Cherokee and Commander hailing from the Detroit area, the Wrangler and Liberty being assembled in Toledo, Ohio and the Patriot and Compass coming from Illinois. That all seems set to change, though, as rumors swirl regarding India's Argentum Motors being tapped to build some of the SUVs abroad. Before everyone gets too upset, consider that Jeeps have been built in many other countries in the past, with even the classic Wrangler coming from Canada for a time. What this means for American jobs, though, we don't know. Colonel Bhagwati Prasad Suman from Argentum Motors suggests that any automaker building vehicles in India will save at least 15-percent in costs as compared to the United States. This being the case, we wouldn't be at all shocked if the rumors were true and if more such announcements were made in the future.
posted : 10/16/2008 @5:55:33 PM
Chinese clone wars: "Jeepzter" Hurricane replica

We've seen before how companies in China can take a radical concept design never meant for mass production, modify it a bit and offer it for sale. The latest evidence of such activity can be seen in the Jeepzter. Ostensibly a replica of the Jeep Hurricane concept from 2005, the Chinese replica does away with the dual 5.7L HEMI V8 engines for a single 650cc unit. That lone powerplant sits up front and powers the rear wheels, not all four like the concept. Of course, it goes without saying that the ridiculous turning ratio of the Hurricane has been lost in transformation, as well. In reality, what we have here is a normal run-of-the-mill off-road utility vehicle with a plastic body cribbed from the classic Jeep concept. We're a bit fuzzy on how this sucker is "street legal" as claimed in the Craigslist ad, so we'd definitely check with your local authorities before actually making a purchase. If you just want to have a Jeep Hurricane-looking thing sitting in your garage, though, now is your chance.
posted : 10/13/2008 @9:11:48 PM
Jeep CJ-7 turned General Lee violates natural order of things

There are fantastic combinations, like bacon and, well, just about anything, and then there are things that should never be combined. Jeep CJ-7s are super iconic, and they represent the pinnacle of AMC's stewardship of the brand. Though the Dukes of Hazzard itself was no Citizen Kane, every kid of that era has indelible images of an orange Charger flying through the air etched in their memories. Again, General Lee: cool. Put them together; ignoring the fact that a proper "Dukes"-themed CJ would mirror the Golden Eagle edition that appeared in the show; and you have created that which should never be. The "01" treatment has been applied to some very odd vehicles the world over, though, so we suppose that a General Lee-themed CJ isn't so bad in the long run. At least both elements appeared in the original show...
posted : 10/13/2008 @4:52:00 PM
When is a Ram not a Dodge? When it's a Pink Jeep

To anyone who's spent any time in the vast desert stretches of the southwestern United States, lifted and stretched Pink Jeeps are likely a familiar sight. The company has been around for nearly 50 years taking passengers across very rough stretches of land where pavement is but a distant memory. Ask anybody what it's like to ride for a few hours in a highly-modified Jeep Wrangler and you could hear a few shocking expletives. So, when Pink Jeep Tours needed another vehicle that was capable of moving lots of people and gear over great distances, a Jeep didn't quite seem to fit. So, how do you out-Jeep a Jeep? You don't, but you can always try a Dodge Ram 3500 with its 6.7-liter Cummins turbo-diesel engine. To make it resemble one of its Jeeps, Pink Jeeps hired Prefix Corporation to add a classic seven-slot grille -- completely approved and licensed by Chrysler no less -- along with the requisite Pepto-like hue. A lift-kit, air suspension, 35-inch tires and a luxurious (by Wrangler standards anyway) interior with reclining leather captains chairs, 15-inch LCD screens with DVD players, and foam insulated side walls to keep the cool air inside completed the transformation. Jeep purists need not worry, there's still no better way to explore the outdoors than in an open-air Wrangler, but when a bit more comfort is needed, you can always slap a slotted-grille on a Ram.
posted : 10/3/2008 @7:01:36 PM
Chrysler to unveil 25th Anniversary minivan, Jeep Compass Overland

We already took a look at MOPAR's first concept due to be displayed at the Paris Motor Show next week, and it turns out that it has a twin. This one is based on the unloved Compass mini 'ute and reuses the Overland moniker that's been popular with the Jeep brand, once owned by Willys-Overland. It's painted in a classically-Jeep dark green color that covers almost the entire exterior, minus some silver accent panels on the sides (why?) and a mesh grille that's actually kind of cool. On the inside, it's been tarted-up with new sill plates and seats with stitched-in Overland logos. The last (and least?) vehicle Chrysler is set to show off in Paris is a 25th Anniversary Chrysler Grand Voyager, which has French-stitched leather seating surfaces and "Blackwood accents." Outside are 17-inch rims, chrome trim and special badges. All in all, pretty mundane stuff. Oddly, nobody ever asks us for our opinions. If they did, we'd tell them they could leave these two at home. Chrysler has issued a press release detailing everything it's bringing to Paris, see it after the break.
posted : 10/3/2008 @7:00:14 PM
Paris Preview: MOPAR to introduce Jeep Patriot Back Country concept

Chrysler's in-house performance tuning arm, MOPAR, will be showing off a mildly customized version of the Jeep Patriot called the Back Country at next month's Paris Motor Show. The run-of-the-mill Patriot and Compass models, which share a platform with the Dodge Caliber, have had their interiors redone a bit for the new '09 model year and the small improvements appear to make a major difference, at least in appearance. We'll reserve final judgement until we get inside one for ourselves. At the upcoming Paris Motor Show, attendees will see a few mods to the new model, including an Optic Green paint color, blacked-out B-pillars, and a new "platinum chrome" light bar on the outside. MOPAR makes good use of its own accessories catalog with a cargo basket on the roof that sports extra off-road lights, splash gaurds and some 18-inch five-spoke alloys. Joining the refreshed interior are satin chrome details and a scuba-like fabric covering parts of the seats. This concept above goes to show that the Patriot is a decent looker and just a few minor tweaks away from being a real Jeep. Now, if they'd just take care of that Compass...
posted : 10/3/2008 @6:46:03 PM

Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

As we learned this morning from Bob Nardelli's appearance on CNBC, Chrysler LLC is getting into the electric vehicle game and plans to have something on the market by the end of 2010 – the same time GM plans to start selling the 2011 Chevy Volt. The vehicle in question will be one of these three EVs, all of which are powered fully or in part by electrons.

The first and perhaps most exciting is the Dodge EV, which is an all-electric sports car like the Tesla Roadster. In fact, Chrysler seems to have taken a few pages from Tesla's playbook, which is evident by the fact that its EV is wearing the body of a Lotus Europa at the moment. Lotus also worked with Tesla on the development of its Roadster and is probably offering its expertise in electronics and lightweight vehicle design to any automaker willing to pay for it.

Chrysler says the Dodge EV uses a 200kW or 268 equivalent horsepower electric motor mated to an "advanced lithium-ion battery pack and an integrated power control module". Peak torque is 480 lb-ft, which helps propel the lightweight Europ... Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than five seconds and a 120 mph top speed. Its range is pegged at between 150 to 200 miles with recharge times of 8 hours for 110-volt outlets and four hours using a 220-volt.

posted : 10/2/2008 @5:09:29 PM
Dodge EV sports car, range-extended Town & Country, Wrangler previewedCNBC's Phil Lebeau got a sneak peek at the new EVs Chrysler is developing, and it looks like Auburn Hills is pulling a Tesla, among other things. The yellow Dodge EV you see here is basically an electrified Lotus Europa. Presumably equipped with lithium ion battery power, the Dodge EV has a reported operating range of 150 - 200 miles and can be plugged in to household 110 or 220 outlets. Figure a four-hour charge on the latter, and 8 or so on the former. Zero-to-sixty is said to be under 5 seconds. Like we said, this is basically Chrysler's Tesla, right down to the Lotus-sourced donor vehicle. We'll see the Dodge EV introduced formally later this afternoon, along with range-extended EV versions of the Chrysler Town & Country (can you say, "killer app"?) and Jeep Wrangler. With regard to timing, Chrysler says it would like to have "at least one" of these vehicles on the market by the end of 2010, the unofficial official year of the electric/plug-in car. Look for all three prototypes to head to D.C., where they'll be showcased for Congressional leaders who have a say in whether or not Washington will show Detroit the money they've been asking for.
posted : 10/2/2008 @4:31:23 PM
Chrysler wants to bring up to 9 new vehicles by 2010There has been a lot of talk recently about whether Chrysler has the right products in the pipeline to compete in this brutally competitive automotive market. Company chairman Jim Press told a group of reporters in California that help is on the way in the form of seven new products coming in calendar year 2010. Chrysler top procurement officer John Campi stated recently that the number could be as high as nine, but we suspect the number disparity could be a result of Campi counting vehicle variations as separate models. Neither Campi or Press gave any details of upcoming models, but analysts think they know which products are coming our way. Erich Merkle of Crowe Chizek and Co. sees only five vehicles arriving in 2010, including the next generation 300, Durango, Grand Cherokee, Charger, and the Nissan-based Dodge Hornet (or other small car). The Pentastar may also be counting separately hybrid versions of some of the models, but there is also a chance there's an all-new model or two based on collaborations Chrysler has with other automakers that analysts don't know about. Press and Campi aren't the only executives talking about future product, either. Chrysler top dog Bob Nardelli said last month that a new fuel efficient vehicle may coming as soon as next year as well, and we suspect that model could be the Hornet. Press stressed that it took years for Chrysler to end up where it is today, and that it will take at least three years to pull the privately owned company out of the abyss. It's good to hear Chrysler is still alive an kicking, and we're looking forward to seeing what the Auburn Hills, MI automaker has up its sleeve.
posted : 9/23/2008 @10:08:53 PM
Heavy-duty Jeep J8 now available everywhere but here

Who doesn't get the Jeep J8? Um, that would be the United States, Home of Jeep. Hardly seems fair... considering that pretty much every other country in the world gets a crack at the ultra-Wrangler, which comes equipped with a 2.8-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel with 158-horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Memo to Chrysler: The Wranger is screaming out for a small displacement diesel engine. No? Fine. We can understand the fact that this engine isn't certified for sale in the States and it would be expensive to make happen. At least the Pentastar brand could offer the J8's nearly 3,000-pound payload capacity via rear leaf springs and reinforced frame in its home market. Still no dice? Could we at least get the pickup bed as an option on the Unlimited chassis? Not likely, would be our best guess. Oh well, we can wish.
posted : 9/22/2008 @10:32:17 PM
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