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Report: Chrysler extending production of current Dodge Avenger, Jeep Wrangler, Grand Caravan

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge, Jeep

2013 Dodge Avenger - front three-quarter view

Are you hesitant to pull the trigger on a brand new Dodge Avenger in hopes that a new one will be coming? Well, don’t hold your breath. According to The Detroit News, Chrysler will be extending production of the current Avenger sedan through the end of 2015.

Originally, we heard that the company would kill the Avenger to better focus its midsize sedan efforts on the Chrysler 200 replacement. But then new reports stated there would indeed be an Avenger successor, and that we could see it as early as next January. This Detroit News report cites supplier sources confirming the extension of Avenger production, though Chrysler has not released an official statement on the matter.

These same suppliers say that the current Jeep Wrangler will live on through mid-2018 – that’s right, another five years. The Detroit News reports that a replacement for the iconic, go-anywhere Jeep was due in mid-2016.

Lastly, the report mentions that the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan will remain in production through late 2017, though its Chrysler Town & Country counterpart will be replaced by an all-new vehicle for the 2016 model year. This only further backs reports that the Grand Caravan will be killed from the Chrysler Group portfolio, with the T&C remaining the only minivan in production at the company’s Windsor facility.

Chrysler extending production of current Dodge Avenger, Jeep Wrangler, Grand Caravan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jul 2013 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: More Jeep Wrangler Pentastar rumors, five-speed auto promised

Filed under: SUV, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Jeep Wrangler – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to The Toledo Blade, citing ordering guides sourced from Chrysler dealerships, the Jeep Wrangler will finally get the automaker’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 for the 2012 model year. Since 2007, the Wrangler has been fitted with a 3.8-liter V6 engine (which replaced the venerable 4.0-liter inline six) that has met with less than stellar reviews. The new engine may have been a foregone conclusion, but it’s a welcome one nonetheless.

Equally as important is news that the Jurassic-age four-speed automatic will be replaced with a five-speed unit. That’s nice and all… but why go with a five-speeder when six (or more) is the current standard?

In any case, the report claims that the 2012 Wrangler’s powertrain will be identical to the units in the 2011 Grand Cherokee. That means we should expect 290 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Those are much-needed improvements of the old 3.8, which offered up 202 horses and 237 lb-ft. Fuel mileage will reportedly improve to 16 city, 23 highway from 15/19.

In other Jeep news, Allpar.com reports that the 2012 Grand Cherokee will get a six-speed automatic to replace the five-speed unit in the 2011 model. (Guess we know where those older gearboxes are headed, eh?) In a further bid to improve fuel economy, the Pentastar-equipped Grand Cherokee will also be getting electrically driven power steering in place of the current hydraulic unit.

More Jeep Wrangler Pentastar rumors, five-speed auto promised originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Jeep Wrangler Jurassic Park edition

Filed under: Aftermarket, Car Buying, Classics, SUV, Auctions, Jeep, Off-Road

Jurassic Park Jeep

1995 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Jurassic Park – Click above for high-res image gallery

Some lucky hoon will be getting his Dr. Grant on in the most authentic Jurassic Park recreation Jeep Wrangler we’ve ever seen. The graphics are painted on, rather than being rendered in vinyl, which means this Jeep’s look is there to stay. Even the complicated and expensive light bar is functional.

Underneath its prehistoric bodywork sits a 118,000-mile 1995 Jeep Wrangler Sahara with an impressive list of new or refurbished parts, not to mention rare-for-YJs air conditioning. The thing sold for a heady $9,000, which is way more than any reasonable person should spend on a 118K-mile 1995 Jeep under normal circumstances. But with this level of workmanship and the important maintenance done, the figure doesn’t sound so horrifying.

eBay Find of the Day: Jeep Wrangler Jurassic Park edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: NHTSA investigating some Nissan Altima, Jeep Wrangler models

Filed under: Sedan, SUV, Recalls, Safety, Jeep, Nissan, Off-Road

2010 Nissan Altima – Click above for high-res image gallery

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into two vehicles from the 2007-2008 model years: the Nissan Altima and Jeep Wrangler. The Altima has been the subject of 20 non-injury complaints regarding a loss of stopping power. The culprit is supposed to be a brake fluid leak which, if left unaddressed by drivers when the warning light “is ignored,” decreases braking force. There are 440,000 Altimas included in the investigation. Nissan recalled 180,000 Sentras from the same model years for the same kind of leak.

There are also 220,000 Jeep Wranglers under investigation for non-deployment of drivers’ airbags due to a failed electrical circuit. 29 non-injury complaints were received, and at least six of the Wranglers were found to have been right-hand-drive models.

NHTSA investigating some Nissan Altima, Jeep Wrangler models originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 May 2011 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xplore Jeep Wrangler hits the trail at the Moab Easter Safari

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Jeep, Off-Road

Xplore Jeep Wrangler

Xplore Jeep Wrangler takes on Moab – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve seen the Xplore Toyota FJ Cruiser at SEMA, and we got a sneak peak of what the company has in store for the Jeep Wrangler. Well, that Wrangler is finished, and Xplore decided the best place to unveil it would be in Moab. Smart decision, seeing that Jeep lovers from all over the country would be descending to that area for Jeep’s annual Easter Safari.

Xplore has taken the standard Wrangler and pumped it up a few notches. Offering up to four stages of customization, this Jeep Wrangler has checked nearly all of Xplore’s option boxes. Upgrades can be found inside and out, and include custom wheels, a Mopar exhaust and intake setup, Bilstein shocks, Xplore badges and seat embroidery, OME suspension and a host of ARB parts.

As with the FJ Cruiser, the purchase of an Xplore-outfitted vehicle comes with a one-year National Parks and Monuments pass and the Xplore newsletter. A portion of the proceeds received from parts or complete vehicles is donated to the National Parks Foundation. Xplore wants you to explore, and they’re putting together vehicles that will get you doing just that. Check out the press release after the break.

Continue reading Xplore Jeep Wrangler hits the trail at the Moab Easter Safari

Xplore Jeep Wrangler hits the trail at the Moab Easter Safari originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited diesels

Filed under: SUV, Jeep, First Drive, Diesel

Jeep’s Best And Brightest Lose Their Spark Plugs, Add Whoop-Ass

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re all suitably bowled over by the chest-hair enhancing Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, with its compression-ratio gulping 6.4-liter Hemi V8 booming out 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. Love it all, but we have trouble seeing anyone on Earth actually realizing its promised 13 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, much less its pie-in-sky 450-mile range. Give us a break, Jeep. Tell us anything, but don’t tell us to embrace this new raging V8 as the ecologists’ super SUV. It has Track mode, for the love of Pete. Say hello to $5+ fun every 10 or so miles when the SRT8 is driven as Jeep’s engineers have clearly intended. Then we dare you to tow anything and afford it. We’re by no means damning the utterly awesome SRT8, just saying…

If you read enthusiast outlets, a diesel Jeep has been one of the leading wish-list items, well… forever.

One other recent improvement for Jeep in time for its 70th anniversary – beyond this latest Grand Cherokee lineup that continues to shine – is the nearly 100-percent better (and now nearly competitive) Compass. Then, in the near future, the Patriot and Compass will likely – and rightly – merge into one model, there will be a new entry-level “B SUV” and we suspect the Liberty will return to its proper name, Cherokee. Top all of this off with the promised rebirth of the legendary Grand Wagoneer three-row down the road, and it’s all looking right on track.

So, where’s the common-rail direct-injected turbo diesel?

The Europeans have just been shown their next-generation Jeep turbo diesels and we had a chance to sample these latest and greatest oil-burners at the Fiat Auto proving grounds in Balocco, Italy. We grabbed the ones we like the most: the Grand Cherokee 4×4 Laredo with 3.0-liter CRD V6 and gnarly-yet-comfortable Wrangler Unlimited Sahara with 2.8-liter four-cylinder CRD and wondrous six-speed manual. Word has it that the Grand Cherokee CRD is set to hit the States by late 2013. The Wrangler in Trail-Rated Rubicon guise with a 3.0 CRD V6 and six-speed manual is many off-roaders’ dream chariot, but there is currently no talk of this happy-hour cocktail coming our way or even ever exiting from Jeep’s Toledo, Ohio plant. That’d be a pity.

Continue reading First Drive: Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited diesels…

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD: First Drive

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD: First Drive

2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2.8 CRD

Continue reading 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited diesels

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler Unlimited diesels originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave slithers into the limelight

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jeep has enjoyed a recent string of success with the launch of its special-edition Wrangler models. The brand’s cornerstone has a faithful following, and now a new special model set to tempt devotees. Called the Mojave, this denizen of the desert comes on the heels of the Islander, Mountain and Call of Duty: Black Ops variants. The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave is inspired by its namesake (the Mojave Trail), and like all other models of this SUV, it’s built for looking good on the street while able to hold its own when the road disappears.

Slathered in paint scheme inspired by the California desert, the Wrangler Mojave wears a body-colored roof and fender flares. Underneath that wider-than-normal sheetmetal sits the wheel and tire package borrowed from the Rubicon and mineral-gray 17-inch wheels guarded by 32-inch tires. A large lizard decal sits on the hood and rear, while a black fuel-filler door and taillamp guards contrast nicely against the sand-colored paint work. Inside, the lizard theme continues with the reptile making an appearance on the dark saddle leather hides.

The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave is set to arrive in dealer showrooms this June. If you’re looking to grab this special edition, make sure you arrive with $29,195 plus $750 for destination.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave: New York 2011

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave at the 2011 New York Auto Show

Continue reading New York 2011: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave slithers into the limelight

New York 2011: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave slithers into the limelight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave shows off its lizard

Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mohave

2012 Jeep Wrangler Mojave – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jeep will officially introduce the latest in the brand’s stream of factory-customized machines (Call of Duty: Black Ops Edition, Wrangler Islander and Mountain trims and the upcoming JK-8 pickup truck conversion kit) at the 2011 New York Auto Show today. The 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave was designed to pay homage to the legendary Mojave Trail and comes with special interior and exterior additions that set it apart from the rest of the Wrangler family.

The party gets started with a Wrangler Sport and adds a body-colored hard top and fender flares alongside 17-inch wheels wrapped in 32-inch tires. Those rollers are the same kit found on the likes of the Wrangler Rubicon. Unique lizard decals on the hood and a blacked-out fuel door cap off the exterior tweaks.

Jump indoors and you’ll find dark leather seats with lizard embroidery. Trust us when we say that it looks better than it sounds. Driftwood accents are littered through the cabin and slush floor mats come standard. The final price tag for this machine sits at $29,195 plus a $750 destination fee. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave shows off its lizard

2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave shows off its lizard originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: China suspends Jeep Wrangler importation over safety concerns

Filed under: Convertible, SUV, China, Recalls, Chrysler, Jeep, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Jeep Wrangler – Click above for high-res image gallery

China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has suspended the importation of the Jeep Wrangler due to a series of car fires. Car News China reports that the Agency’s investigation showed the fires resulted from issues with the automatic transmission and systems tied to the transmission.

The AQSIQ reportedly asked Chrysler to find the cause of the issue and solve it, adding, “Manufacturer and importers should take precautionary measures for the vehicles involved to ensure consumers’ safety.” The imported Wranglers likely come from our shores, but a quick check of NHTSA’s recall database shows there are no active recalls for Wrangler fires in the U.S. See any irony here?

In an unrelated (though somehow still related…) issue, Chrysler has also recalled 464 Wranglers in China for improperly torqued bolts that lead to loud noises and even potential steering problems. The vehicles in question were built between July 7, 2010 and September 10, 2010. The Chrysler China Sales Company will check affected vehicles for free and fix bolts where necessary. That very same recall is happening here in the U.S. as well.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Wrangler

2011 Jeep Wrangler 2011 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2011 Jeep Wrangler interior

[Source: China Car News]

Report: China suspends Jeep Wrangler importation over safety concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project Kahn’s silver Jeep Wrangler looks ready for urban assault, not much else

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Jeep

Project Kahn silver Jeep Wrangler

Silver Jeep Wrangler by Project Kahn – Click above for image gallery

The last time a Jeep looked this at home in Europe, it was helping American forces liberate the old world from Nazi occupation. But that was another era. Europe is a new place today – necessity having mandated the rebuilding of so many bombed-out cities – but the Jeep Wrangler (or the older Civilian Jeeps in their various incarnations) has remained a constant. So the people at Project Kahn evidently thought it was about due for a modern makeover.

Kahn’s silver Jeep Wrangler is more about the whole than the sum of its parts, but to get it there, Kahn and company dropped the suspension, fitted 20″ wheels, retrofitted the interior and, apparently, gave it a proper respray. The result (that is, an off-road workhorse with a dropped suspension and oversize rims) sits at just about the opposite end of the spectrum from the recently-announced Mopar JK-8 Independence kit, and may make about as much sense as the proverbial screen door on a submarine. That said, we’ve got to admit it looks the business… whatever business that might be. See for yourself in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Project Kahn silver Jeep Wrangler

[Source: Project Kahn]

Project Kahn’s silver Jeep Wrangler looks ready for urban assault, not much else originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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