The Jeep brand is not cursed. The parent company's just run by a bunch of idiots. If you remember, Renault made a fatal marketing error when the marketed their passenger cars as Renault's and not AMC's. And, AMC actually posted a profit the year it was bought by Chrysler. Same could be said about Cgrysler and Benz. It's not the brand, it's the management.

Longterm US Military / NATO contract for JKs & JTs (or J8s) = exorcism.

Hey, I can dream...

Jeep as brand name is cursed and has been the death-knell of every company that has owned it, with only 1 exception = Mercedes. Even Daimler-Benz could not upright this Black-Widow corporation. (oh yeah, Renault had to sell-off too).
History of dead companies involved with Jeep:

American Bantam
Willy's Overland
Kaiser-Frazer
American Motors Corporation
Renault
Chrysler
Daimler-Benz
Cerebus Investment Group

Next in line: General Motors or Fiat

I never did like GM. The only good Italian cars are Ferraris.

What does everyone think about the rumors of International buying Jeep? There was an article in JP about it? Could it happen?

Here's a glowing review of the film:

Quantum of Solace Review

If FIAT takes over the Jeep Brand, I would like to see the following lineup...

1. Jeep Willys PiHV (replace the comp-ass and the Patriot)

2. Jeep Wrangler---2Dr SWB, 2Dr LWB, 4 Dr LWB, JT Pickup

3. Liberty

4. Iveco Massif Replace the Commander.

5. Trailhawk-type Cherokee.

I know PiHV's are all the rage, but any conventional engine-trans combo can be made into a hybrid by adding Hydraulic Launch Assist, or ideally, Hybrid Hydraulic Transmission, and Jeep should look into these transmissions, especially for the Wrangler, because they are the ultimate, and have infinite-variable gear ratios...and Instand on-demand torque.

Jeep just wants to be it's own entity and will take down any company that defies that.

The Jeep brand is one of the most recognizable brands on earth. It has the admiration of millions of consumers and even the heads of other automakers. At the beginning of the SUV craze -- nearly every SUV was misnomered as a Jeep.

The Jeep brand has been there -- and gotten us out of some very tough times. It has helped free hundreds of thousands from oppression. Many people in Europe and Asia still value the Jeep brand because without it they may not have the quality of life they still do. No matter if the Jeep brand takes missteps -- Compass anyone? -- it is still forgiven and loved like a misbehaving child.

In the current economic situation -- where Commander sales plummet 74%, where even Wrangler sales are down, where the Liberty and Grand Cherokee see a fraction of the sales they use to -- Jeep is still seen as the sparkling jewel in Chrysler LLC's tarnished crown.

Every automotive brand needs to have a niche market. For Jeep the core of that market needs to be utility and ruggedness. The Wrangler follows a long history of that tracing back to the MB, the M38, the M38A1, the CJs. It can go nearly anywhere you would ever want to drive a vehicle. The other SUVs -- minus the low-range deprived Compass -- in the Jeep lineup can trace their heritage back to the Willys Wagon. They can go nearly all the same places and can do so while carrying large amounts of cargo (or people).

Other brands that serve their niche well are Mini and Ferrari. They each have very unique vehicles for a very specific set of consumers.

When a manufacturer trys to make a brand all things for all people it loses it's identity. For example is Dodge a truck company, an econo car company, or a performance vehicle company? What defines a Dodge as a Dodge?

Fiat as a company may struggle with their Fiat brand for the same reason because the brand lacks a real identity. Right now it has the lovable and stylish 500, but then a bunch of other bland and boring sedans and wagons.