Diesel, diesel, diesel.
If I thought Jeep was going to put a diesel into the 2008 MY - I would have waited another 6 months or a year for my JKL Rubicon. MY 2009? - it's really too soon to tell, but I doubt it.

There has been a WHOLE lot of work done by Cummins to produce a smaller displacement diesel for Chrysler mid-size SUV's. The advantage the Cummins has over the 3.0L Mercedes version is that it will pass the ultra-low smog NOx requirements without the amonia cartridge needing replacement. Because Cummins is a serious engine manufacturer, they R&D everything for an extremely long time - like decades.
Once they get EPA sactioing for it, the tax credits will begin flowing faster than they did from the Toyota dealerships. Heck, look at how many Pruiis' Toyota sold thanks to the Tax Credits.

Think about it. Americans are power hungy, meat-eaters - we like our ballsy trucks to have a set. http://www.gotnutz.net/

So imagine what would happen if you offered a Cummins in every Chrysler vehicle over 3500 lbs GCVW?

" . . . . is the same lethargic 3.8L V6 minivan engine."

Isn't this the same engine that powered the Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited to the top of one of the highest volcanos in the world? In the process, it set a record for the highest (21,000 + feet) a 4WD vehicle has climbed? It was verified by the Guiness Book of World Records.

Check out, I believe, a DCX press release from April 2nd.

As much as I'd like to believe that a Cummins will find its way into the JK, I don't see it happening and I think it's just wishful thinking on Cappa's part. The SEMA Jeep which was reportedly going to have a Cummins had a 3.0L Benz Bluetec instead. I'm usually a glass-is-half-full kinda guy, but I just can't help but feel right now that Chryco isn't going to give us a CRD JK here in the States. Despite the obvious demand and that it would likely help out their CAFE numbers.

That said... the new baby Cummins would be a perfect fit (no pun intended) for the JK. The GVWR is right and it's BOF, Dodge already has a history with Cummins and the Cummins name is well known and respected. If the baby Cummins DOES end up in the next gen Durango, it stands to reason that they'd replace the current 3.0L BT in the Grand with the Cummins since it and the Durango will be based off the same platform. So it would also seem logical that IF the JK DOES get a diesel, it'd be the baby Cummins. That would also lessen Chryco's dependence on Daimler.

edit: oh yeah, "Bluetec" technically refers to the clean diesel technology, so the current 6.7L CRD, and the new baby Cummins, are "Bluetec" diesels.

Note: YES, so far it's in the most recent print edition, only. It may or may not wind up on the Jp Mag website. It's a letter from editor John Cappa, where his best "guess" is a Cummins diesel in the JK by MY09. We'll see...

He also states that the option may only cost an extra $2000 (instead of the normal ~$5K premium) since the diesel would likely be smaller and "less complex" than the Bluetec 3.0L in the GC.

Less complex is better.

Also, I imagine replacement parts for the Cummins would be cheaper than those for a Bluetec...