mike's totally free jeep news now

USAToday Get Exclusive Peek at 7(!) New Jeep Models

Posted by mike on 2003/11/16 23:00:00 (682) reads

This is scooperific!

USATODAY newspaper and USATODAY.com scoring a major Jeep news coup today, by gaining access to 7 new Jeep models.

While the article on USAToday.com's Web site is quite interesting, it is the partial photos of the Jeep Liberty Renegade in the print edition of the newspaper that got most Jeepers excited. According to the article:

Renegade has skid plates and fender-flare covers for real off-road driving, as well as a tougher roof rack, light bar and a more squared-off military look than the standard Liberty. The current Renegade is mostly a looks package, basically identical to Liberty except for a roof-mounted light bar

Don't get us wrong, it appears to be just a cosmetic change, but the squared-off look reminded us of the Cherokee.

More snippets from the article:

Jeep is the Chrysler brand with the highest loyalty and most success at winning sales from competitors. It has the highest resale value among Chrysler cars and trucks, and it can, if Bernhard's eye for design is right, carry the lowest sales incentives.

"Jeep is to Chrysler what Cadillac is to GM," says consultant Dan Gorrell. It's "the brand that can turn around the fastest with new product. It gets shopped against imports much more than Dodge and Chrysler." In fact, 70% of Jeep Liberty buyers come from outside Chrysler.

...snip...

• An all-new Grand Cherokee that goes on sale a year from now. It has a longer and wider wheelbase for more front-and rear-seat room and wider doorways, plus a more powerful 5.7-liter Hemi engine, all addressing consumer complaints about the current model. But it doesn't have a third-row-seat option, a popular feature in sport-utility vehicles these days.
• Four Jeeps coming in 2005 and 2006: a boxy, Land Rover-like Jeep larger than Grand Cherokee and obviously long enough for three rows of seats; an all-new Wrangler built on a new engineering platform; an SUV priced under $20,000 whose design is not yet finalized; a four-door, Wrangler-inspired answer to General Motors' planned downsized Hummer H3.

Hmmmm, a "four-door, Wrangler-inspired answer" - has DaimlerChrysler finally been listening to all the chatter about the Dakar?

As much as we'd like to print the entire article - it wouldn't be right - click over to USAToday.com to see the entire story - it's worth it!

Digg This Story | Save to Del.icio.us

Save This Page to del.icio.us |

Printer Friendly Page | Send this Story to a Friend

Reader Reactions

The comments are owned by the poster.
We aren't responsible for their content.
You must login or register to post a comment.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: Jon I missed the print article yesterday with the revised Liberty in it. Would anyone be willing to either email it to me or to this site so it could be posted? thanks

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: ScramblerKen I'm with "Rusty Nail Jeeper". DC has been yanking our chain for a while, and we've been told how Jeep must diversify and build soft-riders. Now Wolfgang, who has been here 3 years, goes out on the Rubicon trail, and is enlightened to make Jeep the best in off-road. I'll wait and see... For those interested in the Jeep unlimited, there is some additional info in Car connection: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6617 Quote: - The Wrangler Unlimited is 15 inches longer than the standard Wrangler, with 12 inches behind the second seat for added cargo. The longer wheelbase, says Chrysler COO Wolfgang Bernhard, gives the Wrangler "much better road manners, less hop, but with no loss of off-road capability." The Unlimited also comes with a "Sunrise" soft top, which allows the front of the ragtop to be peeled back without removing the whole canvas. They aslo state why the Scrambler was scrapped: - Chrysler has scuttled any plans to produce the Jeep Scrambler, a Wrangler derivative that would have had a small pickup bed. "There wasn't a good business case for it," said Zetsche. Good old Dieter. I realize the Scrambler would sell less than the 4-pasenger unit, but on the other hand, the Scrambler uses the exact same platform as the Unlimited. You bolt in a different roll cage and put on a different hard top (which is probably not even made by Jeep). I've seen trim changes more costly than this. Good to know management is really thinking the big picture. Even if the Scrambler only sold 1/5 the number of 4-passenger models, you still have more sales. On top of this, you can claim to have 2 different vehicles to add to the line-up.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: Canuck Jeeper I'm looking forward to this new version of the the TJ. Scrambler, Unlimited, I don't really care either way, all I know is that the ONLY complaint I have had with my TJs is lack of space...yeah I know that comes with the territory, but those 15 extra inches are gonna come in handy. & By the way, I for one am scared S***less about the 2006 Wrangler re-do...I hope they don't ruin it. Hope I'm wrong, But I have a feeling the doors won't come of the next Wrangler...

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: rich That Rescue versoin has been around for atleasat 4 years on the jeep site..it's just a specialty custom job. So the Wrangler will have an extra 15" cargo area! Wow! What a f--kin breakthrough! Look up 1976, CJ6, longer wheelbase, and exactly 15" behind the back seat! What goes around, FINALLY comes around...Sorry, I'm just tired of people who've never heard of half the great vehicles Jeep USED to produce, and get impressed when they discover a 4 year old custom vehicle on a cheesy Jeep site..forgive me.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: detroit here is my comment Go to this web link: http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosinsider/0311/18/a01-328608.htm look at the Jeep Rescue!!! They will probably never build it. But I am in for one if they do. It looks like a Hummer kinda.. With the wrangler front end.. That is SWEET.. Notice the square back end.... Maybe that is what they mean on the liberty renegade??

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: Rusty Nail Jeeper Sorry to sound cynical but I'll beleive this news when I actually see any of these spiffy new Jeep models on a dealer's lot. This looks like just more P.R. about "new models" that Diamler truthfully has no intention of ever producing and/or selling in the US. Just more "string them along" BS from Diamler. I am not impressed by the pictures in USA Today. I have seen equally nice pictures of the Dakar and new Scrambler, of prototypes that were just as well finished and never produced for sale. The article didn't mention anything about the Jeep Compass. Based on Diamlers PR model, I therefore suspect that THIS is the model that will actually make it to production. I Look for Diamler to continue with the Liberty, Grand Cherokee, and Compass (Scout) on IFS, and then kill off the TJ for good in '05-06 with no new TJ/CJ models at all.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: demondad Great story and very insightful. Glad they are not planning on turning jeep into Honda as the article mentions. Interesting to read that a new wrangler will be out in 2006 as well as every jeep will have a straight 7 slotted grill and the rounded of the gc is gone. As well as a new more rugged looking liberty is coming, yeeehawww cant wait to see the new vehicles and im holding onto my 98 g.c. to purchase one of the new ones.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: schmack Rich I don't think the Rescue is the same thing that was on the Jeep website. The sketches show a four door with a Wrangler-like front end.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: ScramblerKen For more info on the Unlimited, there is an article in the Toldeo Blade: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73153771432417&Avis=TO&Dato=20031118&Kategori=BUSINESS02&Lopenr=111180101&Ref=AR Looks like 2 versions, including a 'Rubicon' model. Price info also listed. Also looks like the Sahara Wrangler model will end with the 2004 model. Still wished they would have included a pickup model.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: jeep501 The Car Connection website has its take on a couple of the new Jeep models, including a sketch of the new Grand Cherokee: http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=6617

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: Wyatt here is my comment I couldn't get pics from the internet although I'm sure someone can or they'll be out soon. I had to buy a copy of the usa today to see the pics. They just showed glimpses of the new vehicles although I heard the new Liberty Renegade is not too different than the current one. They should have built the Dakar. 1-Off roaders would be happy. 2-People wanting the stretch Wrangler would be happy. 3-People who hate the look of the Liberty would be happy. 4-People disappointed about the end on the XJ would be happy. 5-DC would have saved more $ by producing the Dakar in the beginning rather than building the KJ then modifying it to suit people's taste. Plus they would already have a long wrangler in production. I wonder whose brilliant decision it was to not build the Dakar and how much $ was lost becuase of that.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: Wyatt here is my comment I saw the print photos of the new Liberty Renegade. It looks like a KJ/XJ hybrid. I admit, it looks better than the current KJ because the frog-eyed look is gone (At least on the Renegade). Like the rest of you, I hope DC is not stringing us along.

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: CJ Jack Here are some more pics of the Jeep Rescue: http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/images/19837.1.gen.jpg http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/images/19838.1.gen.jpg http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/images/19839.1.gen.jpg here's the story (in Dutch though) http://autotelegraaf.nl/vanonzeredactie/?id=19836

Poster	Thread
Anonymous	Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00
	Originally posted by: WILD here is my comment. the new liberty renegade will have skid plates and a more squared look... Hmmnn... You can already get the liberty with skid plates with the off road group. That one loses me.. a tougher roof rack.. Maybe something like the exterra?? That might look pretty good.. as far as a squared look in the rear?? I havn't seen pictures. But it might turn some new people on to the liberty.. The Grand not having a third row seat is a big mistake.. How is it to compete with the competition. Let alone the new durrango????? By 2006 when the land rover type grand comes out.... It might be too late by then. The suv craze may have dried up by then. You know that one is going to be a very high price tag.. But at least it looks like the germans are finally realizing (or have read all the news articles bashing them) that Jeep is special and unique. There might be a glimmer of hope still.