The '06 XK is really nice.
I hope you like it as much as I've enjoyed working on it.
The body is kick butt & its a SMOOTH ride for sure
See you in late '05!

Der Fuer Dieter is always interesting. Is he saying Jeep does not get a 7 passenger vehicle, or are they producing a separate Jeep that uses the same platform as the new Grand, but will have a different name? Is the new Grand based on the new M class which has been long rumored? Spy photos of the new M class are showing 2 different models, a 5 passenger and a stretched 7 passenger. So is it that Jeep only gets the 5 passenger model, but Mercedes gets both? My buddy Dieter, the man that said there is no market for a new Scrambler.

If Jeep is going to get a 7 passenger Grand, based on this philosophy, the Wrangler and the stretched Wrangler Unlimited should have been called different names. Then again, the name, “Unlimited” has never seemed right anyway.

DCX directions always seem amusing. One minute, Chrysler will share components with Mercedes. Soon the Crossfire shows up (basically a Mercedes SLK). Now we hear there will not be any more sharing of major components that the buyer touches; only those parts you don’t see. (Take a look at the Autoweek article):

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04671934

Does DCX have any real plan on what they are doing?

Well, at least we should finally see the new Grand in a few weeks, unless they have been using too many Mercedes parts that we can touch, so they will keep all that camouflage on the final version.

Be interesting to see just what the grand will look like at the new york auto show...

Seems no one has a clear good pic of it right now.

thecarconnection.com has another article about jeep saying that they are coming out with all sorts of things in the next few years. It didn't mention anything was for sure but it mentioned a four door wrangler is being considered along with the larger jeep 7 passenger. I have a feeling that they got such a good reaction from the Rescue that they decided to scrap the 7 passenger Grand and just do the Rescue. I think this is great. If you check out the Durango, second row of seating has no room at all, the third row has even less. I'm sure a 7 passenger grand would be even smaller, and like was mentioned about the trailblazer, stretching it would look very bad. Proportions are very important to jeep designs looking right. The stretched wrangler looks silly with small tires, for it to look right you need big tires like the AEV vehicles. That's why the Rescue has 37" wheels. I'm sure the jeep designers tried stetching the Grand and it just looked silly.

doubtful dc is really working on anything as far as a new vehicle...rescue, maybe, but doutbtful. they will probably somehow turn that into a dodge or benz. jeep has always been the stepsister as far as dc is concerned and with the slow pace we've had to date with new product or advancements there's nothing on the horizon. those of you who are all about jeep staying the same will be happy, jeep will probably be the last to change, but for those selling them, the challenge gets greater every day with so much suv competition. sure some of you want jeep to keep the same niche in the market, that won't keep the company in the black they need to expand to a truck, a 7 passenger and a ulta luxury. it's a dream i know.

I don't really understand why it's such a bad thing they are using Mercedes parts?
What's the difference when Chrysler bought Jeep from AMC and they started using Chrylser parts?
Oh, wait maybe Mercedes parts are actually better than the Chrysler parts.
It seems the biggest problem that Jeep and the Grand Cherokee have had were not related to design or value but to quality. If DC can inject some superior quality into the next GC then I think it will be a true hit.
Whats wrong with Jeep coming out with a totally different vehicle that is a 7 seater? It sounds like that's what they are going to do and it gives them another nameplate in their lineup.

I'm not sure what article others read but the only thing I got from DZ's comments was that the 7-pass vehicle(XK possibly named Grand Wagoneer) coming out next year will not just be a stretched WK. This is consistant with the rumors I have been reading for some time. This is a good thing! Just look at the Trail Blazer as an example, the 7-pass version is ugly, it looks like it should be carrying someone to their final resting place. The 5 pass is fine, but when all you do is a hack job to make it hold more people you end with an ugly, not very capable vehicle. Don't be surprised if the XK bears some resemblane to the Jeep Rescue concept vehicle. As far as the WK being based on the M Class, the WK is a Jeep platform. If Jeep wants to retain its value as a nameplate, all vehicles should be Jeep platforms, if they want to base a Dodge, Chrysler or Benz off the Jeep platform, OK but NEVER the other way around! Sharing components is fine, but not platforms! Jeep is a very profitible brand and if they continue this way, you need not worry about them being in the black.

i don't expect too much from the new gc, with no real changes it will be a boxed off version of what we already have. had a 3rd seat been added at least that would have sparked more enthusiasm, but dc wants that strictly for their other product lines, not the jeep.
dieter zetsche claims loyal jeep buyers don't want the 7 passenger, i don't believe that, in the dealership i work for we get requests EVERY day for the 7 passsenger. i don't know who dieter has been talking to but it's not the customer we've been talking to. maybe he needs to talk to the dealers, or maybe take look around at the other lines that QUICKLY added a 7 passenger to their line to satisfy the consumer.

If DC believe that people don't want the Grand Cherokee to be a 7 seater than why don't they set up an online vote on thier website and see how many people do actually want a Jeep 7 seater and even a 8 seater. You've got soft-roders hitting the 7 seater market. Chrysler pioneered the 7 seater minivan market but they seem insistant on missing the boat on the 7 seater 4wd market. Does DC realise the competitors have the third row folding into the floor, and as far as sales go the competitors are the market leaders.