 Official Word Regarding the (Stretched) Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Posted by mike on 2003/11/20 23:00:00 (348) reads
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No more rumors, here are some cold, hard facts.
TheToledoBlade.com has a great article about the upcoming Jeep Wrangler Unlimited - a stretched version of the Wrangler that will go on sale in April of 2004. The article also mentions the all-new 2005 Grand Cherokee as well as the Liberty Renegade. Here's some snippets: The Wrangler Unlimited, to be priced between a $19,335 X and $25,085 Rubicon, will be available in full force in April, months before dealerships originally had expected. No jobs are expected to be added at Toledo Jeep Assembly to build the Unlimited, which The Blade reported more than a year ago was in the works. The Unlimited has a wheelbase 10 inches longer than the 93.4 inches on other Wranglers and an overall length that is 15 inches greater, allowing 2 extra inches in the second-row seat as well as more cargo room, said Joe Eberhardt, Chrysler's executive vice president of sales, marketing, and service. ...snip... The automaker prohibited photographs of the vehicles it unveiled yesterday at Cobo Hall, including the Detroit-made 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Officials also declined to talk about production and sales plans, such as how many Unlimited models will be made at Toledo Jeep and whether new or existing Wrangler customers are expected to buy them. Longtime Jeep salesman Ron Szegedi said he anticipates the Unlimited will attract different buyers to the Toledo-born brand, such as those who don't want an SUV as big as the Liberty yet need more cargo room than currently available in a Wrangler. ...snip... The Wrangler Unlimited will be 30 percent quieter on road and better at crawling over rocks off road than other Wranglers, said Jeff Bell, vice president of Jeep. "In a phrase, it's more Wrangler, " he added. The Unlimited, which has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, will be shown at the Detroit auto show with both hard and soft tops. Mr. Bell said the Wrangler Sahara model will be phased out in 2004. Although all Libertys will be refreshed for the 2005 model year, the Renegade version will have some unique features beyond a light bar and side fenders that have a bolted-on look. The 2005 Renegade is more masculine, with a straight hood line resembling the Wrangler, a different grille, front bumper lamps, skid plates, and other features. Be sure to check out the entire article. DetroitNews.com also has an article covering Chrysler's new vehicle lineup - and it includes a rendering of the all-new 2005 Grand Cherokee (it has been described as both "muscular" and "boxy" - check it out here (rendering at the bottom of the page).
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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 Originally posted by: JUSTJEEPIN I ACTUALLY SAW THE UNLIMITED LAST NIGHT. SO IT DOES EXIST. WHILE THE INTERIOR IS NICE AND "CUSHY" (MY WIFES WORDS) I CAN'T JUSTIFY THE PRICE. 26K AFTER TAX.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Blazer Man here is my comment
Was hoping this would be the vehicle to replace my mothballed 71 Blazer. Threw a full size mattrass in the back of it and slept anywhere. Doesn't look like the Unlimited will be long enough to sleep in. Does anyone know of a rag top jeep long enough to sleep in?
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Jon What would make me even nervous than buying a Wrangler cut in half is paying $40,000+ for one. Resale???
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: XJ Gary The Unlimited sounds great. Now if they'd only make the Turbo Diesel and option.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: ex 92YJ owner I think ScramblerKen is dead on. I have been looking to get back into a jeep for sometime but wanted top down offroad fun with more space. This will definately fit the bill. As soon as they announce it officially, I will put my deposit down.
Pete
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: XJKEN For the past three weeks I have had to look at an '03 metallic blue Rubicon
sitting at the local Jeep dealer. I have been trying to see myself in that Rubi
but I like my XJ so much I don't think I could give up the extra space. If the
Unlimited makes it to production it might make the idea of a switch a little easier. A boxier and more muscular Grand is also a good thing but if it means
giving up the solid front axle and a low range t-case I don't see the benifits.
As for the Liberty Renegade I was just telling my son on Friday that they needed
to flatten the hood and put smaller round headlights on the Liberty. I don't know why, but I believe all jeeps should have flat hoods to go with the seven slot grills. According to this article that sound like what they mite do in '05.
All in all this is the best news we have heard from DC in a long while. Not the answer to all our prayers but, at least some good news. Now will they really do it?
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: ScramblerKen For Bowser and others, if you would like to see what the Unlimited is based on, these are photos from Camp Jeep 2002 (not mine). At Camp Jeep, Jeep engineering unveiled 2 concept vehicles that are similar in length to the CJ-8 Scrambler. Originally, there was to be a 4 passenger model and the pickup truck version. Der Fuher decided no one would buy the pickup truck version, so he scrapped that model. http://www.cj-8.com/images/newcj8/Please mote, these photos are of the original prototypes, and the production version will likely have some minor changes. If you can't get to the website, vision the current wrangler with an additional 15 inches behind the front seat and a 103 inch wheelbase. There should be a softtop and hardtop version available. |
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Just bought an X Oh well..., I just bought an X with upgraded options-and traded in ALL the space of my Expedition just to have a "fun" vehicle that I've dreamed of since the age of 18.
Looks like I should've waited....but of course, if the "hype" for the new Unlimited is anything like it was for the PT Cruiser, I'm sure I wouldn't paid the extra 5K for the extra "inches". Have a great day!
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Bowser I'm not sure if Jeep needs any new customers lol. With as many fans as they have now they could be supported for the next 10 years.
I agree with you though, the new Jeep won't bring back anybody new. However, I wonder if there will be another Jeep that will catch the eye of the public revealed sometime soon?
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Bowser Umm...
I'm not familiar with the Jeep Unlimited; is it a closed cabin Wrangler similar to the Dakar and Cherokee, or is it like the Scrambler?
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: ScramblerKen I think there are some interesting points in the Toledo article.
1) Looks like 2 versions of the Unlimited. Regular and Rubicon. Based on the price, it looks like only the 6 cyl is going to be offered. It looks like the Unlimited adds about $890 to the cost of a short wheelbase Wrangler.
2) Dimensions appear similar to the old CJ8. Wheelbase of the Unlimited is 103.4, and the CJ8 was 103.5. Overall length of unlimited is about 170.4, and the CJ8 was 177.3.
3) The projected demographics, in my opinion, are wrong. I know I will probably get flamed, but I don’t think that 50% of the buyers of the Unlimited will be new to Jeep. I suspect most buyers will be existing owners looking to replace older Wranglers, or customers that were planning on buying a Wrangler will switch to the Unlimited for the added trunk space. This might bring back some of the old XJ buyers too. I still think if they added the pickup truck version that would have brought in some new buyers but according to Der Fuhrer Dieter Zetsche, there is no business case for that.
Now not in this article, but others I have seen, DC is also trying to work on a business case for an entry level Jeep under $20K. Isn’t the 4 cyl Wrangler under $20K? Some of the things they are doing might eat into the Wrangler sales, not increase them. But hey, I could be wrong.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Todd I have been waiting for Jeep to come out with the "new Scrambler" since I saw a version at Camp Jeep. I think that the name (Unlimited) needs work. It would also be nice to see it with a half top like the old Scrambler. Maybe even the wooden side rails.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: ScramblerKen Good point Jon, but in fairness, when anyone upgrades their Wrangler with fancy aftermarket 'goodies' you typically do not get much for them when it comes time to trade the vehicle in. How many consumers purchase fancy stereos, and once they trade in the vehicle, they do not get any extra money for it.
Granted, you can pull out the stero or certain aftermarket 'goodies' and install it in your new vehicle. Not the case if you buy a complete custom car. On the otherhand, I typically keep a vehicle for 10 years, so there is not much trade in value anyways.
With the Brute, if I do buy a new Wrangler for them to use on the project, I should be able to buy the new Wrangler with the special factory financing, so only the upgrade costs would have to be paid up front. In addition, all the aftermarket upgrades they do have no sale tax applied (They are in Montana, where there is no sales tax). I still have to pay the sales tax on the base vehicle though.
This is still just wishful thinking, but it is nice to dream.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: ScramblerKen With Jeep introducing the Unlimited, I wonder if AEV will stop producing the 104 LWB? They probably could offer an upgrade to the Unlimited to make it more off-road capable, but I don't see the need for them to cut up regular Wranglers to make them 104 inch wheelbase models. It also appears AEV is not making many 112 LWB units. Maybe they are concentrating on the Brute?
Has anyone ever seen the Brute up close or driven one? Since Jeep is passing up on the Scrambler idea, maybe I'll look into buying one of these instead. Still makes me nervous about buying a Wrangler cut in half to make one of these.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: rich Actually the new Unlimited reminds me more of the old CJ6..though I believe that had almost 15" more length.and hardtops werre either rare or nonexistent..If you wanna see what it wopuld look like with some aftermarket additions simply look at AEV.coms TJ conversions..the 104" and 112"
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Sdren Artet Wooo HOoo Glad I waited. I have been driving my 98 grand in the hopes jeep would put something on the market updated/refreshed. Finally with the new release a few days ago its going to happen. In the next few years I all kinda of jeeps will be hittn the lot. I really interested in the stretched wrangler and just maybe in a few years they will and should produce the jeep rescue. For those that held out congrats im getting me a new Jeep soon.......
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Canuck Jeeper I think this is great news, if it's really true. (I'm cynical too--I'll believe it when I see one sitting on the lot) I wouldn't be surprised, however, if jeep does not gain any new customers...this is a Jeep for Jeepers. It might win back those who miss the 2 door Cherokee, tho.
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Rusty Nail Jeeper I'll beleive it when I see it on a Dealer's lot. If I do I'll strongly consider buying one. It's a shame there's no Dakar on the way.
My question is how is Diamler going to get financing from Deustch Bank for all of these new models proposed for Jeep?
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: rich Craap!After all the years I waited!
After all the cash I've sunk into my TJ
NOW they finally come out with a stretch!
My fiancee JUST bought a Liberty! We coulda had
a STRETCH TJ!!!!!
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: S. Okelley Stretched Unlimited Wrangler is a waste of money to produce and sell. Past history has shown that the Jeep consumers are not interested in this type of vehicle. Need more in the line of the Rubicon model for the Liberty and what would really sell would be the Rescue concept.Seems that Jeep is more interested in the freeway than what they advertise, the Rubicon Trail!
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| Anonymous |
Posted: 1969/12/31 18:00 Updated: 1969/12/31 18:00 |
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Originally posted by: Rottmom YES! A Wrangler with a little extra storage room!
I traded in my beloved 97 Wrangler Sport (my 50th birthday present)for a Ford Escape primarily because my 146# Rottweiler's arthritis got so bad he couldn't jump into the car anymore so I traded it in on a Ford Escape (BIG mistake) and I've regretted it ever since. I also had always wished the Wrangler had another foot of cargo space. Well, my beloved Rottie died from cancer and my new Rott can make that leap up into the Wrangler AND I can get more cargo space now so I'm coming back to the Wrangler Unlimited. I want real 4-wheel drive instead of this joke of an SUV that the Escape is. I never had one bit of trouble with my 97 Wrangler and the Escape needs new tires after only 10,00 miles and is being recalled - and I'm tired of fishtailing in snow while in 4-wheel drive. And don't forget that Wrangler drivers wave to each other - another thing I miss!
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