 The All Fours Jeep Club recently published this photo of the 2002 Cherokee (KJ) with its body masking digitally removed. While we don't know for sure if this is an accurate rendition of the next-generation Cherokee, it does give us the best look yet at what the KJ may look like.
Car and Truck News is reporting that the next-generation Cherokee may not be called a Cherokee after all; they've been hearing that the KJ might be called either the "Jeep Liberty" or the "Jeep Freedom". Here's the entire article.
Finally today, according to Yahoo! News, DaimlerChrysler's recent financial problems is going to cause a delay in an all-new Grand Cherokee, originally scheuduled for 2004.
Chrysler, the scrappy U.S. automaker that twice avoided bankruptcy over the past 20 years, has canceled or delayed several new vehicles to staunch its financial bleeding, people familiar with the plans said.
The company, now a unit of Germany's DaimlerChrysler AG, has killed plans for a full-size Dodge sport utility vehicle, a larger Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV and a Chrysler convertible called Hemi C, sources told Reuters. Chrysler also will delay the overhaul of the Grand Cherokee, originally scheduled for 2004.
``That stuff got knee-capped,'' said one person familiar with the plans. ``There's no room for image cars at Chrysler right now in the budget.''
Grand Cherokee will still receive a new look and upgraded interior features in 2004, making it fresh to consumers in all respects, the employee said. However, it will be built off the same vehicle platform -- the basic building block that includes the drivetrain, chassis, axles and other parts -- as the current Grand Cherokee.
The bigger Grand Cherokee, with the extra seating, is still in the product plans, the employee said.
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