One of our faithful readers sent us this image from (we're assuming) inside the KJ assembly plant - it shows what appears to be the floor component of DaimlerChrysler's next-generation Cherokee (KJ). If you look closely at the rack holding the components, you can make out the phrase, "OCS02216 KJ PAN ASSY FLOOR COMP" (at least that's what we can make out). Update - 11/5/00 - 9:37AM - we've just received word that the photos are not from inside the new KJ assembly plant, but that they're from inside a contractor's factory. Apparently, this contractor is competing for some of the outsourced work on the new KJ, and these are just sample components.

In a slightly related story (okay, we're stretching a bit), the 1984 Jeep Cherokee was recently named one of the nine most universtally revered cars by MyPrimeTime.com, a baby-boomer geared web site. Along with the 1984 Jeep Cherokee, other cars that made the list include the 1953 Corvette, 1964 GTO, and 1955 Thunderbird. Interestingly, the 1984 Cherokee was the only truck/SUV on the list. Be sure to check out the entire article.

Finally today, no big surprise here, but our beloved Jeep finished below the national average in the J.D. Power and Associates 2000 Vehicle Dependability Study. We're not sure how far below the national average because J.D. Power and Associates doesn't release any rankings or scores below the industry average - it only lists the names of the car makers who failed to surpase the average. Who were the top five, you ask? In order: Lexus, Porsche, Infiniti, Toyota, and Acura. The highest rated American car maker was Lincoln at #9. Here's the entire article if you're interested.