Okay, we admit it, this is a pretty goofy story, but we couldn't resist.

If you've been to any of the major auto shows around the world, you've no doubt noticed the incredible sand sculptures accompanying the Jeep displays. The sculptures are the work of "Team Sandstastic", a Sarasota, Florida based company specializing in creating sand sculptures for corporate events and other venues.

Team Sandstatic has worked with DaimlerChrysler's Jeep division at most of the world's major auto shows in the past few years, including the IAA International Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany, the International Auto Show in Mexico City, Chicago, Toronto, Geneva, Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Camp Jeep 2002.

Check out all their Jeep sculptures on their Web site.

New Grand Wagoneer Sketches?

We received a reader report about some concept drawings in the lastest (January, 2004) issue of Motor Trend magazine that depict a stretched version of the next Grand Cherokee (possibly named the Grand Wagoneer). The photos are not on the MotorTrend.com Web site, so you'll have to get the magazine to check them out.

Naming the Wrangler Unlimited

One of our spys recently wrote in to tell out about part of the process that DaimlerChrysler went through in naming the forthcoming Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It seems that during the design phase, it was often called the "CJ7" - but there wasn't enough support for it to become the de facto name for the vehicle. It seems that DaimlerChrysler wanted to mirror the "Grand Cherokee Unlimited" with the "Jeep Wrangler Unlimited". Our spy also mentioned that you shouldn't hold your breath waiting for a Rubicon version of the Wrangler Unlimited, it could "a while" before we see it.