Pentastar 3.6L Engine Confirmed for 2012 Wrangler

Reports from the US are confirming the JK Wrangler for 2012 MY will definately have the 3.6L Pentastar V6 Engine and should be matched to the Mercedes Benz 5 speed auto transmission. There is no mention of a smaller specification 3.2L V6 being used in the Wrangler.

The 2012 MY vehicle goes into production in the USA soon and Australian versions will arrive around November/December. No other specification changes are known at this stage.
No word either if a Turbo Diesel Rubicon in Right Hand Drive will be produced.

We Reach 20,000 Page Views @ Talking Jeep OZ

Thank you to all the thousands of people who are following our little blog. We really appreciate the strong support which is growing each day. To reach 20,000 page views in a few short months is beyond our wildest expectations and gives us lots of encouragement to continue improving and growing our Australian Jeep Story.
We try to keep our topics relevant to Australian Jeep Owners rather than just re-publish US content that does not have any relevance to Jeep in Australia. But we also acknowledge the many followers from around the globe who visit each day.
 Its just a Jeep thing that you all do understand!

Chrysler Group LLC, Announce Loan Repayment To US & Canadian Government

May 24, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -
Chrysler Group LLC today announced the repayment of $7.6 billion in outstanding U.S. and Canadian government loans following the completion of new refinancing transactions. The original loans were repaid in full, more than six years ahead of schedule, along with the payment of accrued interest and additional consideration.

Today, the Company made payments of $5.9 billion to the U.S. Treasury (UST) and $1.7 billion to Export Development Canada (EDC) to retire the loans granted when Chrysler Group began operations in June 2009. EDC is the holding company through which the Canadian federal and Ontario provincial governments extended loans to Chrysler Group.

The Company borrowed $5.1 billion from the UST and $1.6 billion from the Canadian governments in June 2009 ($2.6 billion from the original loan facilities was undrawn and the facilities will be canceled). In total, Chrysler Group has paid the UST $6.5 billion and the EDC $2.0 billion, including $1.8 billion in interest and additional consideration.

“Less than two years ago, we made a commitment to repay the U.S. and Canadian taxpayers in full and today we made good on that promise,” said Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Chrysler Group LLC. “The loans gave us a rare second chance to demonstrate what the people of this Company can deliver and we owe a debt of gratitude to those whose intervention allowed Chrysler Group to re-establish itself as a strong and viable carmaker.

“Paying back the loans, along with the financial community’s investment in our refinancing packages, marks another step in the Company returning as a competitive force in the global automotive industry.”

Chrysler Group LLC. To Pay Back Government Loans Today

Chrysler Group is expected to pay back it's US and Canadian Government Loans today. 

In a massive turn around in fortunes Chrysler will be repaying the $7.5 billion in loans with interest 6 years ahead of schedule. It is also expected that Fiat will increase its share of Chrysler by a further 16 percent stake with a further $1.27 billion cash injection of funds.
Things are certainly looking good for the future.

Jeep Go Racing - Sponsorship of Australian GT3 Dodge Viper

VICTORIA – May 20, 2011: Chrysler Australia is extending its ‘Don’t Hold Back’ challenge to motorsport with a new Jeep sponsorship of the globally acclaimed Dodge Viper GT3, driven by champion race car driver Greg Crick at Australian GT events.

The two-year deal is particularly significant for Chrysler Australia’s Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler brand portfolio as it marks their first circuit motorsport sponsorship since the 1970s and forms part of the Jeep marque’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
The striking orange and black design on Crick’s Viper GT3 was created to resemble the iconic Jeep, re-known for the seven slot grille, round headlights and trapezoidal wheel arches. Set to be unveiled for the first time today at the Winton Round 2 event, Crick’s re-vamped Dodge Viper will surely make a statement on the track this GT season.
The Jeep brand’s partnership with Crick stems from his passion for cars said Caroline McComb, Sponsorship and Public Relations Manager, Chrysler Australia.
“Greg embodies the spirit of ‘Don’t Hold Back’ – indeed he has no intention of holding back and aims to finish the Australian GT Championship in the number one spot,” said McComb.
Source the auto channel

Jeep Club Profile - Melbourne Jeep Owners Club

The Melbourne Jeep Owners Club is based in Victoria, Australia and was established in 1997. It has now grown to become the largest Jeep Owners Clubs in Australia.

The club is a thriving, proactive club with many enthusiastic members from all age groups and most Jeep models are represented. New members are made very welcome and are encouraged to join in the regular club activities, trips, driver training and social events. All Jeep models are catered for, from the earliest models to the very latest Wranglers, Cherokee and Grand Cherokees.

The club has successfully organised and run both the 2004 and 2010 National Jeep Jamborees.
Check out the club at www.mjoc.org.au or you can also connect on Facebook.Facebook

70 Years of Jeep - Australian Jeeps In Action - Korea 1953

Another Jeep in action with Australian Forces, this time in Korea 1953.

Majon'ni, Korea. 1953-07-30. Troops from Support Company, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), wait around the command jeep for orders to withdraw to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) following the cease fire.
Photo from the Australian War Memorial Collection

Dont Hold Back! Jeep and Tommy Hafey - Both 70 Years Young!

Jeep Australia have just launched a very inspirational TV Commercial featuring Australian Football Legend Tommy Hafey. Check it out ... it says it all!

70 Years of Jeep - Australian Jeeps In Action - Korea 1950

Another couple of  interesting photographs from the Australian War Memorial archives in Canberra, this time the war in Korea.

Two soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), wash jeeps in a creek or dam in Korea. Note the low stone wall dividing the water. Jeep number 155258 is nearest to the camera. The jeep at the rear has the bonnet up and the soldier is possibly cleaning the engine bay. Another jeep (number 573641) is parked on the edge of the water. The men washing the jeeps have rolled their trousers up to their knees. In the background below the hill are a tent, trucks and thatched farm buildings.

An Australian jeep of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), halts outside the Bank of Korea building in Seoul. Note the number on the side of the jeep is 130213. A member of the South Korean Military Police (MP) stands guard on the footpath outside the bank.

Poll Results Show Overwhelming Support For Rubicon JK Diesel For Australia

If Jeep Built It Would you Buy It?

Our Poll would suggest that there is a very strong case for Jeep Australia to import the JK Wrangler in Rubicon Diesel Turbo specification. We are just a small blimp in the Jeep Community but we managed to get 106 responses with an overwhelming 89% (94) saying they would buy one, 6% (7) voted maybe and just 4% (5) saying they would not purchase one. This is still a significant number of vehicles and would indicate that there is enough demand for Jeep Australia to build the vehicle. 

The JK Wrangler Rubicon is equipped with front and rear diff locks, sway bar disconnect, 4.10;1 axle Ratios, Low Range Crawler gears, rock rails and heavy duty Dana 44 front and rear differentials. Fitting this with the 2.8L CRD Turbo Diesel with 460 nm of torque would make it 'THE ULTIMATE Jeep'. 

Jeep do build a Diesel Turbo Rubicon for the European markets so really there is no reason other than aparthy on the part of Jeep Australia HQ that there is no demand for it.