Jeep Jamboree Australia 2012 Location Announcement

The Sydney Jeep Club is proud to announce Rydal, New South Wales, as the location for the 2012 Jeep Jamboree, situated 150kms from Sydney, approximately two and half hours by car. 

Jeep Jamboree 2012

The village of Rydal is located 15 minutes from Lithgow and 45 minutes east of Bathurst. Being close to some of the best tourist meccas in New South Wales it is well situated to attract interstate and international travellers alike.
The Jamboree site at Rydal Showground is a stones throw from Lake Lyle and only a short drive to Portland with its old style signs, Hartley with its convict court house, Tarana with its pub and near by Winooka Winery, Jenolan Caves with one of the best collection of caves in the world, the Zig Zag Railway with its old steam trains making regular trips.
Lithgow is only 15 minutes away with the Lithgow Small Arms Museum and not far from Lithgow you can go to the magnificent Wolgan Valley where you can visit Newnes, once a busy shale mine site and walk through the Glow Worm Tunnel.
Marrangaroo National Park (Mt Walker) – located near Rydal, at the back of Lake Lyell , tracks down to the river provide the opportunity to navigate on a variety of 4WD access roads and is just one of the many areas the Jamboree tracks will be exploring.
The Three Sisters is the Blue Mountains’ most spectacular landmark. Located at Echo Point Katoomba, around 37 kms from Rydal, this iconic visitor attraction is experienced by millions of people each year.
With the event starting on Thursday the 27th of September and finishing up 4 days later on the 30th of September, the question you have to ask yourself is, will there be enough time to experience all the 2012 Jeep Jamboree will have to offer? From tourist day trips to hardcore trails we’ve got it all!
So see you in at Rydal in September 2012!! FULL DETAILS HERE

Euro NCAP Test Of 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee has fallen short of achieving a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating in the latest round of crash tests. It has been given an overall rating of 4 Stars.

"The Jeep Grand Cherokee lost marks because of structural issues with the driver’s seat and substandard child occupant protection. During Euro NCAP’s frontal impact test, the driver’s inboard seat rail almost broke in half and was mainly held together by the steel rod that controls fore-aft seat adjustments. The break resulted in additional forward movement of the dummy, causing the airbag to ‘bottom out’ (when the driver’s head makes contact with the steering wheel through the airbag fabric)."

The latest Grand Cherokee had previously been tested only in the USA by the NHTSA where it had achieved a 5 Star rating based on the 2010 test criteria. For 2011 models onwards the US testing has been made even more difficult to achieve a 5 Star rating and the 2012 Grand Cherokee has also only scored a 4 Star rating.

Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about safety feature performance and crash avoidance technologies. Because of the more stringent tests, 2011-newer model ratings are not comparable to 1990–2010 vehicles.

The 2010 Jeep had also been awarded 'Top Safety Pick" by the NHTSA.

Euro Testing Vs USA Testing
The main differences between Euro Testing and US testing is that the Euro frontal test is off set which means the car impacts with a barrier that strikes only one side of the vehicle (drivers). The US testing is full frontal into a barrier that spreads the load across the front of the vehicle and the whole structure is stressed arguably giving a more realistic test. The US tests also includes roll over testing as well as ESC and side impact. The Americans will say their test is more rigorous and the Europeans will say theirs is best. Europeans also test for pedestrian impact and injury protection. At the end of the day the test results are similar and the rating is also similar so obviously there is room for improvement by Jeep.

Jeep has informed Euro NCAP it is investigating the cause of the seat rail failure and intends to improve the seat track design, but currently has no plans to re-work existing vehicles.

Check Out The Details below and form your own conclusions.
NHTSA 2010 Test 5 STAR
NHTSA 2011/12 Test 4 STAR
Euro NCAP 2012 Test 4 STAR

PDF of Euro Test Results

Australian ANCAP testing is not expected to be completed because the vehicle is tested in the USA and Europe. Right Hand Drive versions have not yet been tested.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Wins 'DRIVE' CAR OF THE YEAR!

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo CRD Turbo Diesel has just won the Drive CAR OF THE YEAR for Best 4WD.

The Grand Cherokee is a serious 4WD

The new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo CRD has ousted the the two-time defending champion and much lauded Land Rover Discovery.
"The judges were very impressed by both the level of on road refinement and value in the new Grand Cherokee" said Barry Park from Drive. "The big American charmed Drive's Car of the Year judges with its punchy diesel engine, thoughtful cabin and genuine off road ability" he said.
This is the first time a Jeep has ever one an award from Drive. Drive is the Motoring Magazine for Fairfax Newspapers including the Melbourne Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
The new Grand Cherokee 3.6L Laredo V6 Petrol won 4x4 Australia Magazine '4WD of the Year" earlier this year.

Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) Replacement To Be Based On 2WD Platform

Reports from the US are suggesting the next generation Cherokee/Liberty replacement due in 2014 is said to be based on a 2WD platform and will only offer AWD as an option. It will no longer be a trail rated all terrain vehicle like the current KK model but will go "soft" in an attempt to appeal to mainstream SUV/Crossover buyers who normally buy a Rav4 or Xtrail etc. -

Current KK Liberty/Cherokee

Car and Driver Blog sources are saying "consider the next Liberty to be Jeep’s take on the Dodge Journey, even if they don’t actually share anything excepting corporate powertrains.".
Traditional hard core Jeepers may cringe but most are flocking to the hugely successfull 4 door Jeep Wrangler anyway which has become the modern day equivelent of the older XJ Cherokee which finished production 10 years ago.

Previous KJ Liberty/Cherokee

Chrysler has only just announced a huge investment in the Toledo Jeep Plant to produce the new model in larger volume for both US and World markets.

Original XJ Cherokee

Expect to see the next generation Jeep Cherokee/Liberty replacement reach Australian shores towards the end of 2014.

Talking Jeep Oz - 60,000 Page Views Reached

Wow!
It does not seem that long ago that we passed 50,000 page views, in fact it was only a few weeks ago. Thank you to all our followers and contributors.
Talking Jeep Oz

Jeep At War With Australian Forces - 70 Years Of Jeep

Celebrating 70 Years Of Jeep 1941 - 2011Australian Forces using the Jeep in action.


Another historical photograph from the collection of the Australian War Memorial - Canberra
WINDSOR PARK, QLD. 1944-01-15. NX35188 CORPORAL V. R. HAZELWOOD (1) OF THE 4TH ARMOURED BRIGADE DRIVING A JEEP WHICH HAS BEEN MODIFIED BY FITTING EXTENSION PIPES TO THE EXHAUST AND CARBURETTOR SO THAT THE MOTOR CAN RUN UNDER WATER.

LEST WE FORGET

NO RECOVERY HOOKS FOR 2012 GRAND CHEROKEE

Your new 2012 Grand Cherokee CAN NOT BE RECOVERED if you get stuck in the mud.

The 2012 Grand Cherokee models are starting to arrive at Australian Dealerships and the only visible change in specification is that they no longer have the heavy duty recovery hooks that the 2011 models came with.
Our sources tell us this is due to the requirement in Europe to comply with pedestrian impact regulations!
They do come with the screw in tie down hook which is NOT suitable for any recovery.
There is nowhere to connect a snatch strap or winch cable - at all!

So if you are going into four wheel drive terrain in your 2012 Grand Cherokee you better make sure you have some recovery hooks fitted before you go. The 2011 hooks will fit straight on and could easily be fitted by your dealer so make the dealer fit them as part of the deal before you take delivery.
Update - HOW MUCH WILL THEY COST?
Your local dealer will quote around $900 plus fitting! Yes that is a rip off!
So get online and go to Just For Jeeps .Com HERE and you can get them delivered to your door for around $275.

WK Grand Cherokee Bull Bar Released by ECB

The first full Bull Bar for the new 2011/12 WK2 Grand Cherokee has been released by ECB in Queensland. It is an Alloy Bar so is not set up for winch mounting but the recovery hooks have been included in the two front lower recess areas.

"The ECB Big Tube™ Bar designed exclusively for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Manufactured from high tensile, structural grade alloys and featuring fully gusseted 63mm headlight tubes, the Big Tube™ Bar provides full  frontal protection for the passengers, headlights, bumper and mechanics. The tapered one-piece bumper incorporates a full width, braced Lower Protection Skirt to provide ideal protection for the delicate cooling equipment. This design creates an extremely strong, tight and good looking fit for the bar, and also allows for the parking sensors to be fully integrated into the  Big Tube ™ Bar. This ensures Grand Cherokees  fitted with parking sensors can still utilise these wonderful tools. For non parking sensor vehicles, capping pieces are provided to maintain the aesthetics of the  Big Tube™ Bar."

"Another BIG feature of this ECB Big Tube™ Bar is the addition of a 3mm Bash Plate. This plate is developed with a very high level of protection in mind, protecting the Jeeps vital under-body equipment of any thing that gets in its way (picture bottom of page). As seen in the picture the plate contours to the existing approach angle and shows a well designed engineered piece of equipment for your Jeep Grand Cherokee."

"Standard features include  Indicator/Park Light Combinations, Air Directional Cooling Vents, Driving Light mounting points, ECB driving lights and an Aerial Bracket. All ECB products are air bag compliant, ADR compliant and are covered by the exclusive ECB Lifetime Guarantee, for total peace of mind."

Source ECB Website

Double Black Off Road Grand Opening In Melbourne

DOUBLE BLACK OFF ROAD OPEN NEW SHOWROOM / WORKSHOP IN MELBOURNE

All Jeepers In Melbourne Welcome To Attend the DBOR RAMP DAY/GRAND OPENING!

WHEN: 3RD OF DECEMBER

WHERE: @DBOR 17 of 150 Chesterville rd Moorabbin

TIME: 10am till 2pm, ramping to begin at 10.30

Check out all the latest gear just in time for xmas! New products for your Jeep at a special Open Day prices too hot to print! New gear on display includes: 

- DBOR 2" Pre runner Kit for JK

- DBOR Wild Kit on Long Arms for JK

- DBOR Half Doors for JK

- DBOR rear bar for JK

- Supercharged JK

- latest in LED and HID lighting

Plus heaps of the cools stuff for your Jeep from:

- Poly Performance

- Synergy Suspension

- Teraflex

- Fox 

- ARB

- Poison Spyder

- Bestop

- Smitty and heaps more!

Come and flex your Jeep on our ramp. See how well your suspension works, or how much work it needs! Prizes will be awarded for the winners in each category!

See you there!

Check Out DOUBLE BLACK OFF ROAD WEBSITE

Call Of Duty MW3 Pack For Australia

Jeep Australia Release 'Call Of Duty MW3' Accessory Pack

"At midnight last night CALL of DUTY MW3 was released to the public. To celebrate our involvement in the game we have released a CALL of DUTY pack for the Jeep Wrangler."

The Australian Pack Includes

Black Front off road bar & Winch

Black Rock rails

Black Rear off road bar

Black Tail lamp guards

Black petrol cap

Gloss black painted wheels

(Existing wheels will be painted black, cost may vary depending on state so contact your local Jeep dealer for details)

Go to Jeep Australia Website for all the details.

The Toughest Vehicle In The World - Any World!

Jeep in the USA have released a new advertising program featuring the new 2012 Jeep Wrangler "Call of Duty" edition.
'The Jeep® brand is taking consumers on a journey that blurs the lines of reality and the world of “Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3” in its advertising and marketing campaign for the new 2012 Wrangler Call of Duty®: MW3 Special Edition SUV.The Jeep brand is launching an innovative campaign that encompasses broadcast, print, digital, social media, experiential events and an out-of-home placement that includes the use of electroluminescent billboards. The brand also is introducing a new tagline for the campaign: “The toughest vehicle in the world. Any world.”
source chrysler llc