Check it out at http://www.ecb.com.au/
Sunday, April 29, 2012
ECB Bull Bar Is Now Available For 2012 Grand Cherokee
ECB Bull Bars now have their revised Bull Bar available for the WK 2012 Grand Cherokee
Check it out at http://www.ecb.com.au/
Check it out at http://www.ecb.com.au/
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Jeep Wrangler Diesel And Rubicon Delays - PR Spin Or Fact!
Are Jeep Australia spinning a line to Aussie Wrangler buyers?
Read any of the Australian Jeep Forums or talk to anyone who has a Wrangler Rubicon or Diesel on order and you will find a long tale of frustration, all sorts of dealer excuses and some very ordinary examples of PR spin from Chrysler Jeep Australia executives trying to fend off enquiries from unhappy Jeep customers.
What is really going on here?
Some customers and dealers are being told about factory fires, shortages of transfer cases and axles, and other tales of woe that are causing delays in production. It seems it is not just Australian buyers effected either as some European countries are experiencing similar issues. But then you visit the Jeep UK website and find them promoting that you can make a "Special Order" and build the ultimate Jeep, Petrol or Diesel and even Rubicon.
............. Its all very strange because if you do a Google search looking for any reports of these excuses you will not find anything reported, nothing in the US, no reports of factory fires from VM Motori (they make the diesel engines), no reports of transfer case delays on US forums, nothing on any of the Chrysler Corporate websites or US based blogs. They are still producing a trickle of Diesel KK Cherokee and Grand Voyager models for Australia but even these have recently dried up.
So what is the truth?
Are we just being bypassed and is the US sending all export production to Europe?
Are they supplying the more lucrative US market at the expense of their very loyal and enthusiastic Australian buyers?
Are they reducing supply of less profitable diesel and specialist models like the Rubicon to concentrate on more profitable models?
There are some feasible conclusions that can be made based on information available on the internet such as issues with production capacity at the Toledo Jeep factory where the JK is built. It appears that when the factory was built they never expected to be selling so many Wranglers, and they are looking at ways to expand the plant but apparently it was never designed to be expanded. The factory is already at maximum production capacity. This explains why there has been a reluctance to build some of the other cool variants that have been seen over recent yreas such as the Wrangler Pickup (Gladiator concept), Steel top roof (Rescue concept) and our favourite Jeep they just wont build - the Diesel Rubicon. They simply don't have capacity to build these models.
Also US sales are so strong it appears that most of the JK Wranglers are being built for the US Market at the expense or export markets. Australia's production order must look minuscule compared to the number sold in the US. We have all been told over the years that Australia is the largest export market for Wrangler, but even that is a stretch now days with Wranglers now being sold in the Middle East, Europe and Asia etc.
All we can conclude at this point is that if you want a Rubicon or Diesel version of the Wrangler you will be up for a very, very long wait. The positive in all this is that if and when your new Jeep is built it could be a 2013 model if it gets built after July.
Read any of the Australian Jeep Forums or talk to anyone who has a Wrangler Rubicon or Diesel on order and you will find a long tale of frustration, all sorts of dealer excuses and some very ordinary examples of PR spin from Chrysler Jeep Australia executives trying to fend off enquiries from unhappy Jeep customers.
Some customers and dealers are being told about factory fires, shortages of transfer cases and axles, and other tales of woe that are causing delays in production. It seems it is not just Australian buyers effected either as some European countries are experiencing similar issues. But then you visit the Jeep UK website and find them promoting that you can make a "Special Order" and build the ultimate Jeep, Petrol or Diesel and even Rubicon.
............. Its all very strange because if you do a Google search looking for any reports of these excuses you will not find anything reported, nothing in the US, no reports of factory fires from VM Motori (they make the diesel engines), no reports of transfer case delays on US forums, nothing on any of the Chrysler Corporate websites or US based blogs. They are still producing a trickle of Diesel KK Cherokee and Grand Voyager models for Australia but even these have recently dried up.
So what is the truth?
Are we just being bypassed and is the US sending all export production to Europe?
Are they supplying the more lucrative US market at the expense of their very loyal and enthusiastic Australian buyers?
Are they reducing supply of less profitable diesel and specialist models like the Rubicon to concentrate on more profitable models?
There are some feasible conclusions that can be made based on information available on the internet such as issues with production capacity at the Toledo Jeep factory where the JK is built. It appears that when the factory was built they never expected to be selling so many Wranglers, and they are looking at ways to expand the plant but apparently it was never designed to be expanded. The factory is already at maximum production capacity. This explains why there has been a reluctance to build some of the other cool variants that have been seen over recent yreas such as the Wrangler Pickup (Gladiator concept), Steel top roof (Rescue concept) and our favourite Jeep they just wont build - the Diesel Rubicon. They simply don't have capacity to build these models.
Also US sales are so strong it appears that most of the JK Wranglers are being built for the US Market at the expense or export markets. Australia's production order must look minuscule compared to the number sold in the US. We have all been told over the years that Australia is the largest export market for Wrangler, but even that is a stretch now days with Wranglers now being sold in the Middle East, Europe and Asia etc.
All we can conclude at this point is that if you want a Rubicon or Diesel version of the Wrangler you will be up for a very, very long wait. The positive in all this is that if and when your new Jeep is built it could be a 2013 model if it gets built after July.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wrangler Rubicon Diesel Options For UK! What About Oz Too!
How would you like to order a Turbo Diesel Wrangler with all the Rubicon Goodies?
You know - the Ultimate Jeep Dream Machine!
The Rubicon Diesel you always wanted.
Well if you live in the UK it appears you can have one.
Jeep UK are now offering buyers to "Special Order" a range of options and special colours including Diesel or Petrol engines and Rubicon features such as Diff Locks, sway bar disconnect and Dana 44's straight from the factory.
How about it Jeep Australia!
Check out all the details here http://www.jeep.co.uk/wrangler/special_order
You know - the Ultimate Jeep Dream Machine!
The Rubicon Diesel you always wanted.
Well if you live in the UK it appears you can have one.
Jeep UK are now offering buyers to "Special Order" a range of options and special colours including Diesel or Petrol engines and Rubicon features such as Diff Locks, sway bar disconnect and Dana 44's straight from the factory.
How about it Jeep Australia!
Check out all the details here http://www.jeep.co.uk/wrangler/special_order
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Jeep Compass 2012 Gets ANCAP 4 Star Rating
After only achieving a European NCAP Crash Rating of 2 Stars due to Euro pedestrian impact requirements the Australian analysis and testing criteria has given the new Compass a 4 Star ANCAP rating.
ANCAP was provided with technical information which showed that the 4x4 2.4 litre petrol variant can be expected to have comparable crashworthiness to the tested diesel variant.
The tested model of Jeep Compass was introduced in Australia during 2012. This rating applies to 4x4 variants with a 2.4 litre petrol or 2.2 litre diesel engine and six airbags (see below). Dual front airbags and head-protecting side curtains are standard equipment.
Antilock brakes and electronic stability control (ESC) are also standard. The vehicle tested by Euro NCAP has side thorax airbags for the front seats. This scoring applies to Compass variants with this feature. Without these airbags it can still be expected to achieve a 4 star rating.
The JEEP COMPASS scored 11.21 out of 16 in the offset crash test. The passenger compartment held its shape well. Protection from serious leg injury was marginal for the driver and passenger. The vehicle scored 16 out of 16 in the side impact crash test and a further two points in the pole test. Poor pedestrian protection limited the Euro NCAP rating to 2 stars but this does not apply to ANCAP ratings in 2012.
ANCAP was provided with technical information which showed that the 4x4 2.4 litre petrol variant can be expected to have comparable crashworthiness to the tested diesel variant.
The tested model of Jeep Compass was introduced in Australia during 2012. This rating applies to 4x4 variants with a 2.4 litre petrol or 2.2 litre diesel engine and six airbags (see below). Dual front airbags and head-protecting side curtains are standard equipment.
Antilock brakes and electronic stability control (ESC) are also standard. The vehicle tested by Euro NCAP has side thorax airbags for the front seats. This scoring applies to Compass variants with this feature. Without these airbags it can still be expected to achieve a 4 star rating.
The JEEP COMPASS scored 11.21 out of 16 in the offset crash test. The passenger compartment held its shape well. Protection from serious leg injury was marginal for the driver and passenger. The vehicle scored 16 out of 16 in the side impact crash test and a further two points in the pole test. Poor pedestrian protection limited the Euro NCAP rating to 2 stars but this does not apply to ANCAP ratings in 2012.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Australian 2012 Grand Cherokee Owners Recovery Hooks Arrive Soon UPDATED
Seems owners of 2012 Grand Cherokee are still waiting for the appearance of the Jeep recovery hooks.
They were originally meant to arrive in April. We are now half way through May and no appearance yet.
Lots and Lots of frustration for owners wanting to venture off the bitumen and go wheeling.
Will keep you posted.
.......2012 Grand Cherokee Owners who have been waiting to go four wheeling in their Jeep will have front recovery hooks available shortly. The new designed recovery hooks are almost ready and should be at dealers in the next week or so. A new design nudge bar will also be available.
More details soon.
They were originally meant to arrive in April. We are now half way through May and no appearance yet.
Lots and Lots of frustration for owners wanting to venture off the bitumen and go wheeling.
Will keep you posted.
.......2012 Grand Cherokee Owners who have been waiting to go four wheeling in their Jeep will have front recovery hooks available shortly. The new designed recovery hooks are almost ready and should be at dealers in the next week or so. A new design nudge bar will also be available.
More details soon.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Australian Jamboree Plans In Full Swing
The Australian Jeep Jamboree 2012 is happening in September and the Sydney Jeep Club team are hard at work putting final plans in place.
Make sure you check out their website and book your tickets to the Jambo soon.
http://www.jeepjamboree2012.com.au/category/general-info/
Make sure you check out their website and book your tickets to the Jambo soon.
http://www.jeepjamboree2012.com.au/category/general-info/
Chrysler Australia to Distribute Fiat and Alfa Romeo in Oz
As rumored recently in the auto media it has been announced by Chrysler Australia that the Australian distribution of the Italian car brands Alfa Romeo and Fiat will be distributed by the local arm of their adopted American parents from May 1st.
This brings the Australian distribution of Fiat passenger, Fiat commercial and Alfa Romeo brands in line with other countries, after Fiat gained a controlling stake in the American brand in 2009 in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis.
It is not expected that there will be any changes to dealerships in the near term, but the company says it expects to "increase the profile and awareness" of the Italian brands under the control of the factory-owned subsidiary.
The brands were previously imported by Ateco who will continue to import the Fiat Groups exotic Ferrari and Maserati brands in the short term.
There are also rumours that this move may see the demise of the Dodge brand in Australia which has seen the Dodge Caliber and Nitro range come to an end with the end of production in USA - The successfull Dodge Journey may be re branded as a Chrysler or Fiat as it is in Europe.
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