Jeep Unveil Two Nutical Inspired Wrangler Concepts

A peak at the future dirtection of Jeep style and design? Make your own mind up on these but some of the ideas are cool. The two concepts have been created in Paris in a collaboration between the Jeep and design studio Style & Design for the 51st edition of the Paris Boat Show.

Style & Design and Jeep ® offers as part of their partnership an exclusive interpretation of the colors of the Wrangler unimited NAUTIC.
The Wrangler Unlimited is in the form of two scenarios that follow two distinct design palettes:
White Jeep Wrangler Nautic by Style & Design

Outside
20 inch rims
Chrome grille
Navy wings sheathed in white leather
Dress spare wheel chrome and white leather
Trunk opening with finish Deck
Running Boards Deck Finish
Chrome door handles
Chrome trunk hinges
Inside
Personalized Leather upholstery Navy White
Deck floor mat finish
Console dashboard finish Deck
Inserts door handles finish Deck
Gear lever gaiter Leather Navy White
Dressing of leather headband Navy White
Accessories
Rear white canvas awning and white canvas folding seats

The Black Jeep Wrangler Nautic by Style & Design
Outside
20 inch rims
Chrome grille
Wings sheathed in black leather Marine
Dress spare wheel chrome and black leather
Trunk opening with finish Deck
Running Boards Deck Finish
Chrome door handles
Chrome trunk hinges
Inside
Personalized Leather upholstery Navy Black
Deck floor mat finish
Console dashboard finish Deck
Inserts door handles finish Deck
Gear lever gaiter Black Leather Navy
Dressing of leather headband Navy Black
Accessories
Back black canvas awning
source Jeep

Chrysler Sales Success In USA

Chrysler continues to grow in North America with sales of all brands rising in November. 
The all important Jeep brand had a huge 50% gain over November 2010. The result was Jeeps best result since 2003.

Updated Jeep Compass Arrives January 2012

The soon to arrive in Australia Jeep Compass recorded a massive 887% gain over November 2010 and the hugely popular Wrangler was up 41%.
This along with Chrysler, Dodge and Ram brands all acheiving sales increases makes the future of Chrysler look very strong. Chrysler is emerging as the shining light of the US auto industry and is acheiving great sales results since the restructure of the company a few years ago and the profitability that sales success brings makes the future look very rosey.
Chrysler Success All Around In November 2011 

• Retail sales increase 51 percent in November versus same month a year ago
• November marks the 20th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains
• Best November sales since 2007
• Sixth-consecutive month of sales gains of at least 20 percent
• Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, and Ram Truck brands each post sales increases in November versus same month a year ago
• Best November for Jeep brand sales since 2003
• Jeep Grand Cherokee logs best sales month since August 2006; best November sales since 2005
• Jeep Wrangler sets new sales record for month of November; sixth-consecutive monthly sales record this year
• Jeep Compass sets new November sales record, its eighth-consecutive monthly sales record this year
• Chrysler brand sales up 92 percent; highest percentage sales increase of all Chrysler Group brands
• Best November sales for Chrysler brand since 2008
• Dodge brand sales increase 43 percent; best November since 2007
• New 2012 Jeep Wrangler earns Residual Value Award in ‘Compact Utility’ category from ALG and Best Resale Value in its class by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com

Source Chrysler LLC

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