Posted on Monday 10 March 2008
An aging model line and financial difficulties have prompted Chrysler to begin renovations on the plant where the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Commander are built. Although the $281 million expenditure will not help the bottom line in the short term, the company hopes the updated model - and diesel engine or two-mode hybrid options - will help it remain not just solvent, but relevant.
The new Grand Cherokee is slated to begin production in mid-2010, with first availability in late 2010 or early 2011. Not only will the updated Grand Cherokee get a diesel motor as an option, but buyers will also have the choice of fitting a two-mode hybrid powertrain, built in conjunction with Daimler AG. The Jeep Commander will not be getting a similar update - it is facing the axe as part of Chrysler’s model-chopping streamlining program, reports The Car Connection.
The diesel powerplant will make the new Jeep more palatable in Europe, while offering a ‘greener’ alternative for Americans. Not traditionally enamored of diesels for much use outside the large truck and industrial vehicle segment, the 2011 Grand Cherokee diesel could be just the thing to develop America’s taste for passenger-car oil-burners.
Designing for export is a primary consideration in the development of the new Grand Cherokee. Being easily converted to right hand drive is chief among the priorities in a proper export vehicle. Since Chrysler is very intent on developing its foreign markets, places like Australia, South Africa and Great Britain, which have already had the aging outgoing model for some time, could see the next-generation Grand Cherokee as well.
All I want to know is this: will the new Cherokee have those COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE round headlights in an otherwise perfectly square car?
I’m hoping the next gen JGC will look alot like the trailhawk concept, but have better ground clearence, have a great on road ride but still be very capable offroad, and the terrain selector in the trailhawk concept was pretty cool (however landroverish, I still liked the idea). oh and i heard rumors of a choice between 7 or 5 passenger variations of the vehicle.
The new Trail Hawk is far more inovative.