2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee commercial from DCH Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Temecula

Take a look at the first ad spot for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It focuses on on pride in American manufacturing and engineering, telling the world that American manufacturing is getting back on track, and that Chrysler is working hard to build the best new products for the market. This is the first ad spot for the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, designed and built in America. The creative campaign was developed by Portland, Ore.-based Wieden+Kennedy and delivers a new tagline for the Jeep brand — “The things we make, make us.” For your Jeep Grand Cherokee contact DCH Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Temecula at (888) 848-6860 or visit our website at www.DCHCJDofTemecula.com SALES: (888) 848-6860 SERVICE: (888) 486-0202 PARTS: (888) 305-1199

Jeep Grand Cherokee

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by Russ Heaps
MyCarData


If all goes according to plan, 2010 is the last year for this generation of the Grand Cherokee. Jeep will release the next generation for 2011. Arguably the most iconic of SUVs, the current Grand Cherokee deserves one last look. A vehicle more about where it can go than how much it can carry, it lacks the abundance of interior space that draws many consumers to SUVs in the first place. It is, however, an image vehicle appealing to an owner who likes the idea of going off road, even if he never will.

Jeep was building wagons with off-road capability long before anyone thought to call such things SUVs. Springing up around Jeep, the SUV craze generated an enthusiasm and a relentlessly expanding owner base that only $4-per-gallon gasoline and a tanking economy managed to stall. Jeep sold 213,600 Grand Cherokees in 2005. Only 50,300 rolled out of dealerships last year. This is with light truck sales in general falling about 50 percent during the same four-year period.

The crossover is the new darling of the utility-minded buyer. A more car-like ride, better fuel economy and near the cargo-carrying space of larger SUVs, the crossover is to the full-size SUV what the minivan was to the station wagon in the 1980s — its replacement.

Stuttering sales notwithstanding, Grand Cherokee’s niche in the SUV arena is that it can do what no crossover and few SUVs can do: go just about anywhere. That most Grand Cherokee owners will never veer off the pavement is not the point. The point is that when equipped with the Quadra-Drive II system that is a $795 option on the $40,200 Grand Cherokee Limited 4X4 , like my test Jeep, the Grand Cherokee can take on moon-like terrain without breaking a sweat.

A different 4WD system is paired with each of Grand Cherokee’s engines. Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I is a transparent AWD system that works with the V6. It can also be upgraded with the Quadra-Drive II system. Providing low gears for serious off-roading, Quadra-Trac II is the standard 4WD system for V8-equipped models. Quadra-Drive II features an electronic limited-slip differential. It also includes Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Control and skid plates to protect selected under-carriage components.

The least pricy Grand Cherokee is the $31,490 2WD Laredo. The most expensive is the $44,105 SRT8 with its 420-horsepower 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and special performance 4WD package.

Even in its Laredo guise, Grand Cherokee comes with eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, full power accessories, six airbags, tilt-telescoping steering wheel with redundant audio controls, cruise control, air conditioning and a six-speaker audio system with CD player, satellite radio capability and an auxiliary audio input jack.

Stepping up to the Limited trim adds a rearview camera, sunroof, power-adjustable pedals, four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation system, iPod interface, 30GB music-storage hard drive, upgraded audio system with Boston Acoustics speakers, and leather seating.

Both Laredo and Limited ride on 17-inch alloy wheels and rubber. The SRT8 gets 18-inch ones. Four-wheel disc brakes with antilock bring Grand Cherokees to a stop. Stability control, traction control, emergency braking assist and electronic brakeforce distribution are standard on all Grand Cherokees.

Typically SUV owners don’t put great stock in fuel economy. However those concerned with squeezing the most miles from a gallon of gas can opt for the 210-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 that is standard in the Laredo and Limited. The EPA estimates its fuel economy at 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway when powering 2WD models. Going with a system that turns all the wheels will knock roughly 1 mpg from each measure.

With very little in the way of a fuel efficiency penalty, a 357-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 can replace the V6 in Limited versions for a $2,400 premium. The EPA rates its mpg at 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. All three engines rely on a five-speed automatic transmission to shuttle output to the wheels.

Offering a bit more jounce on rougher surfaces, Grand Cherokee has a double-wishbone independent setup in front and a solid axle in the rear. The ride quality isn’t as good as that of some competitors, but being more truck than car is a key element in Grand Cherokee’s off-road savvy and the reason the V8-equipped Limited can tow up to 7,400 pounds.

Front-seat occupants find generous accommodations. The seats are comfortable and offer plenty of hip, shoulder and legroom. At 6.5 inches, the touch screen display for the navigation unit is smallish, but operates easily enough. All controls are sensibly located and simple to operate. Adults will find rear-seat room cramped. Legroom is a stingy 35.5 inches (The PT Cruiser has 41 inches.). With the rear seat folded down, maximum cargo capacity is just over 67 cubic feet.

Jeep owns the reputation for go-anywhere capability, and this trumps interior space for its owners. It has earned its off-road creds. Even when parked, it looks ready to attack the next boulder-strewn hill. If such ruggedness is the image you want to project, the Grand Cherokee more than gets the job done.

Jeep Wrangler Sahara – A True-Blue Jeep

By Dan Scanlan
MyCarData


If there’s one vehicle out there that hews the closest to its roots, it’s the Jeep Wrangler.

With a history dating back to the WWII Willys Jeep of the 1940s, the Wrangler proudly shows off its upright windshield and grill, its squared-off fenders, and its rough and ready, if slightly more refined, ride.

So what’s new for 2010 in a Jeep that can actually trace its current model’s roots to a 1987 intro? Since we didn’t have a desert handy for our Wrangler Sahara Edition, we hit the beach!

*Wrangler wide shot ? There’s a few variations of the Wrangler, from the base Sport with steel wheels and black fenders, to our Sahara, the gnarly off-road-biased Rubicon or the Bahamas-inspired Islander. But they all share a few things ? slightly angled back 7-slot grill with round headlights recessed behind the angular plastic fenders with riding lights built into the leading edge; a big anchor of a front bumper with twin tow hooks, the Sahara’s black bar the body-color silver middle with two fog lights; an almost flat windshield with exposed bolts; and exposed hinges on the flat doors. Our black hardtop had tinted rear side and back window, and exposed spare tire on the passenger side-hinged rear door, and a flip-up rear window. The taillights bolt into the square rear fender panels, with more angular flares. The rear bumper is a black plastic beam with one big tow hook, while a flattened plastic-covered tubular side step helps you get and into the saddle. The rubber is Bridgestone Dueller A/T on silver 17-inch 5-spoke wheels. Overall, a pretty clean and updated look to a classic that never lets us forget its roots, and got some thumbs-up from other Wrangler drivers and a “so cool” from someone at the beach.

*Wrangler’s saddle ? The front doors have cloth straps to stop their swing, and need a good slam to latch. But they can be removed for open desert running. The flat steel dash of year’s past is long gone, but the 2010 version is still flat as a pancake, albeit with some usable stuff integrated into the mix. The driver and passenger sit on comfortably-padded gray and black cloth seats, the driver getting ratcheting manual height adjustment, the huge 4-spoke steering wheel tilt-adjustable. The black-faced gauges are simple ? big 100-mph speedometer and 7,000-rpm tach flanked by gas and temperature gauges, with inset compass/outside temperature and odometer/trip displays. The dash center’s cliff face is topped by a large satellite navigation/AM-FM-CD-Sirius Satellite/30-GB hard drive/Uconnect cellphone system with touch-sensitive screen and integrated iPod USB and MP3 audio jacks. Four omni-directional vents are across the hard black plastic dash, the middle two flanking dimly-lit power window buttons. Under that, a simple rotary a/c system, controls for traction control, hazards and two 12-volt power jack, and a black mesh pocket for an MP3 player or cellphone. The passenger gets a panic handle and a narrow but roomy glove box, while two cup holders and a usable center console storage area under a low, thinly-padded center armrest help with on-the-go carrying capacity, since the door map pockets are tiny. The back seat bench is accessible after you squeeze past the front seats, which don’t seem to slide too far forward. There’s OK leg room, good head room, and two cup holders on the floor ? that’s it. No arm rests exist here, just some carpet pads and the folding top mechanism inside. With a big sub-woofer in the right corner of the cargo area, there’s not a lot of storage room aft of the rear seat, which flips and folds its entire width for more room. It’s still a pretty simple design with hard plastic, yet nothing creaked or moved. The fun part is above everyone. The padded roll bar holds two more stereo speakers and big dome light with map lights. But the front section of the black hardtop is an update of the classic t-tops. The panel over the driver, and the one over the front passenger unlatch (four clips and a big screw) and pull off, fitting into cloth bags for on-board storage that fills the cargo area. Want more wide open space? Unscrew six bolts, unplug the rear wiper wires and washer hose (10 minutes) and the back of the hardtop comes off with the help of a friend, leaving just the roll bar between you and the world. It is a breezy ride, but the way a Wrangled should be driven on a sunny day ? I loved it!. There’s even a Sunrider soft top folded in back for those rainy days on the trail, and you can re-affix the t-tops and leave the rear roof off for sun protection with the wind at your back,Wrangler-style. And remember ? this Jeep has manual-adjust side mirrors.

*Wrangler ? All Wranglers have a 3.8-liter V-6 with 202-hp and 237 lb.-ft. of torque, with a standard six-speed manual or our four-speed automatic transmission. With me on board and set in rear-wheel-drive mode, our 2,800-mile-old Wrangler launched to 60-mph in a wimpy 10 seconds with smooth shifts and a growly engine; passing power was OK if you planned. Fuel mileage in mixed highway/suburban was about 16-,pg on regular, a fuel-saver indicator icon coming on when you and the V-6 are being fuel-efficient. On the road, the ride is springy and stiff, a bit choppy over bumps, the wind noise amore due to the unpadded hard plastic top, while the rear wiper motor, head restraints and spare tire/CHMSL crimp down rearward vision. In rear-wheel-drive mode, the Wrangler is fairly sure-footed, although you feel like you are sitting high. In turns, it understeers quickly, stability control kicking in. The brakes worked well with little fade even after a few hard stops, but there’s a bit of nose dive and wiggle at full stop. Off road, with the Wrangler Sport and Sahara’ standard Command-Trac part-time four-wheel-drive, two-speed transfer case, 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio and Dana front and rear solid axles, it was true to its heritage. One pull on the transfer case put us into four-wheel-drive, and the torque plus tires made easy work of soft sand and dirt. The stiff frame and relatively short overhang fore and aft of the 95.4-inch wheelbase, plus quick steering and a tight turning radius made getting around bushes and bends easy. With about 10 inches of ground clearance and short front and rear overhangs, we never touched anything going up or down steep hills. Low range (shuts off stability control) worked even better. Even the stuff suspension was livable over bumps. But that quick steering means some initial overcorrection on road until I got the hang of it. As far as safety, front and front-seat-mounted side bags.

*Wrangler wampum ? Base price is $26,255, which gets you the mid-level Wrangler with all here standard except the $1,625 Freedom three-piece hard top with twin t-tops, rear wiper/defroster and saddle bags for the removable tops; $1,550 for the satellite navigation/SIRIUS RADIO.Traffic/30-GB hard drive with 4,250-song capacity/Uconnect cellphone system; and $825 for the 4-speed automatic. Final price – $31,190. Competition in this range is limited ? the late Hummer H3 is almost as good off road but bigger, not as nimble and thirstier; the Toyota FJ Cruiser is as good, just as cool in retro style and quieter thanks to a real roof, and cheaper. The Nissan Xterra is roomier and easier to live with, but not as good off road.

*Bottom line ? There’s nothing like a Jeep, not in looks, heritage or off-road ability for the price. You would need to play with a Land or Range Rover to go better, deeper in the woods. But the trade-off is a less refined ride in the everyday world of asphalt and rush hour. Your choice ? at least there’s a 4-door Wrangler now, albeit it one where its longer wheelbase means a bit less off-road ability.

————————————————————————————————————————–2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Edition

Vehicle type – 4-passenger four-wheel-drive sports utility vehicle

Base price $26,255 – ($31,190 as tested)

Engine type ? OHV 12-valve cast-iron V-6

Displacement ? 3.8-liter

Horsepower (net) ? 202 @ 5,200-rpm

Torque (lb-ft) ? 237 @ 4,000 rpm

Transmission – four-speed automatic transmission

Wheelbase ? 95.4 inches

Overall length ? 152.8 inches

Overall width ? 73.7 inches

Height ? 70.9 inches

Front headroom ? 41.3 inches

Front legroom ? 41 inches

Rear headroom ? 40.3 inches

Rear legroom ? 35.6 inches

Cargo capacity – 17.1 cu.-ft behind 2nd row/56.5 w/rear seat folded

Curb weight ? 3,976-lbs.

Fuel capacity ? 18.6 gallons

Mileage rating ? 15-mpg city/19-mpg highway

Last word ? A true blue Jeep

Ford SHELBY vs CAMARO vs JEEP vs VAZ 2107 vs HELICOPTER – My cars (showreel)…

Once again work for myself… Download original footage (720×405 MPEG4 – 490mb): www.megaupload.com All animation working time: 5 days… Rendering time: 110 days… Used: 3ds max 2008 – Vray, Mudbox, AE, PS, Sound Forge, Vegas Soundtracks: 0:03 – 0:40 POD – Boom (The crystal method remix) 1:33 – 1:50 Dance or die – Aliens Electric (Close Vox Remix) 1:53 – 2:06 The roots and bt – Tao of the machine (scott humphrey’s remix) 2:06 – 2:21 Just Blaze – Nike Basketball Team USA Anthem (Instrumental) 2:42 – 2:52 Pirates Of The Caribbean – Barbossa? is Hungry 2:52 – 3:13 The Used – Pretty Handsome Awkward 3:43 – 3:46 Soviet National Anthem 3:56 – end Dreamtale – The dawn Thanks for watching!

Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – Busts Down Walls

By Casey Williams - MyCarData

Not two days after Jeep unveiled the next-generation 2011 Grand Cherokee at the New York Auto Show, the autorazzi are jumping all over themselves to criticize Chrysler’s supposed lack of timing given the pressure from Washington to build tiny little greenmobiles. OK, but when you’ve already spent a billion bucks to develop a great SUV that remains popular with Jeep customers, it makes more sense. Not everybody wants to drive a compact hybrid. If you’re going to drive an SUV, choose the original.

Although it pushes through the air with a smoother face and is more fetching with sculpted bodysides, you’ll instantly recognize the Grand Cherokee for what it is – whether it rides on standard 17” wheels or optional 18” and 20” alloys. Lights are flush-swept into the bodysides while chrome detailing around the windows, doorhandles, and mirrors adds class. Interiors were also completely re-designed to provide 4” more rear seat legroom with reclining seatbacks and a much more upscale ambience.
Said Ralph Gilles, V.P. of Design, at the vehicle’s introduction, “Following in the footsteps of our all-new 2009 Dodge Ram, our all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee is another proud graduate of our Advanced Interior Design Studio. We achieved a world-class interior by using fine materials and maintaining a laser-attention to details.”

Engineers paid attention to chassis and powertrain details. Thanks to an all-new “Pentastar” 3.6-litre V6 engine with variable valve timing that delivers 280 HP and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, fuel economy is up 11%. If even more power trips your equation, a 360-HP 5.7-litre HEMI V8 will remain. Properly equipped, the Grand Cherokee will be capable of towing 7,400 lbs.

QuadraLift™ air suspension rises 4.5” from park to maximum clearance for serious off-road adventures while a four-wheel independent suspension system provide the on-highway feel of a sport sedan. Activated by a console switch, the Selec-Terrain™ system pre-chooses five settings (Auto sand/mud, sport, snow, rock) for optimum traction and ground clearance (raises suspension as appropriate). Recent Grand Cherokees have been great all-around performers, but this is an entirely different level.

Eighteen years and over 4 million vehicles have passed since Jeep launched the original Grand Cherokee by busting through the front glass wall of Detroit’s Cobo Hall. Still built in Detroit, the 2011 Grand Cherokee will also bust down the walls between luxury sedan, rock-climbing pro, and those who wish to criticize it.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

Casey Williams, www.car-data.com

2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Diesel

‘Boys ‘ This Is The Car Your Father Should Have! When he is not using it you can. It is sosimple to drive that you or sister can easily run it. So can mother. On the steering column is acompact set of electric buttons. By merely pressing these buttons you start, stop and light the car. Isn’t that simplicity itself? And that is but one example of the great Overland value. There isan almost endless list of other unusual advantages. Our dealer will explain everything in detail.Have father see him at once ‘ today.’

This is an advertisement for the Overland Model 80 T ($1,075) and 81 T ($850), built by theWillys-Overland Company in Toledo, OH. In the early part of the last century, Willys-Overland wassecond only to the Ford Motor Company in sales by building excellent all-terrain touring cars.During WWII, the company won a contract to build a new lightweight 4×4 that became the Jeep. Thebrand that Willys-Overland begat passed to shipping magnate Henry J. Kaiser, became part ofAmerican Motors, and was acquired by Chrysler in 1987. It is not by coincidence that the mostluxurious version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the Overland.

From the exterior, it is hard to notice anything especially different about the GC Overland. Itcontinues an upright design theme that goes back to the first smaller Cherokee in the mid-80s.Jeep’s traditional grater grille is chromed and flanked by four roundish headlamps. Thick bumpersand wheel arches convey a sense of capability while body color door handles and chrome mirrors lookcorrect in upscale driveways. High intensity discharge headlamps with self-leveling,automatically-dimming mirrors, 18′ aluminum chrome wheels with off-road tires, and underbody skidplates are appreciated on- and off-road.

I’ve driven other Grand Cherokees, including the awesomely powerful SRT8, but I like theOverland’s interior the best. Mercedes-style heated leather seats (front and rear) are comfortable,but also feel very rich. Jeep leather seats can sometimes look cheaper, but the buckets andfold-down bench in the Overland are divine. This aura of quality continues to the leather and woodsteering wheel, gated gear selector, woodgrain trim on the console, leather-wrapped armrests,chrome door handles, and white-lit analog gauges. Adjustable pedals and a tilt/telescoping steeringcolumn help any driver get comfortable. Touch screen navigation and audio controls work well; sidecurtain airbags enhance safety. Overland logos stitched into the seatbacks remind you of traditionas they have the same font as classic Overlands.

If the Overland were powered by one of Chrysler’s excellent V6 or V8 engines, it would be great,but our test vehicle came with the Mercedes-built 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6, connected to aMercedes five-speed automatic transmission, that generates 215 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. Besides improving fuel economy by 30%, the engine produces the right amount of torque to grindover rocks or jump to attention at any time. It is no HEMI for brute acceleration, but the massivetorque feels great when you step on the throttle at highway speeds where it goes from lounging topounding in a split. It seems to do everything easier than you would expect. Fuel economy is rated17/22-MPG city/hwy.

Although most owners will never venture into more treacherous territory than a snowy road orgravel driveway, the Grand Cherokee is a real Jeep. Ample ground clearance works with theQuadra-Drive II 4WD system that can be left in automatic or locked in to roll over rough trails. Italso stands by to lend a wheel on the occasional patch of icy pavement. Four-wheel anti-lock discbrakes, traction control, electronic stability control, Hill Start Assist, brake assist, andlimited-slip front and rear differentials bring the best technology to bear on challenging roadsand trails. Most impressively, the Overland is the best-handling and smoothest-riding Jeep I’veever experienced.

Besides the Grand Cherokee Overland Diesel being a very nice SUV, I’m impressed that Jeep’smarketing gnomes had the creativity and knowledge to dig into its archives to pull out the Overlandbrand, original logo and all.

Compared to all Jeeps before, the Overland Diesel is an excellent piece of engineering,capability, and luxury all wrapped in a fuel-sipping package. It costs $1,010 to put a Rudolph’sbaby under the hood, and it will cost you more at the pump, but you should net out the differencein fuel savings. You’ll also enjoy driving it. With an as-tested price of $46,560, the Jeep GrandCherokee Overland is monstrously more than the advertised Overlands above, but is competitive withthe Mercedes ML, Ford Explorer, Lexus GX, and Hummer H3.