Jeep Cherokee News

An American heavyweight SUV is being readied for a potential attack on Toyota's LandCruiser. After more than 15 years of unfulfilled dreams and broken promises, Dodge is finally planning to bring its Durango seven-seater to Australia.American sources confirm to Carsguide the early stages of a right-hand drive program that's been promised on the Durango since it was launched in 1998. The RHD plan exploits a mechanical platform and factory shared with the latest Grand Cherokee that's been a big success for Jeep in Australia.The massive SUV could be here inside 18 months. The Durango could even be badged as a Jeep and could, potentially, be sold with a price tag that's $5000 or less above the current $43,000 starting sticker for the Grand Cherokee.The Durango is big and bold, sells well in the US and would be relatively cheap and easy to produce in right-hand drive. Fiat Chrysler admits the idea of a Durango in Australia is a good one."If it was available, with the right mix of specifications and pricing, we are confident that Australians would love the Durango," says company spokeswoman Karla Leach."With nearly 50 per cent of the SUVs in the Grand Cherokee's competitive set being seven-seaters (having the same number) would allow us to offer a fresh and appealing alternative in this significant market segment."This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

Want to know if a Jeep Cherokee can climb stairs. Yes, us too. So Chrysler puts them over the obstacle as part of durability testing at the carmaker's Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan. Part of four million pre-production test miles -- about 6.4 million kilometres -- the 2014 Jeep Cherokee underwent, the torture included the usual rough tracks plus the stairs to mimic boulders and ledges, a lateral load track of twisting corners, wheel lift mounds for suspension articulation, and rollers that echo a slippery or icy surface. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott Watch the 2014 Jeep Cherokee torture test video here.

It's Jeep's most polarising model ever and it is unlikely the company will produce anything as radical in the near future. The chief designer of the Jeep Cherokee, the mid-size SUV that sits under the Grand Cherokee and above the Compass, says its confronting grille design hasn't been as debated since Jeep abandoned the seven-slot grille for its SJ model in 1974.Greg Howell, the head designer of the Cherokee and who is now penning a new Dodge Ram, says he wasn't looking at history when he styled the Cherokee that is due in Australia in the second quarter of next year."The notion that we were breaking away from previous Cherokee wasn't really true because we were continuing the same design theme," he says. "But there were a lot of new targets to meet such as fuel economy and aerodynamics."A lot of the Cherokee is designed by science - the way we had to shape the A-plillar to get the wind to move acros the car as efficiently as possible, for example - then we had to ensure that below the body would do its work off the road."The Cherokee will be priced about the same as the previous model - that left Australian showrooms in February - but shares few parts. It shares the platform with the Fiat Group's Alfa Romeo Giulietta and is, obviously, now a monocoque body rather than the previous Cherokee's body-on-frame design.For American buyers, it is also a return of the Cherokee nameplate after it was replaced for almost two decades by the Liberty badge.Howell says the 2014 Cherokee has been specifically designed for a younger buyer and is therefore deliberately set apart from the Grand Cherokee. "Our research tels us that people want something modern and something versatile because they want to remain SUV owners," he says. "The vehicle should be rugged but we knew that, above all, it had to be modern. Efficiency was also a big issue because people don't want to be at the fuel pump all the time."He says it was "challenging" working with a new body design on an existing car-based platform. "We had a very specific platform and that changed the way we had to look at a new SUV," he says."For example, we have a 1m front overhang and a 30-degree approach angle. These are not normal for a serious off-road vehicle. It made us think in different ways."Howell says adopting the Giulietta CUSY platform became reality because Jeep appreciated that customers wanted an SUV with all the hallmarks of car comfort and safety. "We try to bite into the SUV and CUV (crossover) market as much as possible," he says. "So we have to introduce technology such as its nine-speed automatic transmission - a first for the market - and the high level of in-car electronics and safety."The fact is that this vehicle is like a car but is more trail capable than any other SUV in its class. Personally, I don't think it's a polarising design. It's the way to the future."This reporter is on Twitter: @cg_dowling 

The next vehicle to join SRT’s ever-expanding lineup may be a tuned version of the latest 2014 Jeep Cherokee, according to a new report. Citing an inside source, Allpar is reporting that a Jeep Cherokee SRT is in the works and due out soon.The vehicle would feature a ZF nine-speed automatic transmission and, presumably, all-wheel drive. Unlike the models in SRT’s current lineup, the Jeep Cherokee SRT would almost certainly feature an engine with fewer than eight cylinders.This shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering SRT’s decision to drop the cylinder count from its vehicle names overseas -- although the new Jeep Grand Cherokee range keeps the SRT8 monicker here in Australia.The most likely engine option for the Jeep Cherokee SRT would be a tuned version of the 3.2-litre Pentastar V-6 already available on the compact crossover. This tuned V-6 is tipped to deliver close to 400 horsepower and may eventually make its way into other SRT models like a rumoured Chrysler 200 SRT. Of course, a hi-po four-cylinder is also a possibility. Stay tuned for an update.www.motorauthority.com 

Jeep has officially unveiled its most unusual model in the 72-year history of the company. Not only does the new Jeep Cherokee have controversial space-age looks, it is based on the same underpinnings as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback -- and it is among the first cars in the world with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The new Cherokee is the first Jeep designed from the ground up since Italy’s Fiat Group took over North America’s Chrysler-Jeep in the wake of the global financial crisis. Despite the car-like underpinnings, the iconic four-wheel-drive brand insists the new Cherokee is the most rugged yet, with greater off-road capability than any Cherokee before it. That claim is yet to be proven independently, but we won’t need to wait long. The new Jeep Cherokee is due in local showrooms by the end of this year. Prices are yet to be confirmed but will likely start from $30,000, the same as the current model. There will be a choice of three engines: a 2.4-litre four-cylinder front-drive, a 3.2-litre V6 all-wheel-drive and a 2.0-litre turbo diesel all-wheel-drive. All will be backed by the new nine-speed automatic transmission made by German specialists ZF, which will also supply the same transmission for an upcoming revision to the Range Rover Evoque. In an attempt to appease diehard Jeep fans the new Cherokee will be available in a hardcore “Trailhawk” grade which has heavy duty suspension and low range gears for rock crawling. All Jeep Cherokees will be equipped with a class-leading 10 airbags, but the company says it is yet to decide if a rear view camera will be standard on all models. All models are five-seaters, with no plans for seating for seven. The launch of the new Jeep Cherokee got off to a rocky start after unflattering spy pictures published last month prompted the company to release official photos weeks earlier than the planned launch at New York motor show, where the car was viewed publicly for the first time overnight. Jeep is sensitive to early criticism on social media that the new Cherokee is the spiritual successor to the Pontiac Aztec, a US van-meets-SUV that was universally panned for its awkward appearance. “Some people have commented on the design , however once they see the ability of the car we think they will fall in love with it as much as we have,” said Jeep Australia spokeswoman Karla Leach. In Australia the four model grades (in ascending order) will be called Sport, Longitude, Limited and Trailhawk. In the US, the second model is called Latitude but Jeep cannot use that name in Australia as it is also the name of a Renault sedan. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  

Set to debut at the New York International Auto Show in March, the "no-compromise" 2014 Jeep Cherokee will build on its off-road capability and functionality and will feature fuel economy improvements of more than 45 per cent over the outgoing model. "We are pleased to confirm that the all-new Jeep Cherokee will be available to Australian buyers in the fourth quarter of 2013," Fiat Chrysler Group Australia CEO and chairman Clyde Campbell said. "The current model Jeep Cherokee has been a strong sales performer since its launch in 2008 and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new model," he said. The all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee will be built in the United States at Chrysler Group's Toledo Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio.  

Faulty airbags which could deploy at any time have compelled Chrysler to recall of at least 7000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee off-roaders in Australia.The potential computer malfunction can force “the front airbags, side curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated,'' the recall notice said. While the faulty airbags could potentially cause an accident, no injuries have been reported in more than 200 cases worldwide where airbags inadvertently released – including one in Australia.The safety warning involves around 7000 Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee vehicles sold in Australia between 2002 and 2004. Chrysler Group Australia is writing to affected owners but conceded said limited availability of parts in Australia will delay repairs until March for the Cherokee and August for the Grand Cherokee."Obviously we'll expedite the supply of parts as much as we can,” said spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher. The Australian recall notice is part of a global recall of over 900,000 of the two SUVs.Ms Fletcher said the company was tracking down owners of the vehicles. "They're still trying to verify the exact number of vehicles involved here, we're working through the information now but it is around 7000 vehicles,'' she said."I believe there has been one incident where the airbag has gone off by itself in Australia but there were no repercussions from that,'' she said. Reports from the US suggest that there have been 215 cases of the fault but no accidents have been reported as a result of an airbag going off prematurely.Customers with any queries are asked to contact a Jeep dealer or call the Jeep Customer Service centre on 1300 133 079. 

The recall issued by Jeep parent company Chrysler is due to a defect in the airbag control modules that could cause the front or side curtain airbags to deploy inadvertently.The vehicles carrying the defective module are the Jeep Liberty (sold here as the Cherokee) and Grand Cherokee SUVs built from 2002 to 2004. The 919,545 Jeeps recalled include 744,822 in the United States; 49,430 in Canada; 21,828 in Mexico, and 103,465 around the rest of the world.More than 11,000 of those two models were sold in Australia during the period covered by the recall, but Chrysler Australia has not yet confirmed the exact number affected here.The recall was sparked by the results of an investigation started late last year after reports of airbags deploying inadvertently in the US, with the 215 cases probed including 81 that resulted in injuries."A design change to a supplied component was linked to a small number of inadvertent air bag deployments, and in keeping with the best interests of our customers, we initiated a recall campaign," David Dillon, Chrysler's global head of product investigations and campaigns, said in a statement. The defect will be fixed with the installation of a supplementary jumper harness to the airbag control module, Chrysler said. 

Chrysler, the parent company of Jeep and owned by Fiat Group, this week finished production of the 11-year-old Cherokee in the US and in June 2013, starts making its replacement. The next Cherokee will be a “softer” vehicle based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform - a layout that is also used to create the Dodge Dart hatchback - and will be made both as a front-wheel drive and a 4WD. It will come with the option of a world-first nine-speed automatic transmission and a new V6 engine. Until then, enthusiasts have a chance to buy the last of Jeep's hardcore mid-size 4WD.  “We will still receive shipments (of the current Cherokee) for the next few months and expect to sell through to mid-2013,” says Chrysler Australia public affairs manager Lenore Fletcher. Jeep is not discussing the look of the Cherokee's replacement. “We haven't said anything about that yet,” she says. “Mike Manley (Jeep's global chief) was in Australia recently to discuss the design concept but it's too early to talk about details.” But Carsguide has been informed that the new Cherokee - called Liberty in the US but to revert globally to Cherokee - will have a restyled Dart/Giulietta body. It will also become a single-body car-like construction, replacing the body-on-frame design of the current 4WD. Drivetrain will be the Fiat-derived 136kW/235Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol or possibly a smaller version of Chrysler's successful V6 petrol Pentastar engine. There is no talk of a diesel engine but as sources are based in the US, which is not a diesel market, it's likely oilburners will be available and made by a Fiat company. More than 50 per cent of Jeep's smaller Patriot and Compass models are sold in the US as front-wheel drive versions. Jeep says that is too big to ignore, hence the option of a cheaper 2013 Cherokee with 2WD as well as an all-wheel drive for adventure-seekers. The end of the Cherokee also spells the death of its sister, the Dodge Nitro. Chrysler is phasing out the Dodge name and says there will be no replacement for the Nitro.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and Liberty have been targeted by the country's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in an investigation into their fuel tank locations.An engineering analysis could lead to a recall, although the exact implications in the USA - and a potential knock-on effect in Australia - are not clear."The Fiat Chrysler group is currently awaiting confirmation from the head office in Detroit regarding whether or not any Australian-owned vehicles are affected and, if so, how many," says Australian spokesperson, Lenore Fletcher. She stresses that there is no recall in the USA yet and a full update is unlikely before the end of this week.In America, safety advocates are pressing the NHTSA over the location of the fuel tank, behind the rear axle, and the potential for fire in a rear-end impact. Initially, the NHTSA only studied the fuel tank on the Grand Cherokee in response to 26 complaints, before deciding to expand the list of vehicles.The investigation covers Jeep Grand Cherokees built between 1993 and 2004, Jeep Cherokees built between 1993 and 2001, and Jeep Liberty SUVs built between 2002 and 2007. The total number of vehicles involved is around 5.1 million.Chrysler says it is co-operating with the investigation and says available information shows no greater fire risk in its vehicles than other similar SUVs.The NHTSA investigation compares the Grand Cherokee's fuel system with that of three similar vehicles: the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer and Toyota 4Runner and its preliminary findings indicate that fuel-tank failures and fires in rear-end collisions are more prevalent in the Grand Cherokee than in the comparison vehicles.