Jeep Wrangler 2015 News

Manufacturers including Hyundai, Holden, Jeep, Peugeot, Citroen and Audi have all issued safety recalls for various models, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Jeep international product planner Adrian van Campenhout says a strong reception for the small Renegade crossover and a volume-boosting "Com-patriot" replacement will be needed if the company is to comply with global boss Sergio Marchionne's demand to lift sales from 1 million last year to 1.9 million by 2018.We need to extend the line-up with new models, add variants to existing models and continue to lead our segments"Obviously he (Marchionne) has a vision for where the brand needs to go. And that's where we're going," van Campenhout says."To do that we need to extend the line-up with new models, add variants to existing models and continue to lead our segments."The Renegade is in play in the fastest-growing global segment. We have a new (compact) SUV in the pipeline and our new seven-seater (Grand Wagoneer)."We've got an all-new Grand Cherokee and Wrangler in 2017...with the vehicles we have now and the models we'll have soon...if you look at our growth over the last few years, we can meet the number."A Trail-Rated vehicle will always be the most capable off-roader in its segment with genuine four-by-four abilityVan Campenhout cites the Renegade as an example of how Jeep can adjust its "Trail-Rated" badging depending on the segment is selling in."Will the Renegade Trailhawk do the Rubicon Trail? No, it won't," he says, "That's what the Wrangler is for.""Will it go places most owners won't ever consider taking it? Yes it will. A Trail-Rated vehicle will always be the most capable off-roader in its segment with genuine four-by-four ability."Jeep is considering a vehicle smaller than the Renegade to cater to emerging marketsHe also says Jeep is considering a vehicle smaller than the Renegade to cater to emerging markets in Latin America and the Asia Pacific.He won't be drawn on whether that vehicle will be a rumoured three-door Renegade or a completely new model."The emerging economies represent a big part of our future growth and there's an argument the Renegade is too expensive for those markets," he says."We'll need a vehicle to (sell there). The brand is capturing a lot of market share everywhere around the world. We sell in 100-plus countries (so it could work).India would be an ideal market for developing a small vehicle with the usual Jeep attributes. "It would work in your neck of the woods (Australia), too, I would imagine."

Jeep has released a new dragon-themed special edition of its Wrangler Unlimited Overland off-roader, wearing the apt label of Wrangler Dragon. Following on from the Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary limited edition from earlier this year, the Wrangler Dragon brings a raft of unique styling details inside and out that reflect the mythical reptile.  Finished exclusively in gloss black, the Wrangler Dragon’s most distinctive feature is a large dragon decal that runs from the bonnet and along the passenger side of the body, with colour-matched bronze detailing to the headlights and grille, badging, fuel filler door, 18 inch alloys, and a further dragon decal on the spare wheel cover on the rear. Like all Wrangler Overlands, the Dragon comes with body colour wheelarches and removable hard top, plus a sunrider soft-top, Bluetooth phone connectivity, satnav and a reversing camera.  The dragon theme continues on the inside, with flying reptiles embroidered and embossed on the Nappa leather seat facings in the front and the carpet boot mat in the rear, with the motif repeated on the instruments and front passenger grab handle. The interior also features bronze detailing to the steering wheel spokes, door grab handles, and trim stitching. The result is reminiscent of the black and gold Pontiac Trans Am made famous by the classic Smokey and the Bandit films, with hints of the gold badging fad of the 1990s. Or perhaps Jeep is hoping to cash in on the dragon hype surrounding the next instalment of The Hobbit film series - The Desolation of Smaug – which opens next week. Either way, the Wrangler Dragon is available exclusively with the regular Overland’s 209kW/347Nm 3.6L V6 petrol, five-speed automatic drivetrain, with solid axles front and rear and four-wheel drive low-range gearing for proper off-road work. The Wrangler Dragon sits atop the rest of the Wrangler lineup, with its  $51,000 price tag representing a $5000 premium over the regular Overland Unlimited model. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn    

This new variant offers increased levels of comfort and convenience, with standard features including Uconnect Media Centre and navigation, reversing camera, leather upholstery and automatic headlights. Outside, premium refinements such as new 18 inch polished sparkle silver alloys with Bridgestone Dueler tyres and body-coloured flares and hard top will appeal to the urban traveller and off-road adventurer alike. The Jeep Wrangler Overland will be equipped with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine and five-speed automatic transmission. This package delivers 209kW at 6350 revs and 347Nm of torque at 4300 revs, with an impressive 90 per cent of maximum torque available between 1800 revs. Fuel consumption is rated at 11.7 litres/100km. Prices start at $42,500 for the two-door and $47,000 for the Unlimited Overland four-door model, both of which include an auto.  

Up to nine Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge models could be axed or redesigned by 2012, according to details leaked of a new Chrysler-Fiat business plan.  However, Chrysler Australia is taking a wait-and-see approach to changes proposed this week by new Chrysler-Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne.Marchionne is heading up one of the biggest product shakeouts in Chrysler's history to resurrect the embattled US carmaker.  But Chrysler Australia's general manager marketing and product strategy, Craig Bradshaw, says it is too early to assess the local fallout any proposed changes.  Chrysler Australia is taking a "wait and see" approach, he says."We have to wait to assess the impact on our local market," he says.  Bradshaw says the company has no advance information of Marchionne's proposed changes.  Some of the proposed changes have been already leaked by the Wall Street Journal in North America.  It says that Chrysler's North American model lineup will be slashed to make way for more Fiat-based cars.Some new Chrysler models will share Fiat platforms in an effort to cut costs and harmonise production processes.  The cars expected to die are the Chrysler Sebring, PT Cruiser, Dodge Nitro, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger as well as three Jeep off-roaders, the Compass, Patriot and Commander.The survivors are said to be the Chrysler 300C sedan, Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Journey, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.  Although the list of Chrysler's facing the chop is long, some like the Sebring and Avenger, are expected to morph into new Fiat-based cars.Under the new Chrysler-Fiat regime, known as Chrysler Group LLC, Alfa Romeo and Fiat are expected to return to America as soon as 2012.  Fiat was phased out in North America in the 1980s because of poor quality and reliability problems. Alfa Romeo discon tinued marketing cars there in 1995.Chrysler will continue to build its performance cars and pickup trucks while Fiat is expected to build a range of smaller fuel-efficient European-style models for the US market.  Locally Chrysler Australia is a factory owned distributor but still shares some backroom operations with Daimler.Daimler severed its ties with Chrysler in 2007 and the US carmaker was subsequently purchased by private equity group Cerberus Capital Management before Fiat stepped in last year.Chrysler's Asia-Pacific business, including Australia, is one of the few bright spots, despite Chrysler and Jeep sales being down 30 per cent this year.  Australia is Chrysler's largest right-hand-drive market and the No.1 Jeep Wrangler market outside North America.