Artour
04-08-2009, 09:54 AM
NEW YORK AUTO SHOW
Redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers bigger interior
A more-efficient Grand Cherokee ready for debut. But will automaker last long enough to build it?
NEW YORK, April 8, 2009 -- What is likely the last new model from Chrysler LLC will roll onto a stage in New York today, as the company works to survive long enough to get the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolling out of its Detroit factory.
Chrysler says the new Grand Cherokee, set to go on sale next year, offers more power, better fuel economy, more room –– while preserving the off-road ability that's a hallmark of the brand. Options range from an air-suspension system that can lift the body 4.5 inches for off-roading to satellite TV for rear-seat passengers.
What's not clear is whether Chrysler will get the chance to build it.
Jeep is pulling out all the stops for the redesigned 2011 Grand Cherokee. Jeep is promising improvements to on-road comfort, interior accommodations and off-road prowess.
Improvements inside begin with larger front- and rear-door openings, which lead to a cabin covered in better-quality leather and real wood trim. Rear occupants will have more than 4 extra inches of knee and leg room, compared with the current model, and cargo volume grows by 6.8 cubic feet. The additional space comes courtesy of a 5.3-inch longer wheelbase than the current model.
Optional features include a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, park assist system, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning system and navigation.
On-road refinements begin with a new independent suspension system in both front and rear.
As much as any Chrysler model, the Grand Cherokee reflects the company's strengths and its troubles. It shares underpinnings with the Mercedes-Benz ML SUV –– a remnant of the DaimlerChrysler marriage that spawned a larger Jeep lineup just as the market for SUVs went south.
The Grand Cherokee helped spawn the boom in luxury SUVs in the 1980s and 1990s and was once one of Chrysler's most-profitable models. Yet sales have slumped under gas price swings and a weak economy, falling 46% this year through March.
Being a Jeep, the new Grand Cherokee's off-roading ability is dialed up with an available Quadra-Lift air suspension and a Selec-Terrain drivetrain system.
Three four-wheel-drive systems are available: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II. The Select Terrain setup is standard on the two latter options.
The adjustable air suspension includes five settings, with one providing 11.1 inches of ground clearance for tough off-road excursions. The Select-Terrain system allows for up to 12 different powertrain, braking and suspension settings to tackle any terrain conditions, be it sand, mud, snow, rocks or the open road.
It also will come with a choice of two engines, Chrysler's V8 Hemi and the company's all-new V6, but no hybrid version.
The 3.6-liter flex-fuel V6 rated at 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque serves as the base power option, a 70-hp improvement over the current 3.7-liter V6. Jeep says the new engine delivers an 11 percent fuel economy improvement that, together with the larger 24.6-gallon fuel tank, gives the Grand Cherokee a range of about 500 miles.
The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, rated at 360 hp, remains the upgraded engine choice. The Hemi has more than twice the trailer towing capability (7,400 pounds in 2-wheel drive model) as the six-banger, but uses more fuel -- 14 m.p.g. city and 20 highway, compared with 16 and 23 for the V6 (both in 2-wheel drive).
Exterior styling remains instantly recognizable as a Jeep with a seven-slot grille, but smoother edges yields better aerodynamics for 7 percent less drag.
http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20090408&Category=BUSINESS01&ArtNo=904080330&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Seventeen-inch wheels are standard, while 18- and 20-inch options are available.
Expect the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to go on sale early next year following an abbreviated 2010 model year for the current Grand Cherokee.
Redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers bigger interior
A more-efficient Grand Cherokee ready for debut. But will automaker last long enough to build it?
NEW YORK, April 8, 2009 -- What is likely the last new model from Chrysler LLC will roll onto a stage in New York today, as the company works to survive long enough to get the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolling out of its Detroit factory.
Chrysler says the new Grand Cherokee, set to go on sale next year, offers more power, better fuel economy, more room –– while preserving the off-road ability that's a hallmark of the brand. Options range from an air-suspension system that can lift the body 4.5 inches for off-roading to satellite TV for rear-seat passengers.
What's not clear is whether Chrysler will get the chance to build it.
Jeep is pulling out all the stops for the redesigned 2011 Grand Cherokee. Jeep is promising improvements to on-road comfort, interior accommodations and off-road prowess.
Improvements inside begin with larger front- and rear-door openings, which lead to a cabin covered in better-quality leather and real wood trim. Rear occupants will have more than 4 extra inches of knee and leg room, compared with the current model, and cargo volume grows by 6.8 cubic feet. The additional space comes courtesy of a 5.3-inch longer wheelbase than the current model.
Optional features include a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, park assist system, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning system and navigation.
On-road refinements begin with a new independent suspension system in both front and rear.
As much as any Chrysler model, the Grand Cherokee reflects the company's strengths and its troubles. It shares underpinnings with the Mercedes-Benz ML SUV –– a remnant of the DaimlerChrysler marriage that spawned a larger Jeep lineup just as the market for SUVs went south.
The Grand Cherokee helped spawn the boom in luxury SUVs in the 1980s and 1990s and was once one of Chrysler's most-profitable models. Yet sales have slumped under gas price swings and a weak economy, falling 46% this year through March.
Being a Jeep, the new Grand Cherokee's off-roading ability is dialed up with an available Quadra-Lift air suspension and a Selec-Terrain drivetrain system.
Three four-wheel-drive systems are available: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II. The Select Terrain setup is standard on the two latter options.
The adjustable air suspension includes five settings, with one providing 11.1 inches of ground clearance for tough off-road excursions. The Select-Terrain system allows for up to 12 different powertrain, braking and suspension settings to tackle any terrain conditions, be it sand, mud, snow, rocks or the open road.
It also will come with a choice of two engines, Chrysler's V8 Hemi and the company's all-new V6, but no hybrid version.
The 3.6-liter flex-fuel V6 rated at 280 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque serves as the base power option, a 70-hp improvement over the current 3.7-liter V6. Jeep says the new engine delivers an 11 percent fuel economy improvement that, together with the larger 24.6-gallon fuel tank, gives the Grand Cherokee a range of about 500 miles.
The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, rated at 360 hp, remains the upgraded engine choice. The Hemi has more than twice the trailer towing capability (7,400 pounds in 2-wheel drive model) as the six-banger, but uses more fuel -- 14 m.p.g. city and 20 highway, compared with 16 and 23 for the V6 (both in 2-wheel drive).
Exterior styling remains instantly recognizable as a Jeep with a seven-slot grille, but smoother edges yields better aerodynamics for 7 percent less drag.
http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=C4&Date=20090408&Category=BUSINESS01&ArtNo=904080330&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0
Seventeen-inch wheels are standard, while 18- and 20-inch options are available.
Expect the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to go on sale early next year following an abbreviated 2010 model year for the current Grand Cherokee.