Yeah, no. It's just the downsized version-aka Fisher-Price. The Power Wheels Hurricane has 16-inch tires, a cupholder, a real FM radio, an adjustable seat, built-in navigation, and a shifter. It'll reach speeds of up to one figure: 5 mph. It weighs about 103 pounds and includes a 12-volt battery and charger. Pricing is a hair under $400. Keep your eyes out for a full Jp road test in a future issue.
*Will the redesigned '08 Liberty get a ragtop like the old VW vans? The Internet is abuzz with that claim.
*According to John Plecha, director of Jeep's marketing and global communications, the median age of the Jeep buyer is 48. Holy cow, when did we all get so old?
*DaimlerChrysler is still having trouble unloading vehicles from dealerships, said to be the worst of the Detroit trifecta, which has been blamed on the automaker not cutting back on production. Sixty days of collecting dust is muy not good-DCX is at about a 101-day supply.
*No Jeep enthusiast in his right mind would own one of the bobbleheads forced down our throats in the Compass ads-or would he? Jeep.com seems to think so, making a limited supply available. What you see here are Blues Singer and Dog bobbles. Names just as clever, creative, and awe-inspiring as the vehicle itself.
*Like to download music for free but fear the pokey? Chrysler.com has legal freebies. Pretend you care about MyGIG. Also pretend to like Gloria Estefan and Journey (but not even the "good" Journey).
*The Jeep Wrangler was named the most accessory-friendly vehicle (SUV category) at the '07 SEMA Vehicle Design Awards.
* Watch for tube fenders to be coming from Mopar Performance for the Wrangler JK. The engineers are still doodling; the tubes gotta pass DMV tire-coverage rules.
* Also expect MP to offer a push-button, sway-bar-disconnect kit like the JK Rubicon's for the non-Rubicons. In fact, while we're at it, let's also spill the beans on a future rub-bar version of the JK's production rocker guards.
* We hear Currie is working away on JK products as well, including front and rear bumpers and a bumper with a tire carrier, a tow-bar kit, and rocker panel protection. Then it'll be a full Johnny Joint suspension kit and front and rear Antirock sway bars.
* '06 Design Excellence Awards passed out by the Chrysler Group included one to Superlift for its '07 Wrangler Rubicon Park Patrol concept, which was "inspired" by the Superlift ORV Park. The theme of patrolling the grounds meant a Superlift 4-inch suspension lift, an American Expedition Vehicles front bumper and corners, Poison Spyder rocker guards, fire extinguishers, an onboard CO2 tank, first-aid stuff, emergency lights, and other functional or appearance accessories.
* New for 2007 will be the Triple Crown of RockCross, a race series combining rockcrawling and racing, a joint effort by BFGoodrich and United Rock Crawling and Off-Road Challenge (you know it better as UROC).
* American Racing has acquired Weld Racing.