Jeep News & Rumors
Big changes appear to be ahead for the '10 Grand Cherokee. Expect to hear the words "unibody," "fuel-efficient Phoenix V-6," and, you best sit down for this one, "car-based." If you need a refresher on the last time a Jeep went car on us (not including the Compass), look no further than the Varsity concept from 2000, which Jeep compared to a European sports sedan. You know what, maybe you should look further.
Remember when Ford dumped Jaguar and Land Rover? That was to the tune of $2.3 billion to Tata Motors of India. Anyway, Tata and Chrysler are said to be discussing the possibility of the Wrangler being sold in India and to some of its neighbors.
Edmunds.com says the Patriot is the least expensive SUV you can own, based on data compiled from fuel cost, maintenance, depreciation, financing, and more. Added Edmunds, "Still, you're driving a Patriot." OK, they didn't.
Industry News
'09 Dodge Ram pricing is in: cheapest model (ST regular cab 4x2 shortbed): $22,170. Most spendy model (ST Quad Cab 4x4): $30,635. Those are starting-at numbers.
Can you afford to buy 3.2 of those ST regular cab 4x2 shortbed Dodge Rams? Then may we interest you in one hybrid Cadillac Escalade? It starts at $71,685.
Titan Tire's headline for the announcement of its newest tire went like this: "Titan Tire Announces Production of 59/80R63 Super Giant Steel-Belted Radial Mining Tire." You know, "super giant" has never been more appropriately used, not even in porn. The first 12 sets of the 63-incher were headed to Canada's tar sands.
Aisin Seiki (known for its past involvement in Jeep transmissions among other things) has started a new business-Aisin Technical Center of America, which will be headlining product development for the North, Central, and South American marketplace.
Chrysler Financial is getting out of the leasing business; it's just not worth it in this economy. As you may recall, Chrysler Financial was once a partner in The Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment "Get Your Money Right" National Tour.
Auto Graphs
We might end up going back to a legal speed limit of 55 mph because that's the genius solution politicians have for helping us get better fuel economy/fighting the oil crisis.
YouGov has released the results of a survey that revealed one in four female drivers has no problem showing some cleavage or doing that crazy winking/blinking thing in order to get out of/reducing a ticket/violation. We're talking 34 percent of 18-24 year olds. So that's why Editor Cappa volunteered to be a reserve officer.
The place: Kentucky. The problem: A prostitution sting revealed a suspect did the nasty for a $100 gas card. Hmm, so maybe we do need to downgrade to 55 mph if turning tricks has resorted to this.
Vanity Fair (yes, that Vanity Fair) has started "Stick Shift the Gay Car Blog." It's to out "a car's gayness."
"Americans junked about 13 million vehicles in 2007, or 5.2 percent of all vehicles, up from 5 percent in 2006." That's according to The Detroit News, in an article about how the U.S. and Canada are starting to get more aggressive with programs designed to "retire" older vehicles.
AB 2800 passed in California. According to Consumer Watchdog, the bill authorizes different insurance rates for drivers who agree to put a black box in their vehicles for tracking mileage, and would allow insurance companies to give discounts to participants. Those opposing the bill call it "spyware" because nothing in the bill prevents the insurance companies from also tracking other info, such as your speed.