The New Fiat Jeep?
As we went to press, Chrysler had been given 30 days to figure out its future--specifically its future with Fiat. Under the heading, "Chrysler Launch Cadence with the Addition of Fiat's Vehicles Allows Us to Meet Customer Demands" in Chrysler's old Restructuring Plan for Long-Term Viability (February edition) a 2011-planned two- and all-wheel-drive Jeep was mentioned. Meanwhile, Automotive News is speculating that we can expect to see a Jeep based on Fiat's Panda Cross, already available in Europe with a 1.3L diesel worth 40 mpg. But with the Patriot, Liberty, and Compass, we're not sure why there's a need for a Jeep Panda--unless it's to have a point-and-shoot diesel vehicle to offer in the U.S.
Banned: Black Vehicles in California
If you follow the Twitter/blog/old-mediasphere, then you know the world went nutso when it heard that California was going to ban black as a color option on new vehicles. It seems that in 2006, the California Global Warming Solutions Act came into play, featuring the state's ideas for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions by 2020. Something called Cool Paints came into play with a target date of January 1, 2010. The Air Resources Board told inventors to go make--specifically, make paint colors that could reflect heat from the sun, thereby keeping a vehicle's interior cool and reducing air-conditioning use. And that turned into "California is banning black paint! Scream and loot!" ARB's response? "This is laughable" and "This program was never at any point intended to limit consumer color choices or ban any colors for cars."
New Fuel Economy Standards - Obama Edition
Yup, it's already time to mess with the 2010 fuel economy standards that George Dubya established. New ones for '11 model cars and light trucks have been mandated by the new guy in office; these equate to a combined average of 30.2 miles per gallon for cars, 24.1 for trucks, which is a bump of 2mpg over '10 models. To keep everyone on their toes the government will mandate that this round of standards be based on models, depending on their size. So, for example, Chrysler light trucks will have to get 24.2mpg, while Ford's at 23.6, and GM is 23.3.
Things to Do With Your Jeep
June 19-21: 19th Annual Roughriders Rendezvous presented by Cliffhangers 4x4 Club, Watford City, North Dakota, 701/842-4210
June 21: Father's Day Feature, Muddy Run Raceway, Smoke Run, Pennsylvania, muddyrunraceway.com
July 18-19: PA Jeeps All Breed Jeep Show, York, Pennsylvania, pajeeps.org
July 23-26: Jeepers Jamboree (Rubicon), Georgetown, California, jeepersjamboree.com
July 24-26: 23rd Annual Clemson 4-Wheel Center/Telluride Rotary Club 4x4 Tour (guided trail runs benefiting student scholarships), San Juan Mountains, Colorado, telluride4x4.com
August 1-8: 43rd Annual All-4-Fun Event, Mile-Hi Jeep Club, Empire, Colorado, mhjc.org
August 6-9: 43rd Annual Sierra Trek hosted by California Association of 4WD Clubs, Fordyce Trail, California, cal4wheel.com
August 16: Summer Mud Derby & 7th Annual Make-a-Wish Benefit, Muddy Run Raceway, Smoke Run, Pennsylvania, muddyrunraceway.com
September 5: Off-road 101 Instructional Course, Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, near Fort Scott, Kansas, ksrockspark.com
September 5: KRRP Night Run, Kansas Rocks Recreation Park, near Fort Scott, Kansas, ksrockspark.com
September 13: Fall Mud Bash, Muddy Run Raceway, Smoke Run, Pennsylvania, muddyrunraceway.com
September 26-28: Fun in the Desert, Johnson Valley, California, victorvalley4wheelers.com
September 27: The Great American Jeep Rally hosted by GAJR Organization and volunteers, Four Town Fairgrounds, Somers, Connecticut, jeeprally.org
September 28-30: CORVA Southern Jamboree, California City, California, corva.org
Want people to know about your club event? Follow the format below to increase your chances of your announcement appearing here in Jp. Feel free to also provide a high-resolution photo related to the event (make it a minimum of 2 megapixels in .eps or .tiff, or the maximum-quality jpeg). Or don't send a photo at all. You can snail mail info to Jp Magazine, Things to Do With Your Jeep, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, or e-mail john.cappa@jpmagazine.com (make the subject line "Things to Do With Your Jeep").
Name of event
Name of host club
Date of event
Location of event (venue/trail and city, state)
Web site or phone number you want listed in the magazine