Pentastar meets rocker arm...
Pentastar meets rocker arm location verification station.
•It's official: The new Pentastar V-6 is in production and will replace seven existing V-6s. The '11 Grand Cherokee gets it first.
•Twitter.com/jeep. Not enough characters left to say more than that.
•Jeep recall: the '10 Grand Cherokee and Commander for what could be an improperly manufactured rear track bar. What's worse than the recall news? Learning that Jeeps affected totaled 3,498. As in, sold.
•The Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index is an annual look at the brands that can brag about having loyal customers. For automotive, Hyundai ranked first; Jeep was 14. Autos weren't the only category studied: Coors Light and Budweiser captured the top spots for light and regular beer, respectively, while Domino's ranked numero uno in pizza.
•"Supplier constraint"-that's what Automotive News claims a memo to dealers used as the explanation for why they should be pushing the soft-top Wrangler versus the hard-topper. Due to a switch in suppliers-and the new one not being able to supply them fast enough to keep up with demand-hardtop Wranglers are tough to find.
•But wait, this just in: Colored factory hardtops-think body-colored-are probably coming soon.
•Dow Jones is reporting that Fiat will produce nine Fiat and Chrysler models by 2016 in a joint venture with Russian peer Sollers, and it will include a Jeep model (or two) for the Russian market.
•Insure.com ranked the Wrangler X as the fifth least expensive '10 vehicle to insure. The Patriot Sport was No. 13 on the list of the cheap top 20.
•As of March, 33 states had raised the speed limit to 70 mph or higher on some sections of highway. The national maximum speed limit was repealed by Congress in 1995.
•Chrysler's Certified Preowned Vehicle program (CPOV) has launched a website: certifiedpreowned.chrysler.com. It has Jeep (and Ram and Chrysler) inventory and special features for finding a vehicle.
•Out of the UK: The Special Order Programme (their funky spelling) allows people to "bespoke" their Wrangler in a bazillion color (er, colour), trim, and engine combos. Bespoke means custom made.
Total recall.
Bespoked.
Going soft.
Industry News
•Ford and GM diesel power numbers are finally in: The new 6.7L V-8 Power Stroke makes 390 hp at 2,800 rpm and 735 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm (and is B20 capable), while GM's new 6.6L Duramax puts out 397 hp at 3,000 rpm and 765 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm (and is B20 capable).
•Wait, we have Ram news, too: Word is that the two-mode hybrid Ram is dead, but a plug-in electric version of the pickup will be built for a special fleet.
•Wait, we have more Ram news: Ram Truck will hold a 26-state, 50-venue Sportsman's Tour geared toward hunters, boaters, and fisherman and the heavy-duty pickups through October.
•Wait, we have even more Ram news: There's also a 14-state, 33-venue Ram Heavy Duty Tour to focus on commercial truck buyers for the HD models. It runs through August.
•The BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails program is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
•Mycenterforce.com has been updated to include both Centerforce and user (meaning you) videos. You'll find racing, shop tours, clutch tips, and more on the video side of things, plus you can also post questions and make comments.
•Team 311's Crawl to Cure Cancer program was able to donate $14,371 in 2009 to the American Cancer Society, thanks to the goodwill of fellow Jeep enthusiasts and support from 4Wheel Drive Hardware.
•The Tribune Chronicle has reported that Denman Tire has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, liquidating all its assets to repay creditors. Denman makes the Ground Hawg.
•The Colorado Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs and the Ute Pass Iron Goats are raffling off a '98 Cherokee Sport with tons of aftermarket parts. You can buy a ticket and get more info at hightrails.org.
•Until October 31, 2010, Yukon Gear & Axle is offering an "unconditional" warranty on Grizzly lockers for the first year, covering the replacement of the Grizzly unit and associated parts that may be damaged, including associated labor, up to $2,000.