Like this, but not at all...
Like this, but not at all.
•It's here: 2011 means Jeep's 70th anniversary.
•In about two years, brace yourself for the triumphant return of an SUV called Grand Wagoneer.
•In about two years, brace yourself for the triumphant return of that being a high-end seven-seater SUV not called Commander.
It should be here in our ...
It should be here in our lifetime.
•Pickup or not to pickup? That is the lingering question over at Jeep. One is coming, but there's less urgency than, say, a redo of a seven-seat SUV that no one wanted the first time around.
•The Toledo Blade reported that Jeep has registered the name Wrangler Arctic.
•Remember a couple months ago we told you about the not-for-North-America Compass and Patriot getting a 2.2L turbodiesel? There are whispers of a now-for-North-America version of that 163hp mill for the Compass.
•While we're talking about engines, the Hemi isn't going anywhere.
•Carmax.com noticed that the top 10 vehicle searches for 2010 included the Wrangler at No. 5.
•Mopar parts and service department open on Saturdays in North America? Thank you.
•The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crashed stuff again. This time it was to get an idea of bumper compatibility between cars and SUVs. The result of the testing? Sit down, it's quite the shocker: "SUV bumpers that don't line up with those on cars can lead to huge repair bills in what should be minor collisions in stop-and-go traffic." Oh, guess you could have remained standing. Anyway, they mismatched the bumpers of a Patriot with a Dodge Caliber and let the Patriot ram the Caliber at 10 mph. The Jeep sustained $1,415 in damage, while the Caliber's was $3,095.
•That same institute also found time to name the 2011 Top Safety Picks, and there were 66 of them, including the Grand Cherokee. To grab that award, a vehicle must be skilled at protecting occupants in front, side, rear, and rollover crashes based on the IIHS's crash ratings, as well as have an available electronic stability control.
Turn your back on the 70t...
Turn your back on the 70th.
As we mentioned in News & Rumors, this year marks Jeep's big 7-0, and kicking off the celebration are a bowl of Chex Party Mix and a special anniversary edition of every model in the lineup. Each Jeep will be available in a special paint called Bronze Star (wait, isn't eighth anniversary bronze?), as well as Bright Silver and Black skin choices. Special wheels, badging, logos, Berber floormats, and other unique features that you'll spot only if you buy one are part of the anniversary package.
Industry News
•Jeep may be 70, but Chevy is also hovering in old-fart territory. November 1911 was when the brand was founded. The first Chevy was a Series C Classic Six.
•American Racing is presenting sponsor (and ATX Series is the spec wheel) of the 2011 General Tire Jeepspeed Challenge (the sponsorship will last three years).
•In 2010, competitive rockcrawler Team 311 donated $15,902 to the American Cancer Society.
•Best sellers of 2010? Ford F-series, Chevy Silverado, and Ram. Those rankings are No. 1, 2, and 10, in case you're keeping score at home.
You like it, you really like...
You like it, you really like it.
•TrueCar.com took a stab at sorting out which vehicle categories were the fastest and slowest sellers in dealer inventory at the end of 2010. For example, vans were on average 120 days on the lot, subcompact cars at 76 days, and small trucks at 58 days. The briefest time spent was 38 days for midsize SUVs, 39 days for small SUVs, and 40 days for large SUVs. The minivan was next, followed by large SUVs and trucks, leaving us to wonder, SUVs and pickups are dead? Maybe not, doomsayers.
The elephant in the room....
The elephant in the room.
•In case you care: The elephant motor from the '60s is back. The Mopar 426 aluminum Hemi Gen III crate engine is worth 540 horses and 530 lb-ft of torque, with an MSRP of $13,675.
•OnStar will now be available for non-GM vehicles (as well as older GMs).
Bosch shift supervisors, ...
Bosch shift supervisors, 1905.
•Bosch Group: It's the 125th anniversary. It was 1886 when Robert Bosch got the ball rolling with his Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering.