July 2011 Dispatch - Jeep News & Rumors

•Talk is heating up about a Jeep that’s a size capable of competing with the Mini Cooper.
•Re the above: So…see the ’08 Renegade concept.
•In February, Jeep sales were up 23 percent compared with February 2010.
•A book about Jay-Z claims there was going to be a Jay-Z edition of the Commander, with 22-inch rims, and special blue paint. Now we’re keeping our fingers crossed and bangs overgrown for a Justin Bieber–edition Jeep, like a Lieberty.
•On that note, it seems the next-gen Liberty will arrive in 2012, a year ahead of schedule. Expect it to reek of Fiat.
•Wrangler recall: More than 20,000 ’10-’11 Wranglers will be recalled for possible steering problems stemming from a “degradation of fastener torque for various front and rear axle attachments to the chassis module.” The fix will be for dealers to retorque the 19 fasteners. Questions? Call 800/853-1403.
•Jeep is trying to build a “photo mosaic” by giving everyone a chance to upload a fave Jeep photo on Facebook. Click the “Make History” tab on Jeep’s page.
•The Walter P. Chrysler Museum will have six sessions in its lecture/workshop series this year, including “70 Years of Jeep Heritage” on July 16. For more info on the others in the series and about tickets, go to wpchryslermuseum.org.
•U.S. News & World Report included the Wrangler in the article “Cars That’ll Look Good in 10 Years.” We concur. Except for the “cars” part.
•Fiat and GM will share ownership of VM Motori, which manufactures diesel engines. This can only mean diesels for Jeeps in North America, yes?
•Simply put, the Harris Interactive EquiTrend rankings show “which brands are doing it well,” with “it” referring to building brand loyalty. Consumers are surveyed, and equity for more than 1,200 brands in 46 categories is studied. For the 2011, in the category of automotive full line, Jeep landed in 11th position “at or above industry average equity scores.”

Industry News
•Free Superchips Flashpaq: Do you think you have the ugliest Jeep on your block? How about your town, or the entire nation? Show us by posting a pic of your ugly Jeep on the jpmagazine.com forums under the topic “Give me the Superchips, I have the ugliest Jeep ever!” We’ll pick a winner on July 5 and send the Superchips Flashpaq of your choice. Go to superchips.com for product info and available applications.
•You can get an “Imported from Detroit” T-shirt (and other related merch) at chrysler.com.
•MBRP Performance Exhaust is doing a JK diesel truck build: Jeep + Cummins. You can see loads of photos on the company’s Facebook page.
•B&M has acquired Flowmaster.
•Mercedes-Benz USA will offer driver’s ed for teens at the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy. Porsche, you have fewer than 10 years to get one up and running for Tech Editor Hazel’s kids.

Auto Graphs
•Disney to probably put out a monthly mag called Cars based on the movie Cars. We’re already lobbying for Sarge as the mag’s first “Sexiest Man Alive.”
•Speaking of Cars, Cars 2 hits theaters on June 24 and will include a character called Rip Clutchgoneski from the Republic of New Rearendia.
•HID headlights have been around for more than 10 years, but apparently they aren’t gaining momentum like other safety features. Osram Sylvania Specialty Lighting noted that 22 percent of new vehicles in 2007 had HID standard or as an option. By 2015, the prediction is 38 percent.
•Autotrader.com’s Trend Engine Report points to trucks and SUVs continuing to be what shoppers are most interested in when it comes to researching new, used, and certified preowned vehicles.
•Window stickers for used vehicles are now at fueleconomy.gov. The EPA fuel-economy estimates will include all vehicle models sold in the U.S. since 1984.
•NHTSA is flipping through data to determine whether burns from seat heaters are becoming an actual problem.
•If you’re a stamp collector, remain calm. If you other people like automotive stamps, remain calm. The postal service is releasing a commemorative stamp as a nod to the 100th anniversary of the first Indy 500, featuring that race’s winner, Ray Harroun and the Marmon Wasp.
•Now your GPS can deliver what will undoubtedly be not-crazy driving directions voiced by Gary Busey, thanks to navtones.com, which develops celeb GPS voices. GB will navigate you with advice such as “be in the silence and let the journey be in the noise.” So, turn left?
•The American Public Transportation Association is predicting that as fuel prices go up, so will the number of Americans heading to public transportation.