New Jeep Grand Cherokee Lands in the UK, Available Exclusively with 3.0 V6 Diesel

Jeep claims that it has created the premium SUV market almost 20 years ago with the first generation of the Grand Cherokee (though Mercedes’ M-Class may actually have a better claim on the word “premium”, but whatever…). We’ve already seen the latest iteration of Jeep’s iconic 4x4, and we must admit that, on paper at least, it looks like a significant leap forward from its predecessors.

This is accomplished by being based on a new (Mercedes M-Class derived) platform which aims for much improved driving characteristics and cabin quality, while retaining the off-road capabilities that it has became famous for.

Now the Grand Cherokee is available in right-hand drive in the UK in two versions, Limited and Overland. Both are powered by a 237-bhp 3.0-litre CRD common-rail turbo diesel which offers improved fuel economy (Jeep claims up to 39/34 mpg (UK/US respectively), or 6,0 liters/100 km and a maximum range of 700 miles (1,125 km) – a sound choice given the oil prices in Europe and its buyers' dislike of fuel-guzzling SUVs.

Pricing for the new Grand Cherokee starts at £36,795 for the Limited edition, while the top-of-the-line Overland starts from £43,995. And then there’s, of course, the options list…

Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Equipment and pricing:

Limited (from £36,795)
Quadra-Trac II® 4WD system
3.0 CRD V6 237bhp
Thatcham Category 1 Alarm and Immobiliser
Selec-Terrain™ system
Bi-Xenon HID headlamps with headlamp washers and auto-levelling
Rain sensitive windscreen wipers
Air-conditioning with dual zone Automatic Temperature Control (ATC)
Media Centre with 6.5'' touch screen display and 30GB hard drive with 6700 song capacity
Keyless Enter-N-Go™
18” Alloy wheels
Fog lamps
Illuminated entry
Hill Descent Control
Hill Start Assist
Bright exhaust tailpipes
Uconnect Bluetooth with voice command
iPod® connector with remote USB port
ParkSense® front and rear park assist system
ParkView® rear back-up camera
Leather trimmed seats
Heated front and rear seats
Power 8-way driver and passenger seat memory
Power tilt / telescopic steering column
Alpine surround sound system (9 speakers and subwoofer)
Tyre pressure monitoring display
Power folding multi-function door mirrors

Limited - Options
Rear DVD with single sunroof
CommandView panoramic sunroof
Performance pack (20" wheels with 265/60 R20 performance tyres, performance brakes and sports suspension)
Navigation & Luxury pack (Uconnect navigation system, heated steering wheel and power liftgate)
Deep-tint sunscreen glass
Overland (from £43,995)
Compared to the Limited, the Overland version adds the following:
20” alloy wheels
Performance brakes with sports suspension
Cargo net
Door courtesy lamps
Premium Nappa leather trimmed seats with contrast stitching
Ventilated front seats
Leather covered dashboard
Dark wood interior trim inserts
Deep-tint sunscreen glass
Power liftgate
Heated steering wheel
Quadra-Lift™ air suspension
CommandView panoramic sunroof
Overland interior detailing
Uconnect navigation system
Blind-spot and rear cross path detection
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision warning

Optional equipment pricing:
Rear DVD with single sunroof (Limited) £1,700 RRP
Rear DVD with single sunroof retrofit (Overland) £700 RRP
CommandView panoramic sunroof (Limited)£1,200 RRP
Performance pack (Limited) £2,000 RRP
Navigation & Luxury pack (Limited) £1,500 RRP
Deep-tint sunscreen glass (Limited) £350 RRP

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Maserati SUV may get Hemi V8, not Ferrari V8 after all

Environmentalists may hate them, but SUVs have proved quite popular –that’s why even carmakers with no former experience are jumping in on the bandwagon, especially in the executive (and most profitable) market. The latest automaker to do so is Maserati which will launch its first ever crossover next year.

At first, Fiat-Chrysler’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, had revealed that that the Maserati SUV will be based on the new Grand Cherokee’s platform, which in turn is based on the quite capable Mercedes M-Class. However, Marchionne had also hinted that, like other Maserati models, it may get a Ferrari V8 –a very mouth-watering, and logical, proposal since the two companies belong to the same group.

But now it seems, according to a report from Top Gear magazine, that this may not be the case because the Italian V8’s high-revving nature is not as suitable for an SUV, which requires beefy low-end torque.

Marchionne’s solution to the problem? The Chrysler-built 6.4-litre and 465 hp Hemi, because it already fits the platform and seems like the obvious, and much cheaper choice than Ferrari’s V8.

In any case, don’t expect the Maserati SUV to display the Grand Cherokee’s off-road performance. It will instead be more performance-orientated with a plush interior and the emphasis given on on-road performance and handling.

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Jeep Survivor Concept Study - For the Man Who Has Everything

A cross between the Warthog from Halo and the pseudo-militaristic Mercedes-Benz M-Classes from The Lost World: Jurassic Park, is the best description I can come up with for Max Ostap's Jeep:Survivor [sic] concept study for the Art Center College of Design.

An off-road vehicle for the man who considers nature an enemy to be vanquished more than anything else, the Survivor draws its inspiration from the Jeep Bantam of WWII.

It’s difficult to deride this aggressive yet strangely attractive concept. It has a purposeful, muscular stance and its integrated front bull bar, roof mounted spare, factory fitted spotlights and a pickup-like rear tray (for your animals carcasses, presumably) are all clever touches.

It reminds me most of the Jeep Renegade Concept of 2008; a personal favourite of mine.

Check out our gallery and leave your thoughts below.

By Tristan Hankins

Designer: Max Ostap

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Jeep Betting on Three New SUVs to Boost European Sales Five-Times by 2014

Jeep has disclosed plans to increase European sales from 25,000 units this year to 125,000 units by 2014. Europe will play a key role in Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plans to double the brand’s global sales from 420,000 units last year to 800,000 units in 2014.

"Our plans for Europe are ambitious but doable. Europe for Jeep is an incredibly important market. We have been here for 30 years and half of our international sales historically were in Europe," Jeep CEO Mike Manley told Autonews Europe.

He added that in order to fulfill the ambitious plan, Jeep will roll out new products, including the company's first small SUV, and will expand its European network from 430 to 650 dealers by 2014. New Jeep models will include three fuel-efficient SUVs that will help increase sales in countries that have emission-based car taxes.

The small SUV is a Fiat-based vehicle code-named B-SUV that will be built in Toluca, Mexico starting in late 2013 or early 2014 and will be sold in Europe, North America and Latin America.

The second new model is a replacement for the Cherokee SUV (called the Liberty in the U.S.) that will begin production in the U.S. by early 2013 and will be launched in Europe by spring 2013. Codenamed D-SUV, the Cherokee’s replacement will be offered with AWD as standard while powertrain options will include a MultiAir version of Fiat's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder petrol engine producing 170 horsepower.

Finally, the third new model is a compact SUV that will replace the Compass/Patriot models. Scheduled to debut in Europe by mid-2013, the car will be built at Fiat's Mirafiori plant in Italy. Codenamed C-SUV, the vehicle will be sold globally and will share components with the Alfa Romeo C-SUV that will also be built in Mirafiori by the end of 2012. The C-SUV will be offered with AWD and FWD.

By Dan Mihalascu

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