Liberty's future

daspes · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:28 pm

From jeepnewsnow.com...

Quote:

Today was a big day for the latest incarnation (pun intended) of Chrysler - CEO Sergio Marchionne led a marathon 7-hour news conference announcing the 5-year plan to bring Chrysler back from the brink (again) - including some very interesting Jeep news.

Perhaps the biggest Jeep announcement was that a Diesel Jeep Wrangler is coming late in 2010. It's not totally clear if it will be available in the U.S. at launch.

Other Jeep-related information included:

The much-anticipated Pentastar "Phoenix" V6 engine will make its debut in the 2010 Grand Cherokee next summer.

It appears that Chrysler's main thrust with the Jeep platform will be to grow international sales outside of North America.

Expect a new, Fiat-produced small "B-segment" SUV from Jeep for the 2013 model year.

The Patriot and Compass will get new interiors for 2010. The Wrangler will get a new engine.

The Liberty will have a minor refresh for 2010 and will be replaced in 2013 with a Fiat-produced vehicle.

2010 will be the last model year for the Commander.

2010 is the 70th anniversary of the Jeep brand. All models will have a commemorative edition.

The Patriot and Compass will be replaced by a single, new "C-segment" nameplate.

Overall, nothing ground-breaking, but lots of changes coming to the nameplate in the next few years - it'll be very interesting to see what Fiat-produced vehicles they slap the Jeep name on...

Thank goodness the JK will get a diesel at least...

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:39 pm

JK getting some update inside and out making them more interesting for younger drivers???? Not sure what that means but was mentioned on the local news here in Toledo.
Also said the Grand Cherokee would get a makeover to become more off road friendly?
And yes a diesel in the JK but not want it is yet? Anyone hear?
All big news for everyone here, they said if projections are right they could go back to having 3 shifts, something that they have not had since they were building KJs

eyehatetofu · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:53 pm

Panda 4x4.

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:29 pm

Now maybe ARB will pull their head out of the sand and build us a bumper!!!

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:44 pm

Quote:

The Patriot and Compass will be replaced by a single, new "C-segment" nameplate.

Here comes the Panda!!! :lol:

Quote:

Expect a new, Fiat-produced small "B-segment" SUV from Jeep for the 2013 model year.

The Patriot and Compass will get new interiors for 2010. The Wrangler will get a new engine.

The Liberty will have a minor refresh for 2010 and will be replaced in 2013 with a Fiat-produced vehicle.

And I expect the two bolded parts here are really two different ways of saying the same thing...

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:09 pm

Quote:

And starting in 2013, the Liberty crossover will have a Fiat platform.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20091105/CARNEWS/911059998

Crossover?

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:25 pm

I hate it. The Jeep was a big part of saving the French at Normandy and now we're hoping they save Jeep. Pathetic. D@mn Chrysler, anyway. It's interesting how people are taking the Libby and putting SFA's, lockers, lifts, etc. to keep up with the "classic" Wrangler and talking about putting V8's in them to make them what they want....an American muscle machine, and now we're looking at the French making them a "crossover", a watered down "wannabe" that is not American at all. If that happens I guess I'll just continue to restore my "classic" American made '71 Chevy Chevelle, SuperSport, 454 C.I., Cowl Induction Hood, muscle car and continue to ride my "classic" American made '04 Harley-Davidson Road King bagger and look for a "classic" old American made 80's model CJ-7 w/ a V6 and remain a dyed in the wool "classic" American made boomer, Vietnam combat veteran, southern country boy.
Please forgive my rant....I love my Jeep.

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:09 am

Crossover ????? :shock:

What the %&#$. I bought my jeep because of three main things the diesel engine for reasonable economy like my previous Outback, ability to tow 3500 up to pounds or more in this case, and it looks more like a guys small SUV than anything else I seen other than maybe the Xterra. I could have looked at a V6 Toyota Rav4 or Highlander, both met 2 out of 3 of those things but look totaly like girly cars. Plus I like that the Liberty is "Trail Rated" after years and years of me driving forigen cars I am back to something domestic. They better not mess with the Liberty too much or they will loose me and the rest of the members here as possable repeat buyers. granted I bought mine used but when its time to upgrade someday it may be to new and if I don't like the new Jeep then what? GMC, chevy, Nissan or Land Rover?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:16 am

Personally I cant wait for that new Grand Cherokee to come out. I know its a toned down Jeep but it looked pretty sweet. Jeeps got to stay with the market and economy so I think we all knew this was coming. Always wondered what would happen to the liberty so Im not surprised buy that at all.

Personally I never liked the compass and the patriot so I dont care what they do with those. Sure hate to see the liberty get replaced with a cross over though. I think the kj was the last real Jeep besides the JK.. Which is why I can never let it go..

STINGN · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:17 am

i never said I would sell my Range Rover, but I did

I say I will never sell my Liberty, and hope I don't

But I know my next vehicle is a Land Rover Discovery or a 2007 Range Rover

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:25 am

They just said it on the news here again that they know the Jeep brand will save Chyrsler. They want to keep the Jk as a true off road vehicle that can also take you to the store. Changes are coming but from what they have said here on the local news and what I have talked to the guys who build the JKs and Libertys here in Toledo its all going in a good direction.
I am hoping for way better things from Fiat than what we had in the previous owners

daspes · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:06 am

jhblackwell wrote:

I hate it. The Jeep was a big part of saving the French at Normandy and now we're hoping they save Jeep. Pathetic. D@mn Chrysler, anyway. It's interesting how people are taking the Libby and putting SFA's, lockers, lifts, etc. to keep up with the "classic" Wrangler and talking about putting V8's in them to make them what they want....an American muscle machine, and now we're looking at the Frogs making them a "crossover", a watered down "wannabe" that is not American at all. If that happens I guess I'll just continue to restore my "classic" American made '71 Chevy Chevelle, SuperSport, 454 C.I., Cowl Induction Hood, muscle car and continue to ride my "classic" American made '04 Harley-Davidson Road King bagger and look for a "classic" old American made 80's model CJ-7 w/ a V6 and remain a dyed in the wool "classic" American made boomer, Vietnam combat veteran, southern country boy.
Please forgive my rant....I love my Jeep.

FYI, Fiat is an Itialian Company.

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 9:57 am

daspes wrote:

FYI, Fiat is an Itialian Company.

Thank you for the correction. I must admit I knew that, but got sidetracked during my rant. And I like the Italians

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:15 pm

and I changed your ethnic slur.

jhblackwell · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:32 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

and I changed your ethnic slur.

And I thank you for that. As I said before...forgive me...I tend to spout off sometimes without thinking :oops:

Gets me into more trouble than I want to admit. :roll:

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 12:48 pm

I looked at Fiat's line incliding some of Alfa and Lancia, they do have some nice cars and technology to offer in passanger cars like the 500 and several small diesel engines for cars but in trucks and SUVs they lack anything like the liberty. thankfully there are no plans to mess with the JK. I hope they don't mess up the liberty

THe Panda looks like a nice crossover girly car to compete with the Rav4 and CRv

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 1:38 pm

mikey1273 wrote:

THe Panda looks like a nice crossover girly car to compete with the Rav4 and CRv

And it looks like it will be more than a match for those --

Current Generation Panda 4x4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAg4DdXAp7Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko-oRl-WqSM

Previous Generation Panda 4x4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYmtZKD6RVY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32wZnpyGx_I

And a really good video (unfortunately in Polish I believe -- we should have Greg translate!!!) that gives a good 3-D overview of the Panda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRtLBgW60LE

There are TONS of other videos on U-Tube with folks showing off their 4x4 Pandas and what they can do. Beats the Compass any day!!!

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

IMO the Panda is a ugly vehicle. Target audience is college kids and skirts. Would look swell in the driveway next to the tree huggin Honda's. Not for a Jeep fan for sure, IMO :roll:

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 4:16 pm

I like the video putting the panda up against the land rover .... the panda almost won not bad.

Its still too small and under powered to do all our libertys can do and yes its not that good looking. The cross version is the best of them. If it is offered here as a replacement for the compass lets hope its restyled some.

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2009 6:23 pm

mikey1273 wrote:

I like the video putting the panda up against the land rover .... the panda almost won not bad.

Its still too small and under powered to do all our libertys can do and yes its not that good looking. The cross version is the best of them. If it is offered here as a replacement for the compass lets hope its restyled some.

Agreed. So, if a modified version of the Panda Cross 4x4 (the Jeep CrossCountry, maybe?) replaces the Compass, and we have some idea as to the future design ideas for the JKs and GC (still want to know how they are going to make the GC 'more off-road friendly'), that really only leaves the KK and Patriot portion of the line-up in doubt. From my POV, I hope that they do not decide that that the Liberty really does need to be a "Crossover" and give us something that is supposed to compete with the Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV-4 as a compact or the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot as a midsized CUV.

Liberty's future

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