Patriot replacing Liberty?

Dutchy · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:15 am

Just wondering, if I'm the only one who thinks that the Patriot will replace the Liberty.

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:34 am

Wrong. The Dodge Nitro shares the next generation Libery Platform (KK). The Liberty plant in Toledo has been half converted for Nitro Production, and after the 2007 model year Liberty, it will be fully converted and the Liberty will see some changes.

That's the current news, at least.

ShoreRenegade · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:58 am

Liberty is the best selling small SUV in the U.S. I would be very suprised if it was replaced by anything in the near future

Black_Dog · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:08 am

My worst fear is that the Liberty will suffer the same fate as the original Cherokee. Jeep intended for the JGC to replace the Cherokee but the Cherokee kept selling well enough that they kept building them. Because the company did not intend to keep the model they never significantly updated it. Year after year the company kept pumping them out to meet demand but year after year they became increasingly obsolete. I hope that the Liberty does not fall into this same netherworld propped up by demand but neglected because the company is not really committed to the platform. I would rather that DCX nix the model than have it languish

This said, I think [hope] that this will not happen. From everything that I have read the new German overseers from Daimler value the Jeep brand more than the Chrysler execs ever did. They recognized that historically when Jeep had strong sales Chrysler Corp did well and years that Jeep languished that Chrysler lost money. They could not understand why Chrysler had neglected its bellwether division. As such the Germans mandated that Jeep models be updated more frequently (JGC and Wrangler) and that more models be made available (Liberty, Commander, Patriot and Compass). By the end of the year the division will have 6 models (7 if you count the Wrangler Unlimited a unique model) up from 3. By this logic I see Jeep continuing to grow, maybe adding a pickup truck, not cutting models. Also, production of the Dodge Nitro is a commitment to the platform for at least a few more years.

chefdab · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:20 pm

Quote:

They will probably sell side by side for a year or so (like DC did with the XJ)

They weren't really sold side by side. The last model year for the XJ was 2001 and the first model year for the KJ was 2002, they just came out really early that year.

nickmv · **Posted:** Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:16 pm

the fact that the XJ was never significantly updated was one of the greatest things about it....the mod market is huge for them because parts for an 84 would work on, for the most part, all the models thru 01.

MoladoGuy · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:47 pm

The redesign will be cosmetic and features...not necessarily frame / suspension / etc...

I hope

LoganSix · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 7:12 pm

chefdab wrote:

Quote:

They will probably sell side by side for a year or so (like DC did with the XJ)

They weren't really sold side by side. The last model year for the XJ was 2001 and the first model year for the KJ was 2002, they just came out really early that year.

I think he meant the XJ and the Grands.

The new Liberty based off of the same platform of the Dodge Nitro will be a little bigger, it will also have a diesel option. The current CRD does not meet regulations, so they had to remove it. The Patriot will fill the place for the smaller Jeep and of course the Compass being a car Jeep bringing in totally new Jeep people. The Gladitor truck Jeep probably won't be around for a couple of years.

The Jeep die hards will only complain about the direction that Jeep is going. But, if Chrysler didn't build the Compass, Patriot, and Liberty, they also couldn't consider building a 4 door Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon edition (droooooool).

Another thing about the Compass and Patriot. They will be built off the same "platform" as the Caliber and another vehicle. The break even point for the platform is 200,000 units. That's across all 4 vehicles. Once that is reached, any vehicle built off of that platform will be profitable. Which means, Chrysler can churn out different varieties off of that platform at minimal cost (i.e. maybe a Rally version of car Jeep). How close is the platform to the 200,000 units? The Caliber sold 20k units in it's first month with a limited release. More success for Chrysler, means more possiblities to dream

MoladoGuy · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 9:02 pm

LoganSix wrote:

More success for Chrysler, means more possiblities to dream

I agree with that. More possibilities to see a Gladiator!!

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

i feel the patriot will not replace the liberty due to the only engine option being 2.4L 4cyl engine, not to mention it is a front-wheel drive platform with independent rear suspension. Who wants a front wheel drive jeep? it does have a 4wd version, but its much like an escape or rav4, front wheel drive with a pitiful rear driveline.

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Mon Jun 12, 2006 10:35 pm

Interesting that on Jeep.com there is not an option for a 2007 Liberty, yet all the other 2007 models are listed.

shadow · **Posted:** Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:04 pm

Steakgoddess wrote:

Interesting that on Jeep.com there is not an option for a 2007 Liberty, yet all the other 2007 models are listed.

Maybe sales have been a little slow and they want to move the 06's first?

Patriot replacing Liberty?

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