The Not So Grand 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Matthew Keegan
Besides the Wrangler, no other name is best equated with the Jeep brand than Cherokee, a model that has led Jeep for the past twenty-five years. Now called the Grand Cherokee, this award winning SUV appeals to the person who wants luxury as well as off-road capability although the Wrangler is best suited for the trail stomping driver.
Sunk By SUV Sales
Like every other manufacturer selling sport utility vehicles these days, parent Chrysler LLC has seen a huge drop off in Jeep Grand Cherokee sales to the tune of a 48% decrease for July 2008 over the same period in 2007. This unprecedented drop has hit Chrysler the most as the company has long been dependent on trucks and SUVs for the overwhelming majority of their sales.
Despite the bad news, Chrysler has big plans for the Grand Cherokee when the 2011 model is released in 2010. According to company reports, Chrysler will invest $1.8 billion retooling its Jefferson North Assembly Plant (Detroit) to build the next generation Grand Cherokee as well as several new models. The side benefit of this investment is that Chrysler expects that the beleaguered Motor City plant will need 400 new workers.
The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Though Chrysler hasn’t shared all of the news yet regarding the proposed Grand Cherokee, they have said the following:
The Grand Cherokee will ride on a car-based platform instead of on a truck platform, much in the way that today’s crossover vehicles are built. Lighter materials a slightly smaller body will mean that the model will see noticeable improvements over its current 15/19 mpg numbers. A V6 engine will power the new Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee will still be 4×4 capable, but expect that this will mean light duty off-roading at best.
The Not So Grand Cherokee
Chrysler says that the Grand Cherokee name will be retained for the new model, though purists may argue that what is being served up is something far less grand. Chrysler, like every other car manufacturer, is dealing with the permanency of high fuel costs and what the consumer wants will ultimately dictate what each car company must build.
(Source: Chrysler LLC)
Besides the Wrangler, no other name is best equated with the Jeep brand than Cherokee, a model that has led Jeep for the past twenty-five years. Now called the Grand Cherokee, this award winning SUV appeals to the person who wants luxury as well as off-road capability although the Wrangler is best suited for the trail stomping driver.
Sunk By SUV Sales
Like every other manufacturer selling sport utility vehicles these days, parent Chrysler LLC has seen a huge drop off in Jeep Grand Cherokee sales to the tune of a 48% decrease for July 2008 over the same period in 2007. This unprecedented drop has hit Chrysler the most as the company has long been dependent on trucks and SUVs for the overwhelming majority of their sales.
Despite the bad news, Chrysler has big plans for the Grand Cherokee when the 2011 model is released in 2010. According to company reports, Chrysler will invest $1.8 billion retooling its Jefferson North Assembly Plant (Detroit) to build the next generation Grand Cherokee as well as several new models. The side benefit of this investment is that Chrysler expects that the beleaguered Motor City plant will need 400 new workers.
The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Though Chrysler hasn’t shared all of the news yet regarding the proposed Grand Cherokee, they have said the following:
The Grand Cherokee will ride on a car-based platform instead of on a truck platform, much in the way that today’s crossover vehicles are built. Lighter materials a slightly smaller body will mean that the model will see noticeable improvements over its current 15/19 mpg numbers. A V6 engine will power the new Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee will still be 4×4 capable, but expect that this will mean light duty off-roading at best.
The Not So Grand Cherokee
Chrysler says that the Grand Cherokee name will be retained for the new model, though purists may argue that what is being served up is something far less grand. Chrysler, like every other car manufacturer, is dealing with the permanency of high fuel costs and what the consumer wants will ultimately dictate what each car company must build.
(Source: Chrysler LLC)
