2011 - Jeep Grand Cherokee on 2040-cars

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Georgia jury awards $150 million in Jeep fire case

FCA US continues to fight allegations that some Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty sport-utility vehicles are unsafe because of the possibility of fires in rear-end collisions. In one recently decided case, a jury in Georgia awarded $150 million in damages to a family whose child died in a blaze in 2012 in a 1999 Grand Cherokee. The jury believed that FCA acted with "reckless and wanton disregard," and didn't do enough to warn owners, according to Reuters. The automaker was found liable for 99 percent of the damages, and the remaining one percent was for the driver who rear-ended the family's SUV. In a statement from FCA US, the company said that it is considering an appeal. Under Georgia law, the automaker was allegedly unable to present a three-year investigation of rear-impact data to jurors. This was the same information the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration used to decide that the '99 Grand Cherokee "did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety." The original recall for the models covered 1.56 million examples of the 2002-2007 Liberty and 1993-1998 Grand Cherokee. With the fuel tank located between the rear axle and bumper, NHTSA and FCA eventually agreed to install a trailer hitch for extra protection. A further 1.2 million 1999-2004 Grand Cherokees owners received notice of a customer service action to have their vehicles inspected, though no hitch installed. Subsequent tests showed this remedy to be effective for impacts below 40 miles per hour. The automaker has maintained the SUVs met the applicable safety standards of the period when they were built. The company was chastised by NHTSA last year for low repair rates of the problem. FCA US LLC Statement Regarding Walden v Chrysler Group Verdict: April 2, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US is disappointed and will consider an appeal of this verdict. It is unfortunate that under Georgia Law the jury was prevented from taking into account extensive data submitted to NHTSA during a three year investigation, which included more than 20 years of rear impact accident data for tens of millions of vehicles. This and other information provided the basis for NHTSA's determination that the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.

Jeep Wrangler with turbo four now available for order – at $3,000 extra

As a break from tradition, the JL body Jeep Wrangler will be available with a turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder engine. Sources say the 268-horsepower, 295 lb-ft turbo four is now available to be ordered from Jeep dealers, according to a post at the JL Wrangler forums. The kicker is that even though choosing the 2.0-liter direct-injection turbo is a $1,000 option over the base, 285-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with 260 lb-ft of torque, it will only be available with an eight-speed automatic transmission which is itself a $2,000 option, bringing the turbo total to $3,000. Reasons to go for the blown four banger include most likely better fuel economy and improved full-throttle acceleration, even if a six-speed stick shift option would be a good companion for a turbo engine. Our test drive in December noted the overall gearing of the automatic to be quite low, which traditionally compromises fuel economy. Interestingly, there will be a "mild" eTorque plug-in hybrid version of the JL Wrangler in 2020, based on the aforementioned turbo engine. The other upcoming engine option will be a 3.0-liter V6 diesel, with a nearly similar 260-hp power figure but a more substantial 442 lb-ft torque reading. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: JL Wrangler ForumsImage Credit: FCA US Auto News Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles

2019 Jeep Cherokee reveals a much more normal face

Since we started seeing redesigned Jeep Cherokee prototypes, we've suspected that the crossover would lose its controversial split headlights and pointy grille. Finally, we get a good look at a mostly uncovered test car, and it confirms that the new Cherokee will look quite conventional. The obvious change is the headlights. Instead of the slender daytime running lights at the top next to the grille, and the actual illuminating headlights lower in the bumper, all of the elements are integrated into single housings on either side. They're somewhat rectangular now, looking more like those on the Compass and the Grand Cherokee. But you can still see the same hockey-stick shaped LED running light design in the new lamps. The grille has changed, too. It looks much more blunt than the sharply creased, almost pointy grille of the current model. It also looks as though it may extend farther down than the current version. The rest of the Cherokee is very similar to the current model. The flanks are virtually unchanged, as is the interior, and the tail sees only minor changes. The most significant is the move of the license plate from the bumper to the hatch. The taillights' shape hasn't really changed, but the white section is now broken up by black lines, and the red element looks darker. We expect to see the Cherokee refresh soon, possibly by the end of the year. Related Video: