1991 Jeep Cherokee Laredo Sport Utility 4-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver is a more rugged Trailhawk

We briefly mentioned the Jeep Cherokee Trail Carver that was heading to SEMA last week when discussing the Mopar lineup set to be shown in Las Vegas. At the time, though, we weren't able to dive too deeply into details. But with SEMA in full swing, we were able to sneak over and grab some snaps of one of the first modified Cherokees we've seen. The Cherokee is, after all, kind of an unknown quantity in the modification department, being so new and featuring such a polarizing design. We were quite interested to see what Mopar could come up with.
Starting with the Trailhawk 4x4 and its 3.2-liter V6, the engine is fitted with a Mopar cold-air intake and a new exhaust, although it's not clear what sort of power boost has resulted. We'll admit, we were hoping Jeep and Mopar would get a bit more aggressive with the Cherokee's suspension (has anyone thrown a few-inch lift on the new Jeep yet?), but there's no mention of upgrades beyond the knobby, off-road tires. Those should do some good when the going gets rough, while rock rails are there to protect the Auburn Pearl paint on the body.
Speaking of that paint, it's complemented by an interesting graphics package in contrasting black and Crush Orange. The cabin sports Katzkin Amaretto leather seats, along with tech-friendly items like a wireless charging system for cellphones and wireless internet.

Petrolicious profiles an heirloom Willys Jeep CJ-3B

Things tend to move pretty quickly in the automotive industry, but some icons that endure. Most of them are off-roaders – the Land Rover Defender, Mercedes G-Wagen, and of course the Jeep Wrangler. The latter traces its roots, of course, to the CJ-model Willys Jeep, built for civilian use in the wake of World War Two where it cut its teeth on the shores of Normandy and kicking off a legend that still endures over half a century later. For its latest video, Petrolicious profiles one such off-roader, and the man who owns it. That man is Larry Shank from California, and his ride is a 1953 Willys Jeep CJ-3B hooked up to a 1947 Ken-Skill Kustom Kamper Model 10. Both belonged to his father before him, and they would take family vacations in the wheeled pair from when he was young. His dad taught him to drive and maintain it, and they bonded over the shared experience. Shank still enjoys driving down the dirt roads and off the beaten paths of the American Southwest, and to hear him speak of it, he wouldn't trade in his Jeep for anything in the world. Watch his story unfold in the eight-minute video clip above to see what an enduring icon looks like. News Source: Petrolicious via YouTube Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles Classics Videos petrolicious willys

Chrysler investigating complaints of vehicles with faulty power modules

Chrysler owners are hopping mad after experiencing a series of electrical gremlins in some of the company's vehicles. Issues range from mere annoyances - windows rolling down and radios turning off of their own accord - to serious safety issues, with headlights that randomly shut off at night and cars that stall and refuse to start.
The issues are being blamed on the total integrated power module, which can cost up to $1,000 for customers to replace. This, of course, has led to a hefty batch of complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with 240 owners expressing their displeasure so far. Another site, CarComplaints.com, has registered over 300 complaints relating to the 2010 to 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, alone, according to The New York Times.
Chrysler has acknowledged that it's investigating the complaints and is analyzing the faulty TIPMs, but that isn't quite enough for customers of the affected vehicles. The newspaper has snagged a few of the more harrowing tales with the electrically challenged Chrysler products, culled from the NHTSA complaints.