2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport Hard Top 4x4 Automatic 29k Mi Texas Direct Auto on 2040-cars

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FCA to invest $4.5B for new Detroit plant, expanded production at current facilities

We expected some shifts in manufacturing plans as Fiat Chrysler plans to begin electrifying its Jeep brand, but this news bodes well for Michigan. FCA announced today that it would spend $4.5 billion to expand production in the state, including building a new assembly plant in Detroit and increasing capacity at five other facilities in the state. The plan, which FCA says will create nearly 6,500 new jobs, will help to meet increasing demand for Ram and Jeep products, and to electrify Jeep models. $1.6 billion will be set aside to transform the Mack Avenue Engine Complex into a site to build the next generation of Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as an unspecified, new three-row Jeep model. FCA says this part of the plan will create 3,850 new jobs. FCA is increasing its investment in the Warren Truck plant to $1.5 billion in order to continue building the Ram 1500 Classic, as well as the new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, creating 1,400 new jobs. FCA says that the new Ram 1500 Heavy Duty will still be built in Saltillo, Mexico. At FCA's Jefferson North facility, the automaker will invest $900 million to upgrade the plant. This site will continue to build the Dodge Durango, as well help build the next Jeep Grand Cherokee. FCA expects this to create 1,100 new jobs. As Jeep plans to electrify models in its SUV lineup, each of the above plants will produce plug-in hybrid versions of the Jeep models produced there, "with flexibility to build fully battery-electric models in the future," the company said in its announcement. "Three years ago, FCA set a course to grow our profitability based on the strength of the Jeep and Ram brands by realigning our U.S. manufacturing operations," said FCA CEO Mike Manley, referring in part to earlier investments in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan. "Today's announcement represents the next step in that strategy," Manley continued. "It allows Jeep to enter two white space segments that offer significant margin opportunities and will enable new electrified Jeep products, including at least four plug-in hybrid vehicles and the flexibility to produce fully battery-electric vehicles." Other investments include $119 million to move production of the 3.0-, 3.2- and 3.6-liter Pentastar engines from Mack I to the Dundee Engine Plant, and $400 million for increased capacity and 80 new jobs at the Sterling and Warren stamping plants. This comes at a time when FCA's U.S.

2018 Jeep Wrangler revealed | Video

FCA unveiled the all-new 2018 Jeep Wrangler at the 2017 LA Auto Show. The iconic off-roader will be lighter and have better fuel economy than its predecessor. For more coverage of the 2017 LA Auto Show head over to https://www.autoblog.com/la-auto-show/ LA Auto Show Jeep SUV Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video 2017 LA Auto Show off roading wrangler Off-Road Vehicles

Jeep’s latest special edition tries to give the all-American Wrangler European appeal

Jeep has a long history in Europe, starting with GIs bouncing across the continent kicking Nazi ass and much later being a conspicuously American status symbol. It's been a varied existence, to be sure. And there have been a lot of Euro-only editions aimed at Continental tastes, like the Wrangler Polar and the Black Edition II. So this Mopar One Package version of the Wrangler Rubicon, which Jeep showed off at the Geneva show but was just showcased at the "Euro Festival" in Saint-Tropez, wasn't born in a vacuum. It really underlines the continuing appeal in Europe for stereotypically American things. "Euro Festival", after all, is a Harley-Davidson gathering. Harleys are expensive, conspicuous status symbols in Europe – and so is a Wrangler. The Mopar One Package is only available on the Rubicon, and is a little unusual in that it's more function-oriented than the normally cosmetic Euro packages. It has a 2-inch lift kit, larger 32-inch tires, a steering stabilizer, and accessory fenders. Jeep says this is the first time it's been able to offer factory-installed accessories in Europe, so now our friends over there can enjoy the highly addictive experience of ticking off boxes to customize a Wrangler. One thing the Euro Rubicon gets that we can't, which might make American Jeepers a little jealous, is the 2.8-liter CRD diesel engine. That's a VM Motori unit, similar to what was available over here in the Jeep Liberty for a hot minute. Euro Jeeps have used variants of this engine for years. If you want an off-road diesel comparable to the Euro Rubicon, you either have to move to the Euro Zone or buy a new Chevy Colorado ZR2 – which we just drove, by the way. No word on how much the Mopar One Package will set buyers back. It's likely that this is also just a beachhead for more factory customs from Mopar, not just in the Jeep world. It'll be interesting to see how Europe responds. Related Video: Aftermarket Jeep SUV Off-Road Vehicles