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Jeep adds top-level, $35,690 Cherokee Overland trim [UPDATE]

UPDATE: We initially received incorrect pricing information. FCA says the Cherokee Overland will cost $35,690, including $995 for destination. If you want a more luxurious Jeep, you buy a Grand Cherokee Overland or Summit. But if the idea of dropping $45,000 to $51,000 gives you pause, you'll welcome the news that FCA's off-road brand will introduce a luxury-oriented version of its smaller, more affordable Cherokee. The new Cherokee Overland incorporates a number of cosmetic changes. All of the black plastic body elements have been replaced with body-colored items, improving the overall aesthetic. Jeep fitted handsome, polished 18-inch wheels along with chrome trim on the upper and lower grilles, and the halogen headlights have been swapped with standard bi-xenon units. Previously, the HID headlights were only available as part of an $1,845 Luxury Pack on the Cherokee Limited. In the cabin, the biggest change is found on the seats, where Nappa leather comes standard along with heating and ventilation functions. The steering wheel gets Zebrano wood trim, and instrument panel is wrapped in leather. Beyond that, the Overland is unsurprisingly well-equipped, with an Alpine Premium Audio system, FCA's excellent 8.4-inch UConnect system with navigation, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert. The three big optional extras include the Cherokee's 3.2-liter V6, the Jeep Active Drive II all-wheel-drive system, and the Technology Group (auto high beams, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, park assist, adaptive cruise, front and rear park assist with rear stop, and automatic windshield wipers). Owners will also be able to snag a sunroof and a couple of smaller items, like a wireless charging pad. Prices for the Cherokee Overland start at $35,690 (including destination) with sales to begin this spring. Read on for the official announcement from Jeep. Jeep® Expands Cherokee Lineup with Premium Overland Model • New 2016 Jeep® Cherokee Overland debuts at New England International Auto Show • More premium Jeep Cherokee model boasts an unmatched combination of luxury and capability in the mid-size SUV segment • Cherokee Overland delivers sophisticated styling, a well-appointed interior, a long list of premium standard features, and legendary Jeep capability • New premium Cherokee Overland available in Jeep showrooms this spring • Jeep Cherokee sales increased 23 percent in 2015 BOSTON, Jan.

Jeep patent filing in China show plans for 3-row Grand Commander

Back in October, we brought you spy shots of a Jeep crossover mule driving around Fiat-Chrysler's headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. They appeared to show a prototype version of the Yuntu Concept, a three-row utility vehicle unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show and designed for China. Now, new patent filings submitted to China's trademark office and originally reported by Chinese-language website AutoHome appear to back that up. They suggest that Jeep will call the model the Grand Commander, add a seventh seat (the Yuntu had six) and will debut it next April in Beijing. While the Yuntu was a plug-in hybrid, the Grand Commander will reportedly be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that makes 270 horsepower, which sounds like the same four-cylinder engine that powers the 2018 Wrangler. But since Jeep has confirmed a plug-in hybrid version of the Wrangler coming for 2020, it's not unreasonable to expect that configuration could come later for the Grand Commander, too, especially considering the Chinese government's push to ramp up production of electric vehicles. The patent filings also list names for other Jeep models in China, including the concept-sounding names Portal and Hyperspace. The Portal was the name Chrysler gave to a pretty nifty electric minivan concept with double sliding bay doors at this year's CES in Las Vegas.Related Video:

Weekly Recap: Matthew McConaughey's star shines brightly for Lincoln

The commercials were a little strange at first, but the ensuing spoofs were hilarious. And all jokes aside, Matthew McConaughey has made a difference for Lincoln. Advertisements starring the Oscar winner launched in September, and the results have been impressive. The number of customers clicking on Lincoln.com to check out the MKC – the crossover McConaughey pitched – has tripled since the ads began airing, a spokesman told Autoblog. They also generated 4.4 million views on YouTube and spawned parodies by Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O'Brien, South Park and Jim Carrey on Saturday Night Live, which racked up another 15 million views. Most importantly, Lincoln's sales have increased 15 percent through November, helped significantly by the strong launch of the MKC. Without the addition of the MKC, Lincoln's sales would have been essentially flat last year. The MKC has received solid reviews from consumers and the press, though it has had several recalls. "The overwhelming response to the MKC campaign sparked truly great awareness for Lincoln," Andrew Frick, Lincoln group marketing manager, said in a statement. Now Lincoln has launched another round of spots, which kicked off New Year's Day during college football bowl games. This time, McConaughey is hawking the MKZ sedan and its hybrid sibling. The spots, called Diner and Balance, use the same artistic formula as the earlier ads, with McConaughey intoning seriously about the cars in dramatic settings. They were shot over two days in Los Angeles and were directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, a Danish filmmaker who directed the 2011 move, Drive. The ads continue Lincoln's multiyear deal with McConaughey, who has said he's been long been interested in the brand. He starred in the 2011 thriller, The Lincoln Lawyer, as a defense attorney who worked out of a Town Car, though that was before his deal with Lincoln. In one of the earlier ads, McConaughey claims: "I've been driving a Lincoln since long before anybody paid me to drive one. I didn't do it to be cool. I didn't to it to make a statement. I just liked it." That sentiment appears to have worked for the MKC's launch, and with this new advertising blitz, Lincoln hopes it carries over to the MKZ. Other News And Notes Infiniti Q30 spied in winter testing Infiniti is continuing development work on the Q30 small crossover, and we've recently captured it during winter testing.