1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4wd on 2040-cars

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Chrysler's Jefferson North plant builds 5-millionth SUV [w/video]

Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant opened in 1992 for production of the first Jeep Grand Cherokee, but in the subsequent years, the Detroit plant has gone on to produce some of the company's biggest SUVs including the Jeep Commander and Dodge Durango. Earlier this week, the plant produced its five-millionth SUV, which, fittingly, was a Grand Cherokee.
Celebrating the plant's five-millionth unit, the silver 2014 Grand Cherokee was promptly donated to the USO. In addition to this milestone SUV, Chrysler also had a near-perfect 1993-95 ZJ Grand Cherokee on hand for the photo op. Scroll down for the Chrysler press release as well as a video showing some of the speeches from the celebration.

2017 Jeep Model Year Preview and Updates

This will be a huge year for Jeep, with the introduction of an all-new compact Compass crossover - pictured above - taking place in November, 2016 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the pending introduction of an all-new Wrangler later in the calendar year. Not all Jeep products are Trail Rated, but those models will get the most marketing attention. CHEROKEE: Jeep's midsize crossover receives a mild refresh as it makes its way from assembly in Toledo, Ohio to a retooled plant in Belvidere, Illinois. Most of the Jeep feature updates are directed to the Cherokee Trailhawk, which receives heated/ventilated front seats covered in Nappa leather, a power eight-way driver's seat, Keyless Entry 'n Go and remote start. An upscale Overland trim adds a Heavy Duty Protection Group and Trailer Tow Prep packages. COMPASS: This all-new 'global' compact SUV will be built and sold around the world. Sitting atop FCA's 'small wide 4X4 platform' (like the newish Renegade), the Compass offers a more substantial presence than the smaller Renegade, while promising to be more maneuverable and responsive – at least with comparable four-cylinder power – than the larger Cherokee. Expect the 2018 Compass to arrive in Jeep showrooms by midyear. GRAND CHEROKEE: The Trailhawk, with up to eleven inches of ground clearance, best-in-class towing and a crawl ratio of 44.1:1, is revived, three new exterior colors are added, and the front fascia on all '17 Grand Cherokees is tweaked. For those wishing to reach the Summit, Jeep's Grand(est) Cherokee offers an upgraded interior, 'high' style. PATRIOT: At the tail end of its product cycle, the Patriot is unchanged. Of continued interest to Jeep enthusiasts is its genuine off-road credibility, propelled by the Patriot's Freedom Drive II off-road package. This includes a second-generation CVT2L (CVT transmission with low range), skid plates and a more offroad-centric wheel/tire combination. RENEGADE: If you're a traditional Jeep enthusiast you'll wonder why anyone would consider a Renegade. And if you're a new Jeep enthusiast you'll wonder why anyone would disregard this popular Jeep introduction. Still new to the showroom, in 2017 Jeep introduces two new trims: the offroad-oriented Deserthawk and attitude-oriented Altitude.

FCA reportedly joins the crowd skipping this year's Paris Motor Show

It's likely FCA vehicles will not be seen at the Paris Motor Show this year. Automotive News is reporting that Fiats, Alfa Romeos, Jeeps and Abarths will not be a part at the show, based on information circulating in the French media. There's a possibility that Maseratis will be displayed at a special section dedicated to upscale cars, but Maserati too will not have a show stand of its own. Ferrari will have a stand, but as it happens, the supercar maker has been a standalone brand since 2015. Skipping the Paris show follows FCA's decision not to take part in the Frankfurt show last year, and the two shows alternate as the biggest autumnal automotive show in Europe. Volkswagen will also not attend the event, and neither will Ford, Nissan or Infiniti. This has become a problem for car shows worldwide, including Detroit's North American International Auto Show. FCA has not released a formal statement about the matter, but a FCA spokesman, quoted by the French magazine L'Argus, reportedly said that the sales and publicity brought in by the show stand would not justify the costs of attending. The news mirrors Volvo's newly announced plan to not take part at the next Geneva Motor Show, but to arrange "bespoke activities" to introduce its cars instead. Related Video: