Jeep: Wrangler Sahara Sport Utility 2-door on 2040-cars

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2016 Jeep Wrangler Backcountry is Xtremely Purple

Assuming you're headed into so-called backcountry to do fun, outdoorsy kinds of things, chances are, you wouldn't want to use a bright purple vehicle with hot pink graphics as your means to get off the beaten path. Particularly if you're doing those outdoor activities in a winter wonderland, surrounded by nature's own cold, white blanket. Fortunately, then, Jeep is offering its new Wrangler Backcountry in four colors that aren't called Xtreme Purple: blue, black, white, and gray. No matter which hue you choose, though, you'll get the graphics package, so best to bear that in mind. Besides its searing shade of paint, the Wrangler Backcountry is based on the Sahara model and comes equipped as you'd expect for a real, useful, backwoods vehicle. An off-road-spec front bumper joins a matching powdercoated rear bumper, and its 17-inch wheels are borrowed from the hardcore Rubicon model. Buyers will have a choice of Rubicon Rock Rails or Sahara side steps to ease ingress and egress, and a hardtop in either black or, for an added price, a body-color. But hopefully not purple. The interior is updated for the Wrangler Backcountry with black and grey plastics and stitching, along with black leather and "sport mesh" seating surfaces. A nine-speaker Alpine sound system pumps up the jams, and Bluetooth comes standard. You can read more about the Jeep Wrangler Backcountry in the press release below, but first, check out our high-res image gallery of live photos from the show floor in LA. Oh, and if you do really like Xtreme Purple, you should know that the Wrangler Backcountry is the only Jeep you can get in this particular retina-assaulting hue. 2016 Jeep Wrangler Backcountry The Jeep Wrangler Backcountry boasts a winter capability theme and is based on the Wrangler Sahara model. It features a Backcountry decal on the front fender and rear quarter panel, a unique off-road front and rear powder coated bumper, 17-inch Rubicon wheels painted in Mid-gloss Black and a black fuel fill door. Wrangler Rubicon rock rails are standard on the Wrangler Backcountry, but Sahara side steps are also available at no additional charge. A black hard top is standard, but an optional body color hard top is also available. Wrangler Backcountry is available in five colors: Hydro Blue, Black, Bright White, Granite Crystal and Xtreme Purple. Backcountry is the only model in Wrangler's lineup available in Xtreme Purple.

Jeep 'trailer hitch' recall repair rates lag amidst reports of new death

The problem with exploding fuel tanks in the 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty in some rear collisions continues to be a problem for FCA US, formerly Chrysler. The campaign to fix the utility vehicles was first announced in June 2013 after 51 claimed fatalities, and the fixes reportedly began in January 2014. However, there continue to be new deaths blaming the problem in unrepaired models, according to The Detroit News, citing data from the Center for Auto Safety. The automaker initially refused NHTSA's pressuring to conduct a recall because the models met applicable crash standards when they were manufactured, but eventually, there was a compromise to inspect and fix about 1.56 million Jeeps. With the fuel tank located between the rear axle and bumper, the unusual fix was to install a trailer hitch for extra protection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration later agreed that the change would provide added safety in lower to medium speed crashes, but not high-speed crashes. The most recent fatality, according to The Detroit News, occurred on a Michigan freeway in November 2014 when a pregnant woman in a 2003 Liberty was rear-ended when traffic slowed. Her Jeep impacted the vehicle in front, rolled over and a fire resulted. The family reportedly plans to file a lawsuit against FCA. At issue has been the rate at which the vehicles are being fixed. In July 2014, the automaker estimated it could have all of the vehicles repaired by March 2015 thanks to additional hitch supplies. But by November, NHTSA claimed that only three percent of the recalled models had been fixed. FCA says it continues to work to notify owners, though. According to Chrysler spokesperson Eric Mayne to Autoblog, "We are processing approximately 1,200 vehicles per day. Every owner who schedules service is receiving service. As of Jan. 8, that total was 193,490." The company has also mailed out over two million notifications to owners, more than the number officially called in. Given the age of these Jeeps, many of them have had multiple owners, and historically, the older a vehicle is, the less likely the recall fixes are to be carried out. FCA is currently creating a video urging people to have the hitch installed to be released soon. News Source: The Detroit News [1], [2]Image Credit: Jeep Recalls Jeep Safety SUV FCA jeep liberty jeep safety

Editors' Picks January 2022 | Ford Maverick, Jeep Grand Cherokee and more

This month, we awarded Editors' Pick awards to a number of totally redesigned, new models. Most notable of the bunch is the 2022 Ford Maverick. Ford took a chance on a new segment, and its execution is as close to perfect as we could hope for. The Hyundai Santa Cruz is a worthy competitor, though, and was also named an Editors' Pick. Also in this list, we have the redesigned Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's an excellent SUV, and it's only going to get better when the plug-in hybrid 4xe model hits the roads. In case you missed our previous Editors' Picks posts, here’s a quick refresher on whatÂ’s going on here. We rate all the new cars we drive with a 1-10 score. Cars that are exemplary in their respective segments get EditorsÂ’ Pick status. Those are the ones weÂ’d recommend to our friends, family and anybody whoÂ’s curious and asks the question. The list that youÂ’ll find below consists of every car we rated in January that earned an EditorsÂ’ Pick. 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Quick take: Jeep's midsize SUV hits it out of the park with the latest generation. We could stand to see some powertrain innovation, but the Grand Cherokee's premium proposition is sound. Score: 8.0 What it competes with: Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer, Nissan Murano Pros: Highly capable, luxurious interior, choices aplenty Cons: Pricey, fuel economy From the editors Associate Editor, Byron Hurd — "Jeep did almost everything right with the redesigned Grand Cherokee. Its powertrain offerings are fairly unremarkable, but the new two-row 4xe will go a long way toward addressing that. It's an otherwise fantastic, modern, luxurious Jeep SUV." In-depth analysis: 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee First Drive Review | 1 fewer row, 1 more touchscreen   2022 Ford Maverick Quick take: The Ford Maverick offers tremendous value, efficiency, incredibly well-thought-out packaging, plenty of storage, a fairly engaging drive and ease of use, all with the utility of a pickup bed. We like the hybrid, but the EcoBoost engine and FX4 package offer more capability. Score: 8 What it competes with: Hyundai Santa Cruz Pros: Very affordable, Hybrid fuel economy, compact size Cons: Tight backseat, FWD only Hybrid, no cruise control in base trim From the editors: Green, Senior Editor John Beltz Snyder — "The Maverick is simply a dynamite package. It's smart, useful, drivable, efficient, providing affordable utility in the underserved compact pickup segment.