It’s no secret that Chrysler has some overlapping models in its lineup. Case(s)-in-point: it’s hard to make a rational argument that Jeep should be offering both the Compass and Patriot (not to mention Dodge selling the Patriot’s platform sibling, the Caliber) or the Grand Cherokee and the Commander. The Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango barely pretend to be different vehicles and there’s no reason to sell both the Jeep Liberty and Dodge Nitro when they’re basically the same machine. This revelation is as obvious to Chrysler’s new management as it is to us, and Chrysler President Jim Press, says as much. “We’re going to stop overlapping, we’re going to bring everything under one roof. By doing that we will have more products in the markets we are not covering.”

Also marked as redundant by Press are the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans, but as easy as it may be to pinpoint overlapping models, fixing that problem may prove more difficult. Dealers will need to begin offering the whole Chrysler line of vehicles if this strategy of “bringing everything under one roof” is to succeed. Expect to see drastic changes taking place in the next four to five years.

[Source: AutoBlog]

Chrysler LLC should be credited with making a strong push for diesels in the U.S., having sold oil burners like the last-gen Jeep Liberty CRD and current Grand Cherokee CRD for the past few years already. People who prefer crawling rocks to carrying kids, however, are clamoring for a diesel motor in the Wrangler. Though Jeep has no plans of which we’re aware on offering a diesel Wrangler in showrooms, Jeep Performance, a division of Mopar, is reportedly working on an engine swap kit that would allow owners to install the 2.8L diesel four-cylinder from the last-gen Liberty CRD in their Wranglers. The 2.8L four-cylinder produces 160 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and while it was good for 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway in the Liberty, Wrangler owners are probably more interested in its prodigious torque that’s well-suited for off-road excursions than its frugality with fuel. Jeep is throwing an excursion of its own for the media in Moab, Utah while we’ll be covering the New York Auto Show next week, but more information is promised by the source of this info, 4Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine, afterwards. Thanks for the tip, Robert!

[Source: AutoBlog]

Chrysler president Jim Press saw what hybrid technology did for Toyota, and now the 37-year auto industry vet wants to repeat that success with the Pentastar brands. Press informed attendees at a seminar in New York recently that Chrysler would one day utilize hybrid power in each and every Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep. Of course, the charismatic exec had no timetable for Chrysler’s full immersion into the land of hybrid hyperbole, but we would guess that kindergarteners may be ready for college by the time this happens. Before Press finished, he also mentioned an intention to sell as many Chryslers in other markets as the Auburn Hills-based company sells in the States.

While it’s easy to kick Chrysler when it’s down, the privately-owned company has to aim high or it won’t have much of a chance. From the day Press entered Chrysler’s hallowed halls, he’s had a consistent message that the company would have plenty of alternative powertrains for its vehicles. Maybe we’ll see Press one day driving down Woodward in a Dodge Zeo. OK, probably not.

[Source: AutoBlog]

While delta4x4 would like you to think its Grand Cherokee SRT8-based DUNE PROJECT is ready to storm the desert, those 23-inch rims wrapped in 40-series Continentals say otherwise. No matter. We think the DP’s cool nonetheless, thanks mostly to the 499 horsepower it dishes out courtesy of a revamped exhaust and reprogrammed engine management system. 62 miles per hour arrives in under five seconds.

Visual changes include a 100 mm lift, a custom front bumper with an integrated Warn winch, and PIAA off-road lighting mounted to the front wheel arches and a stainless roof rack. The matte maroon finish isn’t exactly attractive, though, and those bright blue brake calipers don’t help matters in that regard, either. Colors, thankfully, can be changed. We’d leave everything else just as is.

[Source: delta4x4]