Grand Cherokee on Steroids

[ThrottleJockey]

Jeep's gonna bulk up the Grand Cherokee for 2005. The new rig will be Trailblazer XL, Envoy XL sized. It's called the 'Overland'.



The steroids?



An inline six, turbodiesel option. Talking the wife into one right now.

Think about it! Not one but two, count 'em, two, turbodiesels in the driveway!



Oh yeah!

 

[CATCRACKER]

i will have one of those

 

[JVolkmann]

Holy @#% ! I just called my girlfriend and told her I am buying her a new car. I have been waiting for a SUV with a CTD. Just like you said not one but two CTD in the drive way. YES !

 

[dieselshu]

Diesel in a Jeep

Yeah, I believe I read something about installing a 2. 8l inline 4 in a liberty but the weight was an issue, but now if they go with a larger frame set up it will be perfect. I think they are using a similiar set up in Europe.





Dave



Dont know if I could pry the keys from the grand caravan from the wife's cold hands

 

[JVolkmann]

Hey Throttlejockey, where did you hear that. I worked for Chrysler for seven years and was always saying they need to build a SUV with that motor. The reply was , "It will never happen". I hope it does.



Jeff

 

[TboneMan]

Re: Diesel in a Jeep

Originally posted by DShuart

Yeah, I believe I read something about installing a 2. 8l inline 4 in a liberty but the weight was an issue, but now if they go with a larger frame set up it will be perfect. I think they are using a similiar set up in Europe.





Dave



Dont know if I could pry the keys from the grand caravan from the wife's cold hands

DC already sells the Liberty with the 2. 8l 4 banging diesel in Europe (I beleive they call it a Cherokee there, however). I don't think I'd want another "big" vehicle so the Liberty Diesel is what I'm waiting for.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

JVolkman



You ever see that show on the Speed Channel called Autoline Detroit? Jim Dunn from Popular Mechanics was on today with his Spy Shot segment featuring the 2005 Jeep Overland.

The SUV was all mocked up with that black preprodution prototype fabric they're always screwing around with up in Dearborne, MI.



Big ol'e test muffler and verticle stack hanging off the back spare tire carrier testing emissions of someone's (Mercedes?) diesel.



DShuart

Yeah, they did mention the fact it WAS a european diesel in the mock up.

Diesels are really getting popular, huh guys?



Brian

 

[Rosco]

In Europe you can already get the Grand Cherokee with a diesel in it. If you want to read about it their was a write up in Truck Trend Magazine a few issues back. FWIW the diesel is a Mercedes engine.

 

[Cooker]

I think the diesel in the Grand Cherokee in Europe is just shy of 200HP. I'll take a 25MPG GC, 4x4, Limited. Too bad we cannot buy one here.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

I'll believe it when I am sitting in one on the dealer's lot, going for a test drive. Seems as if these proposals from the automakers to offer a diesel keep coming up canceled due to the next tier of emissions standards. I recall reading the GM Colorado was supposed to have a diesel option, the Liberty was to have a diesel, the Ford F150 and Expedition... where are they? I haven't even seen a diesel VW Passat nor the VW Tourag diesel yet!



If the gov't would realize the fuel savings diesels have (less dependency of foreign oil), and that the new technology being introduced can substantially reduce NOX and N2O along with soot emmisions, then maybe it will happen. Over in Europe they have it figured out and give diesel engines the break they deserve.



I'd love to see an inline 6 diesel in more GM vehicles like the Trailblazer and Suburban (not just the 3/4 ton Sub, but a smaller diesel in the 1/2 ton Suburban would be a big seller).



It sure is frustrating reading about all the neat turbodiesel versions of vehicles in Europe while we North Americans (yes Canada is tough on diesel emissions too) get nothing but gasoline burning engines.



*edit added*

One of the big reasons is we're still waiting for ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. Once the US refineries are MANDATED to produce it then maybe we'll start to see more diesel options.

*end edit*