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3 Things We Can Expect From The 2019 Jeep Renegade
When the Jeep Renegade debuted back in 2014, it easily became a favorite because of its city-friendly design and off-road capabilities. After four years, Jeep decided it’s time to redesign the Renegade, which showed off its new looks at the Turin Motor Show in Italy.
Sleeker and more modern, the new Renegade will feature an updated grille, snazzier lights, and a new set of powertrains.
Updated Grille
One of the first things you’ll notice about the new Renegade is the changes on the front grille. The vertical chrome bars are the same, but they are now thinner and they still divide the grille into seven square sections.
Snazzier Lights
Both the headlights and the taillights are more stylish on this new Renegade. Wasn’t it just a few days ago that Jeep teased the Renegade’s new taillights? This would redesign the whole look of the Jeep’s rear end and would somehow be the highlight of the differences that separate this new Renegade from the previous model.
There’s an “X” inside each lamp but this one is bigger and more prominent than before, plus the black surround is no longer bulky. In the center of the light, there might be a Jeep grille. Aside from the headlights and the taillights, Jeep also redesigned the lower vents and repositioned the foglights.
New Powertrains
Jeep said it would have new engines for the European market (we have no word yet about the US market). The new engines include a 1.0-liter engine that produces 120 horsepower and a 1.3-liter engine with 150 horsepower or 180 horsepower, depending on the configuration chosen by the buyer.
Specifications of the Jeep Renegade for the US version are not available yet, but the current model in the market offers 1.4-liter turbo-four that churns out 160 horsepower or the optional 2.4-liter I-4 with 180 horsepower.
Next-Gen Jeep Grand Cherokee Will Be Based On Alfa Romeo Stelvio Platform
The Jeep Grand Cherokee, together with the Dodge Durango, has been using a premium platform gifted by Daimler since 2011. But that’s about to change now as the next-generation Grand Cherokee will underpin the same platform used on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
This was confirmed by company CEO Sergio Marchionne during the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles investor conference in Italy last week. Marchionne confirmed reports that the Grand Cherokee is using the same platform used by the Stelvio and the Giulia sedan.
The original architecture has been modified and extended to accommodate both the two-row and the three-row Grand Cherokee, Marchionne said. The Jeep plans to release both five-seater and seven-seater for the new iteration of the Grand Cherokee. But more than that, the company CEO also revealed that Jeep is planning to come up with a three-row E-segment mid-sized SUV by 2022. That vehicle might be called the Grand Cherokee as well, though we’re not exactly sure where it will sit in the lineup.
Based on the company’s plans, the new Grand Cherokee will be the first vehicle in the lineup to have Level 2 self-driving capability. That means it will be able to brake, accelerate, steer, and change lanes on long highway drives, similar to what the Cadillac Super Cruise system can do. That semi-autonomous driving capability may arrive in 2020, though a Level 3 self-driving technology is slated to appear sometimes by the end of 2021.
There is no specific timeline yet for the next-generation Grand Cherokee, though the work on the new platform has already started. That means that the new vehicle might arrive by 2019 or 2020 at the latest, which is at the end of Jeep’s ambitious five-year plan.
The self-driving technologies might appear on this next-generation vehicle. At least, that’s what makes sense to us. It’s going to either be a 2020 or 2021 model.
3 Things To Know About The Jeep Grand Commander
The 2018 Beijing Auto Show has on full display the Jeep Grand Commander, a massive three-row, seven-seater, full-sized SUV. The Grand Commander is the newest Jeep model available to the Chinese market. The others are Compass, Renegade, and Cherokee.
The Grand Commander sits on a long wheelbase, making it a full-sized SUV. Although Jeep has yet to release info on dimensions, one look at the Grand Commander and you’ll this is one classic SUV (definitely not a crossover).
1. Design
When it comes to design, the Grand Commander is not that far off from Grand Cherokee, though the latter is sportier because of its more aggressive front bumper. The Commander is statelier with its rectangular headlights, compact front grille, and a business-like bumper, fog lamps, and chrome trim.
The interior features a three-row seating layout that can accommodate up to seven people. The front section looks like an upgraded Grand Cherokee, thanks to wood trims on a few spots and on the steering wheel.
2. Powertrains
There’s no available information about the powertrains options for the Grand Commander. We can surmise, based on the company’s Chinese website, that one of the options would be a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that is similar to the one found in the new Wrangler. That unit can produce 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque on the Wrangler. If that unit will be fitted on the Grand Commander, expect it to produce around 350 horsepower.
3. Sales Increase
The Grand Commander should further boost Jeep’s market in China. It already has a pretty impressive lineup of vehicles for the Chinese market, but the Grand Commander will be the pinnacle of the available models. Last year, Jeep sold 200,000 units in China, a massive increase from the sales numbers in 2016.
And though there has been a drop in sales in the first quarter of 2018, the arrival of the Grand Commander should remedy that soon.
Jeep Wrangler To Arrive In Showrooms In April 2019
The new Jeep Wrangler will hit dealers’ showrooms in April 2019, that’s the only piece of information we got from the four-hour-long conference that Fiat-Chrysler dealers had last week. The production for the pickup will begin in the fourth quarter of this year, so it makes sense that availability in showrooms will only start April next year.
What we are waiting for, though, is a look at the bedded Jeep minus the camouflage that we have seen it is wrapped in less than eight weeks ago. There are rumors, and we’re pretty sure there’s a bit of truth to this, that the official introduction will happen at the LA Auto Show this November to December. If previous timelines are to be the basis, this makes sense since the standard Wrangler only broke cover a year ago (by November).
Though we’re anticipating for the November introduction, we don’t know exactly what to expect. We don’t even know under what name this new pickup will be released. Jeep has kept everything under wraps. But based on all the spy shots and leaks we have heard and seen, the Jeep will be a four-door Unlimited with a short bed. Though there are rumors that it will be a two-door Wrangler pickup, these remain mere speculations up to now.
The powertrain options might be the same as the others in the lineup: a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that can deliver 268 horses, a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that produces 285 horsepower, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 442 pound-feet of torque.
Sergio Marchionne, Fiat-Chrysler’s CEO, expects 100,000 Wrangler pickups to be sold each year starting April 2019. If reached, that would mean a 56-percent increase in Wrangler’s current US and European volume.
The last Wrangler pickup was the 1986 CJ-8 Scrambler but in April 2019, the Wrangler will join the likes of Chevrolet Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, and the new Ford Ranger. The Wrangler, however, will still be the only one to offer a convertible top.
Here are the latest spy shots of the upcoming Jeep Wrangler from Autoblog:
2018 Jeep Sandstorm Will Set Your Racing Hearts Ablaze
Jeep is looking at introducing seven new concept cars, one of which is the Jeep Sandstorm. It drew inspiration from the Baja racing trucks, and this is most noticeable with the V-8 under the hood and the upgraded suspension.
Exterior
The designers gave the Sandstorm an appearance that is no doubt influenced and inspired by the Baja racers. It has a carbon fiber for a hood with square intakes and several rows of vents. The flared-out fenders out front feature more vents while the top sees an additional matte black roll cage and rear lay-down spare tire carrier. The body panels are finished in bright orange paint.
The rear side has a cleaner and more streamlined appearance, thanks to the removal of the door handles, the swing gate, and the aft doors. Other race-truck-inspired additions are the tube bumpers in front and back, the beefed-up rock rails, the racing-style fuel filler, and the KC Carbon series for the auxiliary lights and chase light.
The Sandstorm is mounted on 17-inch wheels in copper-colored inner framework. These are wrapped in 39.5-inch Krawler rubber from BG Goodrich.
Interior
The front seats are wrapped in leather upholstery while the rear has low-back racing buckets. Tech instruments include a racing-spec gauge cluster, a seven-inch off-road GPS, and an onboard air compressor. There are also independent rocker switches for the electronics, the axle lockers, and the air compressor.
Drivetrain
The Sandstorm is being powered by a 6.4-liter V-8 engine with heavy-duty components such as the Dynatrac 60 axles and a 5.68 gear ratio. Jeep did not say what the outputs were for the engine, but it’s likely to be 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, making the off-road journey nore enjoyable.
The 2018 Jeep Sandstorm is perfect not just for the off-road or the race truck experience, but for everyday activities, too.
Jeep Adds $750 To The Price of The 2018 Wrangler JL
Like a thief in the night, Jeep quietly raised the price for its all-new 2018 Wrangler JL by $750. The news came out just after Jeep released its February sales report, which showed a 17 percent increase on the sale of the Wrangler compared to the same period last year.
The report said that Jeep was able to sell 15,936 units of the off-road-oriented midsize SUV for the month of February. This boosted, of course, the moral of Jeep to actually increase the price of the Wrangler JL. There will be a $500 add-on to the price of every Wrangler model with the $250 being charged as the SUV’s destination fee.
Because of this, the cheapest Wrangler JL that customers can get their hands on will be priced $28,940. If you want a Jeep Wrangler, but don’t exactly want to shell out for the prices of the current generation, you can still get your hands on the 2018 Wrangler JL’s predecessor. Jeep is still selling the Wrangler JK at $25,440 after Jeep, same with the JL, added a $250 destination charge.
Even before Jeep decided to cash in on the rising popularity of the Wrangler JL, people already found the model too pricey for their liking. Still, that didn’t stop fans and enthusiasts of the model to dip into their pockets and place their money for GMC to swipe.
You can’t really blame GMC to wanting to rise the prices for the JL. Both Mercedes-Benz and Toyota are selling similar off-road vehicles for more than double the price of the Wrangler JL. Does that mean the JL has cheaper specs and materials? Definitely, no. But, it does show you just how much these vehicles really cost. The luxury vehicles, G-Class and Land Cruiser, are both doing well in sales, so the $750 price increase may not affect Wrangler’s sales, after all.
This Is What The 2019 Jeep Renegade Spy Shots Tell Us
Now that it’s in its midway point of life, the Jeep Renegade is about to receive some minor upgrades. The spy shots recently shown revealed two things: there are no major changes on the Renegade’s exterior but its interior might receive some upgrades.
The prototype for the Renegade was recently seen camouflaged and all. It is slated to be revealed later this year and will be produced as a 2019 model.
The Renegade’s cute exterior is something we all loved about it and thankfully, Jeep won’t be making any huge adjustments on that part, except for some minor tweaks on the front and rear fascias. But with all the camouflage gear we’ve seen the Renegade in, it’s hard to tell what changes are we talking about exactly.
Inside, the changes are more interesting. The new Renegade’s center stack will be redesigned with a larger infotainment screen. You’ll also find the climate control dials on the center stack, similar to the ones recently revealed in the 2019 Jeep Cherokee.
There are no exact details yet on the powertrains, though we’re hoping there could be some upgrades in this front. It’s possible that we’ll get to see the 2.0-liter turbo, same as with the Cherokee and the Wrangler. That would be a good replacement for the Renegade’s current 2.4-liter mill. The only problem is that the turbo might be too powerful for the Jeep’s pint-sized Renegade.
We’ll have more details about the new Renegade hopefully in the coming weeks.
Check out the spy shots of the new Jeep Renegade taken by Motor1 in the gallery below:
3 Things That Make Us Excited About The 2019 Jeep Cherokee
As part of an extensive freshening, Jeep’s midsize SUV, the Cherokee, is getting a slew of new updates, tech, and even powertrain. This only makes us want to reach into our pockets and check if we’ve got money to pay for the humongous price tag we’re sure the 2019 Cherokee will come packaged in.
1. Powertrain
The Jeep Cherokee gets a new powertrain courtesy of an optional turbocharged inline-four engine that could produce 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Other options available are the standard 2.4-liter I-4 engine that delivers 180 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque and a naturally-aspirated 3.2-liter V-6 that churns out 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque.
All of these three engines are combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission with a new operating software that promises to improve performance. To increase fuel efficiency, Jeep also equipped the engines with a stop-start technology.
2. Exterior
The Jeep Cherokee’s famous front fascia has been redesigned to make way for daytime running lights and LED headlights that have been infused into a single unit. The stacked design on the previous model was a popular favorite, but Jeep decided its time to forego that layout.
Aside from the front fascia, there’s also a refreshed hood and the seven-slot grille. In the rear, the liftgate design offers an optional hands-free automatic opening feature that you can activate with a mere foot wave under the bumper. There’s also a new set of rear lighting, which is a thin red band of LED lighting that signals the stop, turn, and backing lights.
3. Interior
There’s three inches of additional cabin width in the new Jeep Cherokee. This extra space now has 27 additional cubic feet for the cabin. Those who complained in the past about not being able to fit their golf clubs can now rest and be merry.
The 2019 Jeep Cherokee will be available to the US market during the first quarter. There are no pricing details as of now.
Jeep Yuntu Production Version Spied
Last April, automotive fans were treated to the unveiling of the Jeep Yuntu concept vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show. The auto features a hybrid powertrain with a lot of passenger capacity. Recently, a camouflaged prototype of the SUV’s production version was seen while it was undergoing testing at a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles facility.
Design is Very Much Like the Concept Model
Looking at the spy shots shown by Autoblog, the prototype for the Jeep Yuntu production version appears to remain true to its concept form. The shape of the spied auto’s roof, hood, doors, grille and rear are very much similar to the unit displayed in Shanghai.
The Yuntu boasts a long wheelbase. It utilizes a stretched version of the Cherokee’s Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) platform. Then, it offers three-rows of seats that can accommodate up to seven people.
It is definitely a large SUV. However, judging from the prototype’s low approach and departure angles as well as the choice of wheels, it looks like it is not built for serious off-roading.
Is It Keeping the Hybrid Powertrain?
So far, we are quite unsure yet if the prototype we are seeing here is equipped with a plug-in hybrid powertrain like its concept variant. It should be noted though that the Yuntu is initially planned as a China exclusive product of Jeep. If that’s the case, it might get a hybrid setup afterall in order to go in line with the Chinese government’s goal of curbing pollution in the country.
It is hard to make out what is inside the vehicle too, but it is expected to remain faithful to its preview in China, which shows a futuristic approach. It should be recalled that the interior of the concept version of the vehicle is adorned with LCD screens behind its seats and in the dashboard.
Jeep Yuntu Spy Photos
Check out the new spy shots of the Jeep Yuntu prototype in the gallery below:
How Much is the Limited Classic Porsche 597 Jagdwagen Worth Now?
The Porsche 597 Jagdwagen was a limited edition vehicle. It was designed as a “hunting car.” It was light, thanks to its simplistic engineering, but the unit may cost more than a quarter of a million dollars nowadays.
According to Autoweek, the 2019 Cayenne traces its roots back to the Porsche 597 Jagdwagen. The name of the vehicle roughly means “hunting car”. The auto was made during a NATO competition to create a light army-transport vehicle similar to the American-made Jeep.
The Jagdwagen had a small design with a removable canvas roofing. It ran on a 4×4 drivetrain and powered by a rear-mounted, air-cooled, four-cylinder Porsche 356 engine. There were two power units available for the auto. One was a 1.5-liter engine and the other was 1.6-liter engine.
The more powerful 1.6-liter engine model of the 597 that was introduced in its later production stage was capable of producing up to 50 hp. All that power was distributed via a five-speed manual gearbox, which was a lot during its time. The top speed of the hunting car was at 62 mph.
The source said that the Jagdwagen only weighed 2,182 pounds, which made it highly maneuverable. It could switch between a two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive setup on the fly. It had a climb gradient of 65 percent and it can float on water, making it amphibious.
Unfortunately, after spending $1.8 million for the development of the 597, which was too much during the 50’s, Porsche lost the NATO contest to DKW Munga. However, the automaker wanted to capitalize on the project after their failed entry by rebranding the light vehicle as a hunting car.
The Jagdwagen was produced from 1955 to 1957. Only 71 examples of it were ever made. At present, only 15 of it survived the test of time.
The report claimed that the 1957 model of the 597 in the pictures below was sold at the Bonhams’ Goodwood auction last year for $235,331. Earlier that same year, the Jagdwagen sold as a 1958 year model previously owned by Jerry Seinfield fetched $330,000 at an Amelia Island auction.
