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New Grand Cherokee Arrives in ’11
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Chrysler LLC is preparing to spend $281 million to renovate the Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit where the company now builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander.
The automaker hasn't said anything publicly at the future Grand Cherokee but privately Chrysler officials have confirmed that the money is being spent to produce new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, starting in the summer and fall of 2010.
The Jeep Commander, which also is built at Jefferson North, will probably be dropped as Chrysler reduces the number of models it builds as part of the effort to right-size the company for its shrunken market share, analysts have suggested.
While the Commander gets decommissioned, the new Grand Cherokee--one of the Chrysler's signature vehicles--will come with an optional diesel engine made by Daimler AG or with an optional two-mode hybrid system, which Chrysler has developed jointly through a joint venture with General Motors, Daimler and BMW, Chrysler officials indicated privately last week.
In addition, the 2011 Grand Cherokee will be one of the very first vehicles engineered and sourced under the tough regime being installed by Chrysler's new chief executive officer Robert Nardelli and vice chairman and president Jim Press. Both Press and Nardelli are taking a direct role in decisions on the new Grand Cherokee, Chrysler sources said.
Key supply contracts will be awarded in the next few months but the new purchasing regime installed by Nardelli is having a huge impact. At the same time, the influence of Daimler's product development system on Chrysler decisions is rapidly diminishing.
The new Grand Cherokee, however, will have to be developed for export, which probably means it is being developed for both right and left-hand drive markets.
"Developing foreign markets is a priority for us," noted one Chrysler officials.
Nardelli said back in January that as Chrysler expands its overseas sales operations, it also plans to do more design and engineering work in places such as China and Eastern Europe.
The automaker hasn't said anything publicly at the future Grand Cherokee but privately Chrysler officials have confirmed that the money is being spent to produce new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, starting in the summer and fall of 2010.
The Jeep Commander, which also is built at Jefferson North, will probably be dropped as Chrysler reduces the number of models it builds as part of the effort to right-size the company for its shrunken market share, analysts have suggested.
While the Commander gets decommissioned, the new Grand Cherokee--one of the Chrysler's signature vehicles--will come with an optional diesel engine made by Daimler AG or with an optional two-mode hybrid system, which Chrysler has developed jointly through a joint venture with General Motors, Daimler and BMW, Chrysler officials indicated privately last week.
In addition, the 2011 Grand Cherokee will be one of the very first vehicles engineered and sourced under the tough regime being installed by Chrysler's new chief executive officer Robert Nardelli and vice chairman and president Jim Press. Both Press and Nardelli are taking a direct role in decisions on the new Grand Cherokee, Chrysler sources said.
Key supply contracts will be awarded in the next few months but the new purchasing regime installed by Nardelli is having a huge impact. At the same time, the influence of Daimler's product development system on Chrysler decisions is rapidly diminishing.
The new Grand Cherokee, however, will have to be developed for export, which probably means it is being developed for both right and left-hand drive markets.
"Developing foreign markets is a priority for us," noted one Chrysler officials.
Nardelli said back in January that as Chrysler expands its overseas sales operations, it also plans to do more design and engineering work in places such as China and Eastern Europe.
Responses (19 total)
By Wildman | Posted: Apr 1st 2008, 03:11:12 AM
You know, I've seen the econo-cars that seem to made from flattened pop cans - not to impressed with it's safety or cargo capacity. What we today is a fad. Americans need speed and space. And the Hybrid revolution is just a cop out. What we need is fuel cell power. Until that time comes I will drive my 02 4.7l H.O. GC even if gas goes to $5.50/gal. I get 24mpg on highway and I can still tow my boat and go camping back in the mountains. Want to go green? Go fuel cell!!!
By Erik Frisk | Posted: Mar 13th 2008, 09:51:05 PM
The point is, the current generation of this vehicle is decent in function but it's stuck in the early '90s in form. People have moved on, and just as people moved on from their T&C wagons in the '70s and from their minivans in the '80s, they ain't coming back. This vehicle is going to be even more obsolete and irrelevant in '11 than it is now. It just goes to show how insular and out of touch the folks in Auburn Hills might be at times. How 'bout some new engineering/design investment in some of those half-baked products that have come out over the past year or two...you know, the ones that are in relevant segments that might be growing?
By Andy | Posted: Mar 12th 2008, 02:51:04 PM
The Commander and Aspen are two vehicles that Chrysler never really needed to make. If they'd been introduced ten years ago and owners became loyal to the name and brand, it could have been different,even with gas at $3/gal+. Same with the Dodge Nitro, which I believe was created to fulfill a UAW contract requirement.
Not a Jeep fan, but the GC is a nice vehicle and having a CRD version will give those that want it another reason to buy one.
A mild hybrid (like the GMC Tahoe and the like) would have been a good idea for Aspen/Commander, but I think it's too late for that.
By Ed | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 04:02:10 PM
The diesel makes a lot of sense, but I suspect it will be too late to save the SUV.
The GC will arrive all right in 2011, but it will be DOA.
By Havoline | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 03:29:47 PM
If I may interupt this political and personal discourse for a moment, I'd like to interject that someone got his (or her) wires crossed with regard to the diesel engine to be offered in the 2011 Grand Cherokee. It will not be the Daimler engine - it will be the new Cummins 4.2 V6 and it will be available in the 2010 model.
By Thor | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 01:00:20 PM
" Justin Says:
March 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Thor, you voted for Bush TWICE and you’re PROUD of that?! I think you just proved our point. You’re obviously missing a chromosome or something. What’s next? Gonna brag about marrying your sister?"
Obviously we two do not have much in common... you should not assume others brag about what YOU brag about.
"Looking forward to seeing the new GC."
I am sure Chrysler will not have to publicize your interest in their vehicle... Do not expect to be their spokesperson any time soon, VULGARIAN LOSER!
Had enough for the day, worthless PUNK? Lots more where thiscame from!
By Thor | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 12:57:26 PM
Oiljust passed $109.
The Grand Cherokee, the non-grands Cherokee, the Explorer, the Suburban, the Expedition and the Durango are all already fossils.
Dinosaurs.
And partly responsible for the huge rise in gas prices for ALL the rest of us, that are sober and have a brain and do not need a Hummer for the soccer mom to take the kids to the stupid game.
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
By Jason R. | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 02:22:01 AM
Bill Burke...name sounds familiar....aren't you a Chrysler insider?
By Titan | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 02:00:08 AM
Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep already have enough urban SUVs. Make the the next Grand Cherokee an offroad capable vehicle like it was until 2004, not a tall station wagon like the current model. I want a nice family vehicle that can take my kids to some great remote camping spots.
And where is this 5.6l v8 and 4.2l v6 Cummins diesel I read about in development years ago? I'd rather have that than the 3.0l Benz diesel this article alouds to.
By Justin | Posted: Mar 11th 2008, 01:23:23 AM
Thor, you voted for Bush TWICE and you're PROUD of that?! I think you just proved our point. You're obviously missing a chromosome or something. What's next? Gonna brag about marrying your sister?
Looking forward to seeing the new GC.
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