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Jeep Grand Cherokee production-intent concept
- New production-intent vehicle boasts stunning exterior with distinct, aggressive flair
- Jeep® connects with consumers to name model via online Jeep “Name My Ride” contest
- Vehicle also on display at Washington (D.C.) Auto Show tomorrow
- Jeep Grand Cherokee sales reach 127,744 units in the U.S. in 2011, up 51 percent vs. 2010
- Jeep brand sales increase 153 percent in Texas in 2011; Grand Cherokee up 226 percent in Texas
- Grand Cherokee most awarded SUV ever; named “SUV of Texas” in 2011 and 2010 Read the rest of this entry »
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) will be supplied to DTE Energy as part of a demonstration project by Chrysler Group LLC
- Real world city miles to be accumulated on demonstration vehicles over the next three years
- Fleet of vehicles developed in partnership with U.S. Department of Energy
- Ram 1500 plug-in electric hybrid test trucks will be used to evaluate city drive cycles, charging performance, fuel economy and real-world performance
PHEV Ram 1500
December 15, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will deliver 10 demonstration fleet Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) pickup trucks to DTE Energy of Detroit.
The PHEV Ram 1500 pickups, delivered by Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of the Chrysler Group’s advanced hybrid vehicle project, are part of a national demonstration fleet of 140 vehicles that will be used during the next three years to evaluate customer usage, drive cycles, charging, thermal management, fuel economy, emissions and impact on the region’s electric grid. In addition to DTE Energy of Detroit, more than 100 vehicles have been delivered to 16 different cities in the past six months.
“Cities have been carefully selected to help the Chrysler Group LLC collect a wide range of data. Working with a local energy partner like DTE that is in our backyard offers a great combination of suburban and rural driving, as well as ever-changing Michigan weather, is ideal as a test cycle for these vehicles. The constant charging will allow us to measure the impact on battery life and charging efficiency.”
–Abdullah Bazzi,
Senior Manager
Chrysler’s Advanced Hybrid Vehicle Project
Chrysler Group LLC began delivering Ram 1500 PHEV trucks to the city of Yuma, Ariz., in May, 2011 to take full advantage of hot weather and conduct thermal testing in the desert southwest. Other cities that have received the demonstration Ram 1500 pickups include San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., Boston, Mass., and Albany, N.Y. Just recently, the New York Police Department also took delivery of five PHEV Ram 1500 PHEV trucks.
PHEV Ram 1500
“The trucks will provide us with a glimpse of what kind of fuel savings cans be afforded with PHEV technologies so we can, at some point, make our truck fleet more environmentally friendly. We’ll be using the trucks at our service centers and in the field at our renewable energy facilities.”
-Trevor Lauer
DTE Energy Vice President,
Marketing and Renewables
Strictly a demonstration program, there are no plans for a production version of the PHEV Ram 1500 trucks at this time.Cities and states were selected to evaluate temperature extremes, urban traffic cycles and diverse climates and geographies.
The Ram 1500 PHEV includes a liquid-cooled 12.9kWhr lithium ion battery pack and a 6.6 kilowatt (kW) on-boardcharger. Additional features include AC power generation of up to 6.6kW; directional charging; reverse power flow and full regenerative braking used to capture more energy. For fuel economy improvements, the front axle of the four-wheel-drive automatic transmission can be disconnected when not needed. The powertrain also includes a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine and a two-mode hybrid transmission. The 5.7-liter Hemi is equipped with a Fuel Saver technology that improves fuel efficiency at highway speeds by shutting down fuel delivery to up to four cylinders.
The battery pack is located under the second-row seat of the pickup and is liquid cooled to help maintain a consistent battery temperature. For on-the-job electrical power tools, a 240 volt/30 amp four-prong outlet and 120volt/20amp duplex outlet power strip is located in the rear box.
PHEV Ram 1500
Urban use will be tracked to measure battery performance and overall hybrid efficiency with the demonstration fleet of pickups. Other uses include military bases where vehicles will be able to provide power back to the electric grid in what is termed “reverse power flow” of up to 6.6kW.
Funding for the program in part is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Transportation Electrification Initiative sponsored by the DOE. The grant, totaling $48 million from DOE and $49.4 million from Chrysler Group LLC, was designed to develop vehicles that will be cost efficient for consumers, satisfy safety concerns of daily travel without recharging and help reduce dependence on foreign oil.
The Chrysler Group LLC also is developing a similar fleet of 25 Town & Country minivans with plug-in hybrid technology for demonstration and evaluation that will be allocated to select cities next year.
As always, click on any of the images in the post to see more photos of Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!
PHEV Ram 1500
FIAT Doblo with Ram Trucks Trim
You knew it had to happen eventually. It was inevitable. And now here it is. The first Fiat to go Chrysler. As of right now it looks like the FIAT Doblo will be coming to US soil wearing the Ram Truck‘s trim. The above picture is not an actual photo of the new van, just what my imagination leads me to believe it may look like, with the headlights possibly being shaped more similar to a Ram 1500‘s. (This is my first attempt at photoshopping a concept vehicle, so go easy on me.)
But then again, that’s just a guess, and your guess is as good as mine! No actual photos have been released yet, but when they are, we’ll bring them your way! Here’s what Chrysler Group LLC had to say about the Fiat Doblo coming to Ram Trucks:
September 9, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich.; Istanbul, Turkey; Turin, Italy – A Letter of Intent has been signed between Fiat Group Automobiles SpA (FGA) and its Turkish joint-venture partner TOFAS for the supply of the Fiat Doblò vehicle to Chrysler Group where it will be sold in the U.S. and Canadian markets under the Ram brand.
Exports of the Doblò, recently voted “International Van of the Year 2011,” will commence in early 2013. The seven-year supply agreement calls for TOFAS to export a total of 190,000 units of the successful Doblò vehicle from its Bursa facility – Turkey’s largest automobile production plant.
TOFAS will invest over $160 million (USD) for the necessary U.S. and Canadian homologation and customer requirement modifications.
Listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange and established 43 years ago in 1968, TOFAS is a joint-venture between Fiat Group Automobiles SpA and the Koc Group.
As always, click on any of the images in the post to see more photos of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 engine
July 8, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The most powerful, technologically advanced, high-performance Jeep® vehicle ever – the all-new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8® will participate in the 2011 Bullrun road rally with professional race driver Robby Gordon behind the wheel. Not available until the third-quarter of this year, the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 will be a stand out amongst the other entries typically consisting of exotic sport and luxury vehicles.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight the capabilities of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. With Robby Gordon pushing the limits, the world will see that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 really is the ultimate performance SUV. Never before has there been such an expression of Jeep capability and utility, world-class performance, luxury and refinement, and advanced innovative technology in one vehicle.”
-Mike Manley
President and CEO
Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is equipped with Chrysler Group’s all-new 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 with Fuel Saver Technology that delivers an estimated 470 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque – an improvement of 45 horsepower and 45 lb.-ft. torque over the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 it replaces. The best handling Jeep vehicle ever features a new SRT-tuned, adaptive damping suspension managed by the new Jeep Selec-Track system that interacts with several different systems (stability control, adaptive damping, transmission shift strategy, transfer case torque proportioning, Electronic Limited Slip Differential performance, throttle control and cylinder de-activation) to automatically tune the dynamics of the vehicle.
The Bullrun Live Rally is the most glamorous and high profile of the new breed of high-end luxury lifestyle automotive rallies. Each year, a hundred of the world’s finest super-cars embark on an epic eight-day rolling party across the USA – bringing together a celebrity strewn cast of characters for an unforgettable adventure. Participants start each day not knowing where they will be heading next. This year’s rally takes place from July 8th- July 15th starting in Las Vegas, Nev. and ending in Miami, Fla.
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
About Jeep Brand
Built on 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.
The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all six Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.
15,000 views on Chrysler Catchall!
We’ve Reached 15,000 Views!
In other Chrysler Catchall news, last night we crossed the 15,000 mark with our view count! In a little over 6 months, we’ve gone from scratch to where we are now. We really appreciate everyone who reads our blog, and want to say thank you! Thanks to all of you for helping make this a reality!
As always, to see more photos of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram vehicles, simply click on any of the images in the post. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!
Jeep Wrangler Fording Water
Thursday, June 2, 2011, Alan and Jackie Ellis-When you own a Jeep® brand vehicle, it’s hard to resist the urge to take your vehicle off-road. We bought our Jeep vehicle to not only experience the adventure lifestyle, but also to go places without the benefit of a paved road. Trail Rated® Jeep brand vehicles offer that opportunity. So with the next series of articles, we’ll talk about some basic off-roading techniques and how you can safely enjoy your Jeep 4×4 on the trail. Off-roading can involve many different types of obstacles, each one presenting different challenges for both the driver and the vehicle. Water fording and driving in mud are two obstacles that are fun and exciting if done properly and safely.
Knowing how to ford water and get through mud is a useful skill for every off-road driver. Almost every off-roading area in the United States (including the desert) will eventually have a place where you will need to cross a stream, ford a large water obstacle, or drive through mud. The two primary concerns for water and mud obstacles are safety and potential damage to your vehicle.
Jeep Wrangler Fording Water
Water Obstacles: Crossing streams and water obstacles are fun and exciting! While you’ve probably seen drivers speed up and roar across a stream, it may not be the smartest thing to do in certain situations….especially through an unknown water obstacle. The first thing you’ll need to know is your own vehicle’s capability. It is important to check your owner’s manual to determine your vehicle’s maximum water fording depth. As an example, a 2010 Trail Rated® Jeep Wrangler’s maximum water depth is 30 inches at speeds under 5 mph, and a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee is 20 inches for standing water and 9 inches for flowing water, both under 5 mph. If you don’t have your manual handy when you get to the water, a general rule of thumb is that water up to the bottom of the bumper is a safe depth to cross to avoid damage (but some models may be lower). Water that is too deep can cause damage to the engine, transmission, differentials, and electronics.
Once you arrive at the water crossing, use a long stick to determine initial water depth, or get out and walk out into the stream if it is not too swift and can be done safely. Put your vehicle in 4WD Low, drive slowly, and be ready to back off if the water gets too deep. Watch for large rocks or holes that may appear as you cross. It’s also important to remember to keep moving at all times and not to stop mid-stream. Never cross a water obstacle without another vehicle to assist with recovery equipment if needed. After crossing, use your brakes lightly until they dry out. If necessary have your vehicle inspected to check for water in the differential or transmission.
Jeep Wrangler Hittin' Some Mud
Mud: Usually, if there is water present, there will also be mud. Mud can also take us by surprise as it can sometimes be camouflaged by other debris. Or….maybe you just want to go mudding! Either way, mud can be a fun challenge on an off-road trail. Unlike water (where you can sometimes see the depth), the depth of mud can be hard to judge. You can get seriously stuck in mud, so it’s essential to make sure you have recovery equipment and another vehicle close by to pull you out if needed.
Do not proceed if there are no tracks on the other side of the mud hole. The important thing about mud is to make sure you’re in 4WD low, avoid excessively spinning the tires, and KEEP MOVING. Beware of the middle of deep ruts where you could easily high-center. If you start to get bogged down, slightly turn your steering wheel from side to side to gain more traction while continuing forward momentum. Once you get back to civilization, use a pressure washer to clean the underside of your vehicle to get rid of excess weight and prevent corrosion.
Water and mud can be fun and challenging off-roading obstacles. By keeping these tips in mind, you can enjoy your Trail Rated® Jeep vehicle as it was meant to be used without compromising safety and without damaging your vehicle. Do you like water and mud obstacles? Where is a great place in your area where water and mud can be enjoyed with your Jeep brand vehicle?
As always, click any of the pictures in this post to see more images of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!
PHEV Ram 1500
Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), delivered the first of a demonstration fleet of Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) pickup trucks to municipal officials in Yuma, Ariz., today.
The 10 PHEV Ram 1500 pickups delivered by Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of the Chrysler Group’s advanced hybrid vehicle project, are part of a national demonstration fleet of 140 vehicles that will be used during the next three years to evaluate customer usage, drive cycles, charging, thermal management, fuel economy, emissions and impact on the region’s electric grid. In addition to Yuma, 11 other partners across the United States will receive vehicles for demonstration and testing purposes.
Abdullah Bazzi (left) and Yuma Mayor Al Krieger
Strictly a demonstration program, there are no plans for a production version of the PHEV Ram 1500 truck at this time.
Cities and states were selected to evaluate temperature extremes, urban traffic cycles and diverse climates and geographies from North Dakota, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Arizona. Cities will include San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.; Austin, Texas and Kansas City, Mo.
PHEV Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 PHEV includes a liquid-cooled 12.9kWhr lithium ion battery pack and a 6.6 kilowatt (kW) on-board charger. Additional features include AC power generation of up to 6.6kW; directional charging; reverse power flow and full regenerative braking used to capture more energy. For fuel economy improvements, the front axle can be disconnected when not needed.
The powertrain also includes a 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine and a two-mode hybrid transmission. The 5.7-liter HEMI is equipped with a Multiple Displacement System (MDS) that improves fuel efficiency at highway speeds by shutting down fuel delivery to up to four cylinders.
PHEV Ram 1500
The battery pack is located under the second-row seat of the pickup and is liquid cooled to help maintain a consistent battery temperature. For on-the-job electrical power tools, a 240 volt/30 amp four-prong outlet and 120volt/20amp duplex outlet power strip is located in the rear box.
“Cities have been carefully selected to help the Chrysler Group collect a wide range of data,” explained Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of Chrysler’s advanced hybrid vehicle project. “Temperature extremes found in the cold of North Dakota or the heat of Arizona can have a severe impact on battery life and charging efficiency.”
The choice of a Ram 1500 pickup truck was based upon two-speed transmission technology that was readily available from a previous vehicle electrification project from the Chrysler Group.
Mayor Al Krieger of Yuma, Arizona
Urban and rural use also will be tracked to measure battery performance and overall hybrid efficiency with the demonstration fleet of pickups. Other uses include military bases where vehicles will be able to provide power back to the electric grid in what is termed “reverse power flow” of up to 6.6kW.
Funding for the program in part is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Transportation Electrification Initiative sponsored by the DOE. The grant, totaling $48 million from DOE and $49.4 million from Chrysler Group, was designed to develop vehicles that will be cost efficient for consumers, satisfy safety concerns of daily travel without recharging and help reduce dependence on foreign oil.
PHEV Ram 1500 in front of the Yuma City Hall
The Chrysler Group also is developing a similar fleet of 25 Town & Country minivans with plug-in hybrid technology for demonstration and evaluation that will be allocated to select cities later this year.
As always, click any of the images in the post to see more photos of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!
“Under the Pentastar” is a quick video recapping important happenings around the company over the past week.
This week’s video leads off with a recap of the announcement that Chrysler Group plans to repay their $7.5 billion dollar debt to the US and Canadian governments next week; followed by the exciting news that Chrysler Brand was named “Top Popular Brand” in the 2011 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, Lenny Kravitz is starring in the all new Jeep Wrangler Broadcast Campaign; and finally, Jamawn (Jay) Woods of Sterling Heights Assembly Plant was honored for his success on the reality show “America’s Next Great Restaurant”.
Thanks again for Checking out Chrysler Catchall!
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
May 19, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – The Chrysler brand today was named the “Top Popular Brand” in AutoPacific’s 15th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. In addition, the new 2011 Chrysler Town & Country and the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee were named winners in the “Minivan” and “Premium Mid-size SUV” categories, respectively.
2011 Chrysler Town & Country
AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award is an industry benchmark for measuring how satisfied an owner is with his/her new vehicle. This study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm summarizes the results of over 68,000 new vehicle owners.
“Vehicles that score highest in the Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are delivering value and satisfaction across a wide range of attributes, performing well in 48 separate categories that objectively measure the ownership experience. The new Chrysler Town & Country and Jeep Grand Cherokee demonstrate that Chrysler’s new approach to product execution is resonating with buyers.”
–George Peterson
President of AutoPacific
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland
For 2011, every Chrysler brand vehicle is new or significantly refreshed, resulting in beautifully-crafted vehicles with new powertrains, upgraded suspensions and world-class interiors and an exhilarating driving experience.
“Chrysler is honored the satisfaction experienced by our owners with their new Chrysler vehicle resulted in winning the ‘Top Popular Brand’ in AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. Chrysler is passionate about building vehicles that customers are proud to own, and this award, based on owner feedback, reinforces the 2011 Chrysler lineup does just that.”
–Olivier Francois
CEO-Chrysler Brand
2011 Chrysler Town & Country
Accolades continue to mount for the Jeep brand’s premium SUV, as the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee receives the highest spot in vehicle satisfaction for the “Premium Mid-size SUV” category.
“The AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Award is another important accolade for the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the 30th award the vehicle has captured. Few vehicles ever reach this level of recognition. At Jeep, we are delighted that consumers, as well as influential opinion leaders, are recognizing Grand Cherokee’s exceptional blend of on-road refinement, legendary real-world capability, craftsmanship, premium design, safety, efficiency and value.”
-Mike Manley
President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC
Jeep Grand Cherokee Moparized for Moab
As always, click any of the images in the post to see more photos of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for Checking out Chrysler Catchall!
2012 Ram Chassis Cab Truck
May 16, 2011 4:11PM– If you’re going to review a truck, you can’t very well do it without experiencing it first-hand.
And, that’s what select journalists have done in recent weeks and will do this spring in checking out the 2012 Ram Chassis Cabs. Ram Truck executives took the new chassis cabs on the road to meet with journalists across the country. After crawling through the cabs and getting the first-hand scoop, many of them will hit the open road in the coming weeks with their own test drive.
2012 Ram Chassis Cab Truck
The 2012 Ram Chassis Cabs offer a truckload of best-in-class features, including:
- Best-in-class standard Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 19,500 lbs.
- Ram Chassis Cab brakes last twice as long as the competition under severe use
- Ram Chassis Cab trucks have 160% less brake fade than the competition
- Ram Chassis cab trucks stop in less distance in both wet and dry conditions when carrying a heavy payload
- The Ram Chassis Cab’s diesel exhaust brake is more effective than the competition’s
2012 Ram Chassis Cab Truck
- Ram Chassis Cab offers a better turning radius – by 10 feet – than competitors
- Ram Chassis Cab trucks offer the largest standard fuel tank – 52 gallons for superior operational range
- Ram Chassis Cabs offer the lowest cost of ownership in the segment, based on significant owner expenses, including fuel economy, brake wear and tire wear
- Ram Chassis Cab trucks come with the best powertrain warranty in the business: five years / 100,000 mile
Check out the video below to see the overview of the 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs. As always, click any of the images in the post to see more photos of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!
Last thursday we finally had a break from the non stop rain we’ve had up here in Little Falls, MN and finally had a chance to get the HD cameras out to film the first segment of the “Brandl Beat” brought to you by Brandl Motors. We’ll be giving you a look inside some of the new vehicles coming in, with some some fun stuff tossed in along the way.
2011 Chrysler 300 at Brandl Motors
First up is the 2011 Chrysler 300c. Gary Posch gives you the rundown on this new ride and goes over some of the new and improved features offered on the new 300. Check out the video above and let us know what you think in the comment box below, or in the comments on YouTube.
2011 Chrysler 300 BM at Brandl Motors
Also for today is another serving of Chrysler’s “Under the Pentastar.” In this week’s episode, Betty Newman recaps major developments in Chrysler Group LLC’s efforts to repay the U.S. and Canadian governments, a visit to a Detroit Jeep plant by U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and the sale of the GEM electric vehicle unit.
2011 Chrysler 300 at Brandl Motors
Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall! As always, click any of the photos in the post to see more images of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles!
Chrysler Catchall 