Car Moon

Jeep has disclosed plans to increase European sales from 25,000 units this year to 125,000 units by 2014. Europe will play a key role in Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plans to double the brand’s global sales from 420,000 units last year to 800,000 units in 2014.

"Our plans for Europe are ambitious but doable. Europe for Jeep is an incredibly important market. We have been here for 30 years and half of our international sales historically were in Europe," Jeep CEO Mike Manley told Autonews Europe.

After releasing a barrage of refreshed models, Chrysler's Jeep division is now banking on a series of special edition models created to celebrate the brand's 70th anniversary.

“As part of our celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Jeep brand, we are creating stunning, premium special-edition models of each vehicle in our lineup that pay homage to the history of the legendary Jeep brand,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO of Jeep.

The full of activity Chrysler Group will be unveiling a pair of premium editions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty [Cherokee in Europe] at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both the Grand Cherokee Overland Summit and Liberty Jet models benefit from added standard content as well as bespoke styling features, and are scheduled to arrive in dealerships next month.

Popular Mechanics has put together a list of 1980s and 1990s cars, which it claims, back then could be considered by many as "dream cars", but today can be found on eBay for under US $6,000. We can't say we fully agree with the term "dream cars" for some of PM's choices as they're not exactly the hottest vehicles ever made, but, hey, they represent some weird decades.

Wrapping up our preview on the Chrysler Group's 2010 SEMA Show offerings, we've grouped up the rest of Mopar's products in a gallery after the jump. All in all, Chrysler's in-house tuning division will showcase a total of 35 vehicles in Las Vegas.

Aside from the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 and RedLine Charger, and Fiat 500 that we've already told you about in previous posts, it's worth mentioning that Mopar is reading a luxed-up version of the 2011 Dodge Durango called "Black and Tan" as well as an "Off-Road Edition" of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Jeep will debut an updated European lineup in Paris this year, and for the first time in a while it may actually appeal to Western European consumers. The 2011 Grand Cherokee, revised 2011 Wrangler, and the rest of the off-road crew are appearing to showcase two new forms of diesel power.

Naturally, Jeep won't be bringing anything new models to the Parisian table, but the diesel engines are here in order to help entice European buyers into giving the American Commando brand a closer look.

After yesterday's news on the US-spec Fiat 500 and the redesigned Chrysler Sebring (renamed to '200') and Town & Country, and Jeep Patriot models, the subtle changes and upgrades on other 2011MY Chrysler Group products, including the Jeep Liberty (named Cherokee in Europe, Australia and other markets), went by somewhat unnoticed.

The Chrysler LLC Group and Ford Motor Co. have announced two separate (and not related) recalls on some of their vehicles.

Starting with Ford, the Detroit automaker is recalling a total of 33,728 of its 2010MY Transit Connect vans manufactured from December 5, 2008 through May 31, 2010 over a potential safety issue concerning the retention pushpin located on the headliner above the B-pillar trim on both sides of the vehicles.

Trust us when we say that, even if you're not a fan of techno music, this is one video clip that you'll want to watch / hear again and again. Created by filmmaker - musician Julian Smith, the video shows a crew of people using the doors, engine, switches, locks and numerous other parts of an old Jeep Cherokee to make a music clip called "Techno Jeep".

Research firm IHS Global Insight (GI) has released a new analysis forecasting a variety of Chrysler and Fiat Group models to be built in North America between 2011 and 2012. Before we say anything else, we'd advise to pay attention to the words 'analysis' and 'forecast'. That said, don't take everything you read as a fact. The report begins with the Alfa Romeo 169, a BMW 5-Series rival that is said to be built at Chrysler's Ontario factory in Canada with the first models rolling off the assembly line as early as November 2011.

Jeep has issued three separate recalls on tens of thousands of models that include the Grand Cherokee, Commander, Liberty and Wrangler. The largest recall concerns 102,354 MY2001-2004 Grand Cherokees equipped with heated seats. According to Jeep, the front seat electric heater elements may work 'overtime', something that could potentially prove hazardous for your buttocks or even worse, start a fire. The firm's dealers will of course replace the heater elements free of charge.

The all-new Jeep Cherokee has arrived in the UK where it’s offered exclusively with a 177 HP 2.8-litre diesel engine and a choice of manual and automatic gearbox. Jeep’s new SUV is available in only one equipment level – Limited – which includes standard ESP, Hill Descent Control, 17-inch alloy wheels and leather trim. Prices are set at £24,595 for the manual version and £25,595 for the automatic. Follow the jump for details on the Cherokee Limited’s standard equipment. -Continued

Cherokee Limited Standard Equipment

Safety and Security

All speed traction control
Anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes
Panic Brake Assist
Child seat anchor system-latch ready
Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
Enhanced Accident Response system
Locking fuel filler cap
Next generation multistage front air bags
Premium security alarm with immobiliser
Sentry key theft deterrent system
Speed sensitive power locks
Supplemental side curtain air bags
Selec-Trac® II full-time 4WD system
Hill Descent Control
Hill Start Assist
Remote keyless entry
ParkSense® rear park assist system
Compact spare tyre


Exterior

17 x 7.0 alloy wheels
235/65 R17 tyres
Automatic headlamps
Body coloured fascias with bright inserts
Bright grille
Bright side roof rails
Chrome bodyside mouldings
Front Fog Lamps
Power folding heated door mirrors


Interior

12v auxiliary power outlet
Air conditioning with automatic temperature control
AM/FM MP3 radio
Compact spare tyre
Courtesy lamps
Cruise control
Front passenger forward fold flat seat
Illuminated entry
Instrument cluster with display screen
Leather wrapped steering wheel
Luxury front & rear floor mats
Power 6-way driver seat
Power front windows, 1-touch up & down
Rear 60/40 folding split recline seat
Rear view auto dim mirror
Reversible / waterproof cargo storage
Six speakers
Steering wheel mounted audio controls
Temperature & compass gauge
Tilt steering column
Tip start ignition
Tyre pressure monitoring display
Variable intermittent windshield wipers
Vehicle Information Centre
Power 6-way driver and 2-way passenger seat
Luxury door trim panel
Leather trimmed seats
Leather wrapped interior items
Leather wrapped shift knob
Bright sill scuff pads
Heated front seats
Manual driver lumbar adjust
Memory package (seats, mirror and radio)