![Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/370z-gt-academy_143x85.jpg)
Chrysler dropping Jeep Liberty diesel
A week after announcing the diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee, DaimlerChrysler announced on Monday that it has stopped production of its diesel Jeep Liberty.
The oil-burning Liberty launched in 2005 to test the U.S. market's appetite for the fuel, but as the engine in the Liberty does not have DaimlerChrysler's new clean-burning diesel technology, it doesn't meet next year's federal emissions standards. Upgrading the diesel Liberty was deemed too expensive to be worthwhile, so the company is nixing it.
Over 11,000 diesel Libertys have been sold in the 16 months since its U.S. launch. We suspect the Liberty will have diesel power again one day, just not tomorrow.
[Sources: Reuters, DaimlerChrysler]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GhostDoggy 8:58AM (6/06/2006)
Maybe they should go buy some of VW's diesels.
Reply
tilley 9:19AM (6/06/2006)
And to think, some folks are wondering why N. American brands are in trouble.....
Reply
Michael Karesh 9:21AM (6/06/2006)
It wasn't a very good engine. But I thought this engine was still essential to European sales of the Liberty. Must not have been many sales.
My review of the Liberty diesel:
http://www.epinions.com/content_210733469316
I've been seeing a handful of Commander diesels around Detroit for some time now. Same engine as the GC diesel. No doubt they'll offer it in Europe, but probably the U.S. as well. The MB diesel is much better than the Italian unit used in the Liberty.
Reply
goat 9:41AM (6/06/2006)
These emissions standards are going to increase smog.
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=18794
Reply
Jason Johnson 10:14AM (6/06/2006)
IGNORANT!
Dam.Chrysler should have produced a diesel with real advantages... something substantial - not some incremental fuel economy and slightly better low end tourqe!
Pull some of the VW diesel tech... go green... prep for biodiesel and sell it...>AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH!
Frustrating.
Reply
Peter 10:15AM (6/06/2006)
Yep, sure. We should be pumping out more pollutants to neutralize other pollutants. I wonder who would suggest that?
The Heartland Institute would as it is one of those organizations who is paid to be pro pollution, pro tobacco, industry mouthpiece.
Bush did too much gutting of the EPA already. Rolling back already planned upgrades to clean up coal fired plants.
But hey. I am sure the heartland institute can come with a study showing that extra mercury in your childrens bloodstream kills certain bacteria so more mercury for all is a good thing.
www.sourcewatch.org is your friend.
Reply
dakota 10:16AM (6/06/2006)
"Maybe they should go buy some of VW's diesels"
No because VW is going to be pulling diesels out of the US because of emission reasons very soon also, they'll be back, just with different engines.
Reply
rj 10:34AM (6/06/2006)
#1 Why? VW has canceled all their diesels in the USA for 07 due to emmission regs.
Reply
Clarence 10:47AM (6/06/2006)
I surely hope that the Jeep pickup is in the near future with modern diesel power.
Reply
AM` 10:52AM (6/06/2006)
While I would be hesitant to buy a Chrysler at least they have the foresight to renew the production of diesels in the US. I jus t hope that some more reputable manufacturers crank out some diesels. All you diesel experts know what the MPG penalty is on the "new" diesel fuel?
Reply
Michael Belmont 11:01AM (6/06/2006)
It is ashame that American auto manufactures can't give us a fun vehicle like the Jeep Liberty or the Wrangler and make it run at more than 20 MPG. They use the diesel in their export versions. The American public needs a fuel effeciant car that is good to look at and fun to drive.
Reply
Howard Kerr 11:37AM (6/06/2006)
I guess I'm reading something in this that no one else is...DCX is dropping the diesel Liberty because it can't meet the U.S. emissions regs. That doesn't sound like they are discontinuing the Liberty diesel for overseas markets. The Caliber will be diesel-powered in Europe, as the Chrysler mini-vans ARE...this announcement SHOULDN'T affect overseas sales of the Liberty.
Reply
21/26... 11:45AM (6/06/2006)
Does it matter? The vehicle only gets 21/26 anyway. And with the new ultra-low-sulfur stuff, it'll be even worse.
There are better Diesels out there.
Emissions may seem at first glance to be to blame, but this vehicle died a natural death.
Reply
Brandon 11:47AM (6/06/2006)
Maybe that will make my Liberty CRD's value go up when it comes time to trade in. (I can always dream!)
Reply
Dirk Dundenburg 11:52AM (6/06/2006)
What's the penalty in mileage for the new ULSD fuel anyways? I keep hearing there's a drop but I haven't seen any numbers.
Reply
Cervus 11:53AM (6/06/2006)
Peter:
How about this for a source?
The Weekend Effect is well known. There's nothing political about it. As for other sources:
"…NOx controls in Southern California (and other urban U.S. locations) are *counterproductive* for reducing ambient ozone, and they actually increase ambient ozone levels. Were it not for large concurrent HC emission reductions on weekends, weekend ozone would be even higher than it is, and the weekend/ weekday ozone difference would be even larger....
…Gasoline exhaust and gasoline vapor account for ~80 percent of ambient NMHC in on-road samples and at regional air monitoring locations suggesting that *gasoline emissions are responsible for the majority of ozone found in the SoCAB*…." (emphasis added)
Source: DOE’s Studies of Weekday/Weekend Ozone Pollution in Southern California, Douglas R. Lawson, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, DEER Conference, August 2002
"...NOx reductions in urban areas currently do not reduce, and usually increase, ambient ozone..."
Source: Weekday and Weekend Air Pollutant Levels in Ozone Problem Areas in the United States, Dr. Douglas R. Lawson, et al, NREL, August 23, 2005, DEER 2005; http://www.osti.gov/fcvt/deer2005/lawson.pdf
I guess we're stuck with gasoline.
Reply
Cervus 11:56AM (6/06/2006)
My first link didn't show up:
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2003/May/weekend.asp
Reply
Patrick 12:15PM (6/06/2006)
The diesel Liberty will probably be reintroduced when the all-new 2008 "KK" Liberty is released. It will more than likely used a version of the Bluetec diesel that will be used in the WK Grand Cherokee. Despite the diesel Liberty being a sales success, it does not make financial sense to develop new a diesel engine for a one year run in the US market. The 2007 Liberty will be the last "KJ", and will be replaced by a slighty larger "KK" built on a modified KJ chassis like the Dodge Nitro.
Reply
Peter 12:58PM (6/06/2006)
I am aware of the effect. But the point is using this as justification for not lowering pollutants is insane.
It you read the chemistry link you will find that some area tend to VOC limited and some NOx limited depending on the predominant chemical reaction.
The important conclusion to take away is (quoting your link):
"in the long term it will be necessary to reduce both NOx and VOC appreciably to secure worthwhile reductions in ozone;"
Not, lets burn more diesel to produce more NOx in hopes of producing localized Ozone reductions. That is a paid shill reaction.
The sane reaction is to continue to reduce all kinds of pollutants.
Reply
Mike 1:25PM (6/06/2006)
"Does it matter? The vehicle only gets 21/26 anyway. And with the new ultra-low-sulfur stuff, it'll be even worse.
There are better Diesels out there.
Emissions may seem at first glance to be to blame, but this vehicle died a natural death."
Right, a limited NA production of 5,000 units to test the waters that sold 11,000 units is a natural product failure.
You are right that the engine used was not the pinnicle of technology.
You are right that there are better deisels out there.
You can bet your arse that a deisel will return to the Libby when the '08s get here. Also, look for a north american deisel option in teh Gladiator and Wrangler too.
Reply