More from the Chrysler camp: Jeep Patriot
by Damon Lavrinc on Oct 29th 2006 at 10:35AM 
Click the pic for a hi res image
Yes, even more stuff comes down the pike from the guys and gals of DaimlerChrysler. This time, it's in the form of the Jeep Patriot, as envisioned by the good folks at the Chrysler Design Center. As of yet, it's unnamed, so we'll ask for suggestions in 'comments.'
In the meantime, we'll call it the Partly Pragmatic Patriot and give you the quick and dirty on what's been done. The modifications made were centered on making this mild-mannered people mover into a true off-roader. The majority of the focus came by way of jacking up the suspension two-and-a-half inches and throwing on 16" wheels with BFG Mud Terrain tires. That combination of tire and custom-suspension gives the PPP over 11-inches of ground clearance, which will make it easier to avoid smashing that new, metal front-bumper into large, immovable objects.
Beyond that, the team threw on a new roof rack and lighting system, and did their best to make the PPP as purposeful as it looks.
(Full press excerpt after the jump.)
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EXCERPT FROM PRESS RELEASE
Jeep® Patriot
Builders: Chrysler Tech Center Vehicle Build Shops.
Trail-rated and designed to maximize the capability of the most off-road worthy vehicle in its class. Custom suspension lift raises the suspension 2.5 inches over stock-ride height and provides over 11 inches of ground clearance – to make way for the 31-inch BFG Mud Terrain tires on 16-inch Jeep Moab rims supplied by Prime Wheel. The front fascia is replaced by a custom steel bumper designed to protect the front end while allowing for as much tire exposure as possible. Custom roof rack ensures there's plenty of storage for any occasion. Auxiliary lighting brightens any dark trails.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John 11:58AM (10/29/2006)
What powers it and is it actually able to keep up with true Jeeps off road?
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Pors 11:30AM (10/29/2006)
Wow. That actually looks good, except for the interior. It's kind of "bleh", and what's up with the enormous hole in the passenger-side console? Hopefully the interior fit and finish will be better than the outgoing Liberty's.
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Nicko 12:00PM (10/29/2006)
Remind me again, why isn't it coming straight from the factory like that? This is a Jeep, none of those off-roading modifications should have had to be added.
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u8myfoood 12:00PM (10/29/2006)
at first look, seemed like a nissan xterra that was horribly modified by jeep!
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Ryan 12:03PM (10/29/2006)
#1 This is not a Liberty replacement. This is another softroader built on the front wheel drive Caliber.
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Tommy 12:13PM (10/29/2006)
While you can get it in soft-roading form, the Patriot is also available with the Rubicon Trail rated Freedom Drive II 4x4 package which makes it the most capable CUV on the planet (skid plates, all-terrain tires, full sized spare, 1" more ground clearance, and additional body sealing for water fording).
That adds up to more ground clearance than a 4-runner, better approach and departure angles than a Pilot, and better breakover angle than Liberty 4x4.
It's a mean deal.
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iQuack 12:13PM (10/29/2006)
Looks better to me than the Compass that has that ugly "D" pillar like the RAV4.
Why does DCX need so many of these overlapping models?
This one at least looks butch (unlike the Compass) and isn't too big.
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ZenDriver 12:52PM (10/29/2006)
This auto show schtick is getting sort of old.
- Automaker without any vision or drive decides it needs some new booth candy for the upcoming auto show circuit. Instead of designing new, innovative, alluring or interesting vehicles they...
- Buy a bunch of aftermarket parts or have plastic show parts made up and slap them onto a current vehicle. Extra points if the base vehicle in stock trim is sort of boring and all the aftermarket parts actually make it into something you would want to buy,
- Put a new name on the whole thing and have the PR boffins start blathering on with MBA doublespeak about "Innovation", new directions and how proud the board room is that all of this could be done in such record time.
Proof that you can slap lipstick on the pig and sell it...
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AMcA 12:55PM (10/29/2006)
The mystery to me is why Jeep introduced the not-very-Jeep Compass before the Patriot. Now the Patriot is badly tainted by its association with the Compass. It'll never be a considered proper Jeep, even though it completely looks the part, and can apparently be equipped to perform like one too.
Had the Patriot been introduced first, everyone would have noticed that it's capable of equipped to perform like a real Jeep. It would have won a place in the Jeep family. Now it's the bastard brother of an illegitimate sister.
Good move, Dr. Z. Handicap two cars at once!
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hmmm 12:54PM (10/29/2006)
A good name for this vehicle would be Compass Killer !
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tugboat 12:55PM (10/29/2006)
They've made this one into a real Cherokee successor, now why don't they go ahead and and start production on it; instead of the Cherokee styled Compass they've been planning?
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M. 2:04PM (10/29/2006)
Nice small soft-roader. But please get rid of this loud Volkswagen 2.0l PD TDI Diesel and install a decent Common Rail unit like the VM RA420 series.
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Char 3:04PM (10/29/2006)
Jeep X-Patriot. Totally Original, unlike the boys at Nissan
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Ken 7:13PM (10/29/2006)
This is no Cherokee successor! Anyone who would suggest such a thing knows nothing about either vehicle.
The new Liberty MAY be a Cherokee successor, but the verdict is out and won't be in for some time on that one.
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AJ Quick 7:04PM (10/29/2006)
I am really liking this Jeep vehicle. It does infact look a great deal like the Xterra, which is a great looking SUV.
I would love to own one of these vehicles, I think it is well designed and fits the Jeep style very well. Much better than those 4 door Wranglers!!
Just needs a Winch and a better bumper up front, and I think it would be perfect.
-AJ Quick
http://www.AutoVendors.net/
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Schmack 8:43PM (10/29/2006)
ZenDriver, you do realize that the SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association? The purpose of the show is to highlight new aftermarket parts and "plastic show parts".
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Sasha 10:34PM (10/29/2006)
Water down the line even more, just call it a Cherokee.
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Variblex 3:58PM (10/30/2006)
looks like they took the first gen cherokee and painted it orange - grats for the creativeness
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eroc 7:53PM (10/30/2006)
The new Jeep Xterra bull
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