Click image for gallery containing one additional photo
AB reader John M. Sullivan emailed us this morning with the photos you see here. During a ski trip to Colorado, John made a stop at the Coors Brewing Company for a tour and noticed what he believed to be a pair of disguised Dodge Nitros outside. He said the drivers were pretty tight-lipped, which comes as no surprise, and since the Nitro's been out a good while now, it struck us as being odd that they'd be tooling around under cover. A closer look at the photos reveals that the camoed-up SUVs in the parking lot are none other than the forthcoming '08 Jeep Liberty, which shares its genetics with the Nitro, likely undergoing high-altitude testing.
Note the trademark Jeep grille and round-look headlamps behind the front bra. From the looks of things, the red one's a Limited, given the chrome trim on the liftgate and roof rails. The Liberty should be making its debut soon (New York, perhaps?), and we're looking forward to seeing the finished product minus all the coverup.
Thanks to John for sharing his find with us! The enclosed gallery contains high-res versions of both his photos.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jit @ Mar 11th 2007 12:34PM
Not bad better then the commander anyway but should have built something more original in the shape of the willys concept a few years back
Avinash machado @ Mar 11th 2007 12:51PM
If it is based on the Nitro platform then Off-Road ability will be pathetic.
david @ Mar 11th 2007 12:56PM
"If it is based on the Nitro platform then Off-Road ability will be pathetic."
have you driven the nitro? what do you base your assumptions on?
El Norte @ Mar 11th 2007 1:18PM
"have you driven the nitro? what do you base your assumptions on?"
Please, the pavement-centric IFS suspension and the myriad of other spec details make it a safe assumption. He's not saying the Nitro's a horrible SUV, simply that it's not meant for off-roading.
SherbornSean @ Mar 11th 2007 1:52PM
Oversized Compass.
kyle @ Mar 11th 2007 2:06PM
this looks like the patriot.. not a liberty
Michael Karesh @ Mar 11th 2007 2:30PM
The current Jeep with a solid front axle--come to think of it, the only current U.S. market SUV with one--is the Wrangler. The Liberty, GC, and Commander already have IFS.
The main impediment to the Nitro is no low range. I think we can count on a low range in the new Liberty.
But will it even be called Liberty? Or will they revert to Cherokee to avoid the Liberty's cutsie baggage?
Aaron @ Mar 11th 2007 2:55PM
Well the Nitro shares with the current liberty so it is safe to assume we will see a more suitable offroad driveline (as mentioned above), a larger vehicle and a more stout motor (that the liberty needed a few years ago).
p.s. kyle, it doesn't look like a patriot to me, it looks like a nitro with a jeep front end, which should essentially be what it is.
far jr @ Mar 11th 2007 3:41PM
Avinash said it best... Look how low the front end is on that thing. the Jeep name will quickly loose the "off-road" immage if Diamler keeps giving Jeep fans gravel-road-only vehicles like this and the Compass.
Toyota and Hummer will take over with the likes of the FJ,H3 and upcoming H4.
Albeit most Americans only need gravel road capability... when is the last time any of you 4x4 owners actually used the low range in your Tahoe, Sequoia, or Armada?
snakesausage @ Mar 11th 2007 5:19PM
There were a few spy shots a few weeks back that showed the front headlights to be more similar to the commander than the Patriot or current Liberty. I think the Liberty should follow the styling of the Patriot; my tastes lean toward the 7-slot grill with round headlights. I have one question? Was there a change in Jeep top management a three or so years back? There seems to be a lot of poor styling and direction choices lately.
Aaron @ Mar 11th 2007 5:51PM
lmao as if Hummer is a force offroad outside of the H1.
either way, it is early to talk about the offroad capability of a vehicle which we know nothing about
NoNameDenton @ Mar 11th 2007 6:11PM
Since it is a Jeep, it will have off road capability, and by the way, the Nitro is based off the Liberty, not the other way around, it is just the Nitro was tuned for the street and the Liberty will be tuned for mild to moderate off road ability. I just hope a diesel engine option returns eventually, because it was a great idea.
brutal @ Mar 11th 2007 8:21PM
blandtastic!
far jr @ Mar 11th 2007 8:35PM
Yes Aaron, your right. The Dodge Caliber...um I mean Jeep Compass is a much better off roader than the H3.
H3 stats:
Angle of approach 40
Breakover angle 25
Angle of departure 37
Vertical barrier 16"
Water fording @ 5 mph 24"
Ground clearance 9.1"
http://www.autocult.com.au/Image.aspx?id=7573
Granted many Hummers are bought more for show than offroading, but that does not mean they aren't capable. Many jeep Wranglers (one of the best offroaders) never step foot on a trail beween the assembly line and the crusher.
Dr. Greenthumb @ Mar 11th 2007 8:42PM
--------# 11. wrote: lmao as if Hummer is a force offroad outside of the H1.
----------------------------------------------------
You're way off base. Range Rovers are among the world's premier off-road vehicles, don't see many of them being taken off-road. Simply because they're too damned expensive to be used that way. The same thing sort of applies to the H2. I have seen a few of them rock-crawling through the canyons in the mid-west, and they handled themselves superbly. Even when high-centered, the skid-plate underneath was very useful in getting the vehicle off the boulders.
That most of the wusses who buy Hummers are just posers, and would be afraid to venture anywhere other than a well manicured lawn, doesn't make these vehicles less capable. As they age and fall into the hands of second and third owners, you'll be more likely to see them being taken off-road.
Nick @ Mar 11th 2007 9:14PM
12- Yeah, I would love a diesel SUV, but the current CRD Liberty is of poor reliability. I drove a Liberty as a rental, and I liked it quite a bit, but I got 17mpg on San Diego highway- just not worth it to me.
Nick @ Mar 11th 2007 9:15PM
My rental was a gas Liberty.
evan @ Mar 11th 2007 11:08PM
Sup ppl, just wanted to say that there is already quite a few picks of the upcomming Jeep liberty up on other sites. Heres the site with best imo. http://www.allpar.com/trucks/jeep/liberty-2008.html
heres the best pic imo:
http://www.allpar.com/images/jeep/liberty/2008.jpg
i think it's a definte improvement in the looks department although i still kinda feel indifferent about it.
aaron @ Mar 11th 2007 11:42PM
The Liberty no longer looks like a cute/bitch car, but we'll see who really buys it...
NoNameDenton @ Mar 12th 2007 12:45AM
The problem with the old Liberty CRD was that is was a 4 cylinder, not a 6, though it was great at towing. Also the Italian company that made the engine has not upgraded the engine to new laws for diesels. Thus, if and when the next Liberty CRD appears, I should have a German BlueTec engine, making as much torque as a V8 and should haul and tow pretty well, though it would do better with a 6 speed automatic.