Rendered Speculation: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to underpin new Alfa Romeo SUV?
Chrysler may not have a host of solid new products in the pipeline, but the upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee looks promising. With that in mind, it shouldn't come as a great surprise that the new bosses in Auburn Hills want to take advantage of the opportunity to get an Italian version of the upcoming sport-ute on the market. According to a report from Car and Driver that goes right along with whispers we've heard through the grapevine, the 2011 Grand Cherokee could provide its underpinnings to a new Alfa Romeo SUV, rumored to be (clumsily) dubbed the Cxover/A.While the Jeep has a rugged, go-anywhere image to uphold, the Alfa version would likely be more street-focused, taking aim at the likes of the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne. European restrictions would probably preclude the Hemi V8 from powering the Alfa, which, like the Grand Cherokee sold in Europe, would likely incorporate a range of diesel and gasoline V6 engines. As you can see from the rendering, adapting Alfa's curvaceous styling to the Grand Cherokee's classically rugged shape may prove a bit of a challenge, but we're eager to see the Italians give it a shot.
Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ken Stamper 2:09PM (9/04/2009)
I would say an Alfa based on truck underpinnings is heresy, but Porsche has de-sensitized me for life. Next up- the McLaren SUV? The Bugatti SUV? They all sound plausible now.
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DiRF 2:16PM (9/04/2009)
Pfft, next thing you know, Lamborghini will make an SUV...
*LM002 diecast falls off bookshelf, onto my head*
Ow.
WS 2:10PM (9/04/2009)
Please! No!
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hoov23 2:11PM (9/04/2009)
This is the wrongest wrong in wrongville.
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Farmboy 2:47PM (9/04/2009)
I heard they are visiting via failboat.
TriShield 2:12PM (9/04/2009)
We're excited?
Why is Fiat hellbent on creating overlap throughout the Chrysler lineup. Why does Alfa need an SUV? How in the world does this help Chrysler for Fiat?
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wally 3:39PM (9/04/2009)
It helped Mercedes!!!!
yosh 2:23PM (9/04/2009)
Instead of doing that, they should just overhaul the new Jeep's interior. The exterior is beautiful but the inside is just tacky and tasteless.
That being said, I don't mind seeing a Cayenne competitor from Alfa.
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Frank 4:06PM (9/04/2009)
You must be blind or are looking at the current gen' interior pics. The new one looks good.
Jim Dubois 2:24PM (9/04/2009)
I don't care about Alfa SUV but this 2011 Grand Cherokee looks very nice. IMO...The nicest looking Cherokee to date!
Considering Chrysler plunging sales, hopefully the quality of this 2011 Cherokee is good.
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pentachrism 11:24AM (9/05/2009)
Definitely... if Chrysler can push it out the door without quality issues I might take a closer look at it.
madtuscan 2:36PM (9/04/2009)
....Jeep has a rugged, go-anywhere image...
You won't go anywhere with the next generation GC!
It will be a sort of Honda Pilot or VW Touareg only the Touareg is years ahead!!!
Good luck!
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Serge 2:58PM (9/04/2009)
Why on earth would you compare an ugly lawn-mower or a faux Porsche to the GC? I think the current GC SRT8 is the only SUV I would drive... that thing is amazing. And have you not checked out the gallery of the new GC above? It looks better than the Touareg or the Cayenne inside and out. And the suspension is the most sophisticated production SUV suspension to date... for off-road use... meaning it will go anywhere.
Paul P. 4:06PM (9/04/2009)
.....meaning it will go anywhere.....
Yea, until it breaks and you're unable to fix it in the field because it's such an overcomplicated and fragile design.
Maybe I'm being a luddite, but I don't see any reason for Jeep to use an overcomplicated and expensive airbag/Independent suspension setup to do what two solid axles have been doing just fine for 68 years in Jeeps. That's the thing that made vehicles like the older Wranglers and Cherokees great...........their simplicity and durability. A straight 6, a manual transmission, a transfer case, two solid axles, and a frame to hold it all together. Sure, they might not have had the best ride and handling, but they worked when pressed upon.
Look at Land Rover. The original models were used all over the world because of their reliability, simplicity, and go-anywhere ability. Now they've become over complicated, overly expensive, and they are consistently ranked as some of the least reliable new vehicles.
Who 'Dis? 'Who 'Dat? 2:40PM (9/04/2009)
There's no drama here. Fiat has indicated on several occaisions that it is considering utilizing Chrysler-designed platforms and hardware for some of it's products. It's this very philosophy that makes the alliance between Fiat and Chrysler more promising.
Unlike the "merger of equals" between Chrysler and Daimler-Benz, the folks at Fiat don't seem to have a problem with sharing what's on the table. I applaud the effort and hope something does indeed come of the idea.
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Xa 2:40PM (9/04/2009)
you know, i always wondered what the mito would look like on an american diet. now i know.
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Ian B. 2:47PM (9/04/2009)
I don't believe this story for a moment, but let's go with it. This is beyond heresy. I don't care if Porsche did it and somewhat succeeded. It was a sign of the times--a consumer buying trend, that's all, and those kinds of vehicles are facing an ever increasing shunning by the public. But in the process, they alienated many who believe that kind of vehicle should not have a Porsche emblem on it, let alone exist at all. Ditto for the Alfa, a traditional sports car company. I don't believe Marchionne is foolish enough to do this, that is, repeat the past mistakes of others.
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Peter Rockwell 2:58PM (9/04/2009)
An Alfa SUV makes as much sense as a four-door Porsche or Aston Martin; oh, wait...
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Stuka 3:20PM (9/04/2009)
So they are wanting to make a canadian named crossover, eh?
Why?! Alfa does NOT need an SUV/CUV/*UV. Not to mention as others said, its just brand engineering at its (un)finest.
I am still wholly underwhelmed by the 2011 Cherokee. I can see their reasoning for the IFS. But going with IRS is ludicrous. Maybe it deserves to be bastardized into a Fiat/Alfa.
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TriShield 3:21PM (9/04/2009)
Ian, the Cayenne wasn't successful. Porsche still went bankrupt with the quickness and got aborbed by VW. It also destroyed a lot of the brand's prestige and muddled it's mission. Just like a dirty Jeep rebadge would do to Alfa (and Jeep).
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