Autoblog

Fido Approved: America's top ten pet-safe vehicles

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:41:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

America's Top 10 Pet Safe vehicles - Click above for high-res image gallery

Most people don't pay it any mind, but car accidents and pets don't mix. Just like with humans, wrapping your car around a telephone pole can kill Fido dead. Or really injure the cute little guy. To draw attention to this issue, a website called Bark Buckle Up has teamed up with Edmunds.com to bring us their Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles.

As Bark Buckle Up points out, "If you have an accident at 35 mph while toting your 60-pound unrestrained dog, your pet is capable of causing an impact of up to 2,700 pounds, slamming into the seat, the windshield, or even a passenger." Ouch. Now of course, if you have an eight pound pooch, that's only a 360 pound impact. We say "only" to illustrate how violent car crashes can be. And just imagine if you had a really big dog, like a Dogo Argentino. Assuming you got a big 160-pound satin-white boar hunter, the impact would be near the four ton range.

What do the following ten vehicles do to address pets flying through the windshield in a crash? Very little, and we don't want to get into the delusion that CUVs are somehow safer than cars. But they all offer nice amenities for pets -- stuff like room to stretch out, tri-zone climate control, fold flat rear seats, side impact airbags and rear back up cameras. As for an accident, you might want to invest in a doggy seat belt. Says Bark Buckle Up founder Christina Selter, "In the event of a sudden stop or accident, the animal can injure other passengers or be thrown through the windshield, then hinder the efforts of rescue workers or even cause another accident by escaping into the street." All ten vehicles are listed out in alphabetical order, so check 'em out in our gallery below.

Gallery: Top 10 Pet Safe Vehicles

[Source: Bark Buckle Up]

Fido Approved: America's top ten pet-safe vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Fiat product plans revealed?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Rumormill

Alfa Romeo Kamal concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to automotive consulting firm IHS Global Insight, the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lineups are going to look drastically different over the next few years under Fiat control. No surprises there, but the report goes on the forecast which current Chrysler vehicles will be dropped and which ones will be transferred to new platforms. We've already heard that the next Alfa Romeo 169 sedan will be built atop Chrysler's LX platform in Ontario, Canada and that the Fiat 500 will be built ASAP in Toluca, Mexico, but that's only the beginning.

If IHS is right, joining the 500 in Toluca will be the Jeep Panda, which, as you may have guessed, will be a version of the Fiat Panda wearing Jeep's trademark seven-slot grille. Furthermore, Alfa Romeo may get two new SUVs that would be built in Jeep factories in Jefferson, Michigan and Toledo, Ohio - one midsize 'ute called the GTX that's based on the WL platform that underpins the Jeep Grand Cherokee and a smaller one built on Fiat's C-EVO platform, which will also underpin the next Jeep Liberty. That leaves the unloved Jeep Compass and its somewhat more likable brother, the Patriot, to die slow and inglorious death.

Fiat's C-EVO platform will also spawn the next-gen Dodge Journey, Chrysler Sebring (and presumably the Dodge Avenger if it survives past its current form), and Dodge Caliber. Moving downward in size a notch will (finally) be the Dodge Hornet, which will forgo Bad Chrysler's old deal with Nissan in order to share its Fiat 199 platform with the Alfa Romeo MiTo, both of which will be assembled in Belvidere, Illinois sometime in 2011. Thanks for the tip, Dad!

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Kamal concept

[Source: Global Insight]

Future Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Fiat product plans revealed? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep recalling more than 47,000 Liberty, Commander, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler models

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Recalls, Safety, Chrysler, Jeep

Chrysler is recalling over 47,000 models, including the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Commander, and Wrangler four-door that may have reversed wiring on the driver's airbag controller, a defect that may inhibit the airbag's deployment. Additionally, the 2002 and 2003 Jeep Libertys sold in New England and much of the Midwest are susceptible to a loss of lubrication in their front ball joints due to salt. The remedy for both recalls is a trip to the dealer, who will inspect and make any necessary repairs. You can read the full press releases after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA (Cherokee, Commander, Wrangler) & NHTSA (Liberty)]

Continue reading Jeep recalling more than 47,000 Liberty, Commander, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler models

Jeep recalling more than 47,000 Liberty, Commander, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep adds Rocky Mountain Edition models to Patriot, Liberty and Grand Cherokee

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Jeep

Click above to enlarge

In an effort to revive lagging sales, automakers often create new packages that bundle desirable features into one new trim level at a slightly reduced cost. Such is the case with the new Rocky Mountain Editions of the Jeep Patriot, Liberty and Grand Cherokee for 2009. Included in the package are a sunroof, an uplevel audio package that includes uConnect and SIRIUS satellite radio, alloy wheels and unique paint colors with special badges. As you would expect from Jeep, four-wheel drive is available on all of these models.

Checking the Rocky Mountain Edition box on the vehicle order form will add a total of $1,595 to the vehicle's bottom line. If added separately, the components that make up the package would cost $2,300, which makes for a pretty good deal (though not quite as good as the "approximately $1,000" in savings that Chrysler is touting). Read the full press release after the break.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Jeep adds Rocky Mountain Edition models to Patriot, Liberty and Grand Cherokee

Jeep adds Rocky Mountain Edition models to Patriot, Liberty and Grand Cherokee originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty to merge into one vehicle

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Dodge, Jeep

News out of Toledo is that Chrysler plans to drop either the Jeep Liberty or the Dodge Nitro within four years and merge the two vehicles into one. These two 'utes are built on the same exact platform, use basically the same engines and are built in the same Toledo plant. There is no good reason for both of them to exist, which makes us wonder why they ever did in the first place and why it will take three years to correct. Regardless, considering that Jeep will always be the off-road brand, it would make most sense to keep the Liberty name going. Losing the Nitro, meanwhile, might actually help Dodge improve its image as a volume performance brand.

This convergence of duplicate vehicles is part of Chrysler's Project Genesis plan. Under the plan, dealers will begin to offer Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles under the same roof. Other nameplates that are or should be converged include the Jeep Compass/Jeep Patriot and Dodge Durango/Chrysler Aspen, the latter of which could see themselves replaced by a new model with Jeep underpinnings.

[Source: The Toledo Blade]

Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty to merge into one vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toledo Jeep workers to get four more weeks of "vacation"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Jeep

click above to view more high-res pics of the 2008 Jeep Liberty

Employees at Jeep's factory in Toledo, Ohio reported back to work this week after two months of mandatory downtime. The good news is that they still have their jobs; the bad news is that they've been told to expect another four weeks off before the end of the year. This time, however, the shutdowns will be scheduled in week-long intervals instead of covering an entire four-week period. The slowdown of SUV sales has been widely covered and the Jeep brand has not been immune, including its bread-and-butter Wrangler model that had proven extremely popular a short while back when the first-ever four-door version was unveiled. Of course, back then gas was below $3 a gallon. Besides the Wrangler, Jeep also makes the Liberty and Dodge Nitro at the Toledo plant.

Gallery: 2008 Jeep Liberty

[Source: 13 ABC]

Toledo Jeep workers to get four more weeks of "vacation" originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #88

Dan Roth — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Podcasts, Budget, Hatchback, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Jaguar, Jeep, Mini, Toys/Games, Australia, FPV, Tata

UPDATE: Back by popular demand, direct download of the podcast has been added as a link below.

The biggest news of the past week: the suckfest that was the Knight Rider movie. Alex liveblogged it so that we didn't have to watch. Sure it was crap, but was it really that bad? The original was a clunker, too, remember. There's car stuff going on, too, and we move on to covering what's in our respective Autoblog Garages. Keep an eye out for some new reviews, and John has a podcast-exclusive announcement, too.

We spin off into a small car smackdown, postulate on who should buy Jaguar if Tata flips them, and boomerang back to our MINI vs. Aveo sales number deathmatch. In this week's installment of "Fords We Don't Get," there's a new Austrailian Falcon that is available in full-on sinister. It's badass in FPV trim, not available here, and ~~Alan Mullaly wants one~~, too. One Ford we are getting is the Fiesta (Verve) and that's something to actually be excited about. That's about it, thanks to Adam Curry for the plug, it's 52 minutes of fun this week.

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Autoblog Podcast #88 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chocolate-covered Jeep contest licked

Chris Tutor — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:34:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Jeep

It was sweet, sweet victory for Anne Gemkow of Chicago as she pocketed the keys to her new Jeep Liberty, recently. She was the lucky licker in the Sweetest Day the Jeep Way contest in which contestants had to lick clean the grilles of seven chocolate-covered Jeep products.

The first two to finish were pitted against each other in a Jeep Liberty full of 25,000 pieces of wrapped candy in search of the vehicle's keys. Gemkow stuck it out and drove home with a new Jeep and probably a sore tongue.

Read more about the contest in Chrysler's press release after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler LLC]

Gallery: Jeep Licking

Continue reading Chocolate-covered Jeep contest licked

Chocolate-covered Jeep contest licked originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think a free Jeep would be sweet? Lick it!

Chris Tutor — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:52:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Contests, Jeep

You've heard of death by chocolate, but on Oct. 18, Chrysler will attempt Jeep by chocolate. The company is covering seven Jeeps in chocolate and the first two of seven contestants to lick ther vehicles clean will advance to the next level, searching for the keys to a 2008 Jeep Liberty in another Jeep filled with candy.

The sugary stunt, called "Sweetest Day the Jeep Way," is in conjunction with Sweetest Day, a holiday invented 85 years ago by Cleveland candy makers.

If you think you have what it would take to lick six other chocolate-chomping contestants, go to Chrysler's Sweetest Day Web site, fill out the form and write a 250-word essay on why you should be picked to lick. Hopefuls also must be residents Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania or West Virginia and at least 18 years old.

For more information, the full press release is after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Think a free Jeep would be sweet? Lick it!

Think a free Jeep would be sweet? Lick it! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeep drops price of 2008 Liberty to $20,990

John Neff — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Jeep

click above image to view our high-res gallery of the 2008 Jeep Liberty

Jeep has been on a tear lately, thanks entirely to the popularity of the Wrangler in the marketplace. The Jamboree kids at Jeep would like to give the Wrangler some help, and as such they've decided to price the all-new 2008 Liberty SUV below the outgoing model by an average of about $1,000. A base 2008 Jeep Liberty 4x2 will carry an MSRP of $20,990, which includes a $660 destination charge, when it arrives at dealerships later this summer. That's $1,270 less than the 2007 model, according to Jeep. The 4x4 model, meanwhile, will start at $22,600, or $1,170 less than the current model. Finally, the range-topping Limited model will start at $25,175 for the 4x2 and $26,785 for the 4x4. The Liberty's 3.7L V6 producing 210 horsepower and 235 ft-lbs. of torque will be a carryover from last year, but the new SUV can now be had with the industry first Sky Slider full-length open canvas roof for $1,200.

You can view the new Liberty from a variety of angles in our gallery below, and check out Jeep's pricing press release after the jump.

[Source: Jeep]

Gallery: 2008 Jeep Liberty

Continue reading Jeep drops price of 2008 Liberty to $20,990

Jeep drops price of 2008 Liberty to $20,990 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taking Liberty: Car thief blunders big-time with trade-in

Alex Nunez — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Jeep

Today's tale involving the questionable decision-making skills of criminals comes from Norwalk, CT. It seems that one Jazrahel King had visited the Wholesalers of America used car lot on Main Street in the hopes of test driving some vehicles. The staff at the dealership nixed the drives, however, after discovering that Mr. King had some issues with his credit.

According to sales manager Diego Coleman, this particular setback did not exactly deter King, who was seen by staffers walking around the lot at the same time Coleman was prepping a recently-sold 2003 Jeep Liberty for customer pick-up. The Jeep, which had the keys in it, must have been left unattended for a moment, because the next thing anyone knew was that both the SUV and Jazrahel King were history.

Read on to learn how not to flip your boost.

[Source: AP via the Connecticut Post]

Continue reading Taking Liberty: Car thief blunders big-time with trade-in

Taking Liberty: Car thief blunders big-time with trade-in originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler recalls more than 68k 2007s

Chris Tutor — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Chrysler, Daimler

If you own a 2007 Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep listen up, because you're likely affected by Chrysler's latest recall. DaimlerChrysler is bringing home more than 68,000 vehicles to reprogram balky brake computers.

The 11 affected models are 2007 versions of the Sebring, 300, Charger, Magnum, Caliber, Commander, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Nitro and Compass. Whew.

Chrysler says computers in the recalled vehicles' could fail, leading to a loss of antilock brakes, traction control and speedomter functions. We don't remember much from our drivers' ed class, but we're pretty sure brake failure is hardly ever a good thing. Thankfully DC says nobody's been hurt yet.

Oh, and you Sebring drivers must have broken a mirror or something. While one team of crack DC mechanics gives your car a brain transplant, another team will be reteaching it to defrost your windshield. So take a book or something. That particular recall affects about 6,000 new Sebrings.

[Source: Reuters]

Chrysler recalls more than 68k 2007s originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Dec 2006 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge Nitro production begins

Erin Mays — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Dodge

The Dodge Nitro is now rolling off the assembly line at Chrysler's Toledo North Assembly Plant in Ohio, preparing to hit a dealership near you starting later this fall.

The key to the Nitro's production is Chrysler's oh-so-flexible plant, where it shares a line with the Jeep Liberty. Depending upon sales, the line can put out 100 percent Liberty models, 100 percent Nitro models, or anything variation in between. The 150 robots on the line, which replaced expensive tooling that would normally only be set up for the production of one model, are programmed to swap between vehicles.

The plant added a third shift to accommodate the production of 1,157 vehicles per day.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Dodge Nitro production begins

Dodge Nitro production begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Aug 2006 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler dropping Jeep Liberty diesel

Stuart Waterman — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, SUV, Daimler, Jeep

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]

Chrysler dropping Jeep Liberty diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let's start importing some diesels already!

Erin Mays — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 16:49:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid

BusinessWeek gets a shoutout from us for saying what's gotta be said (as many of our readers have) -- Americans need to get over their perception of diesels as being stinky, loud slowpokes already. Truly. Part of the problem is the fact that until we get cleaner UltraLow Sulfur fuel starting in October, the stinky part may have some truth to it; however, there's something to be said for the fact that diesel is 30-percent more efficient than gasoline and current oil burners perform near to or at the level of their gasoline counterparts.

DaimlerChrysler is slowly climbing on board with its Jeep Liberty and Mercedes E-class diesel models, but we're all about the day when we, like Europe, can buy almost any car as a diesel or a gasoline model. Onwards to October!

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Let's start importing some diesels already! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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