Autoblog

It's obvious that Jeep is the most valuable nameplate Cerberus managed to snag when it took the ailing Chrysler Group off of Daimler's hands last year. No matter what happens to the Chrysler and Dodge brands, it is extremely unlikely that the Jeep brand would die, considering just how well-known and recognized the iconic name is around world. CNW Marketing Research studies indicate that the public-at-large would prefer to see all of the Pentastar's products wearing the revered Jeep badge.

Could Chrysler consolidate all of its vehicles under one brand? Theoretically it's possible, though extremely unlikely. While some models like the Dodge Ram (J-Series) and Dakota (Comanche) could be rebadged under the Jeep umbrella, the rest of Chrysler's line just doesn't fit. The Dodge Nitro is likely living on borrowed time already and Jeep is already selling the same model as the Liberty. The Caliber shares a platform with the Compass and Patriot, and is therefore redundant, and there doesn't seem to be a place for sedans in Jeep dealerships, let alone minivans.

Jeep's world-renowned reputation for die-hard products began with the Wrangler/CJ models and continued with classics like the Wagoneer and Cherokee. It would take significantly less time and effort to sully that hard-earned badge of honor, which is exactly what would happen if Jeep were to become a full-line automaker. Thanks for the tip, Jordie!

[Source: US News]

When you've got a name as well established as Jeep, you hardly need to sell vehicles to turn a profit. You can get the Jeep name on all sorts of consumer merchandise, from a butched-up umbrella stroller to clothes and even bedding. There are more licensed products on the way, a few even making some kind of sense to tie into the Jeep brand. You will soon be able to park your Wrangler in a garage painted top to bottom, from walls to slab, with official Jeep colors. Not near home? A Jeep-branded GPS system will soon be out, and if you're not in a hurry to get back, you can stock up on officially-licensed camping gear. All of the tie-ins help sell Jeeps, or at least bolster the brand's visibility – think of it as a sleeper advertising campaign. Jeep fans will buy this stuff, and even non-Jeep owners will recognize the name and the cachet. You can even indoctrinate your kids into the Jeep brand with a vehicle that us grown-ups can't even get yet, the Hurricane. The concept-car-cum-Power-Wheels Hurricane is a hot item at Toys 'R Us, where the vehicle sells. Chrysler employees were recently treated to a display of all Jeep branded products at the company's headquarters. There were hundreds of items bearing the commonly recognized logo, with more in the pipeline. We're holding out for a new Grand Wagoneer, woodgrain ConTac paper on the flanks, and all.

[Source: The Firehouse]