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PRESS RELEASE - April 13, 2006
Buried Under Six Tons of Mud, All-new 2007 Jeep®
Wrangler Unlimited Revealed in New York
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 "Down
and Dirty" Press Conference at New York International Auto Show Unearths
First-ever Four-door Wrangler; Christens Jeep Patriot
- World's most capable SUV available with Jeep-unique 4x4x4 design
- All-new Wrangler Unlimited offers even more Jeep: more off-road
capability, on-road refinement, interior space and comfort, open-air
options, power torque, safety and convenience
- Jeep Patriot offers more capability than any SUV in its class, as
well as a new entry-level price point for the Jeep brand
Not afraid to get dirty, Jeep® today revealed the all-new 2007 Wrangler
Unlimited from underneath six tons of mud.
Outside of the Javits Center, the beginning of the Jeep press
conference featured only a simple mound of mud on stage, but quickly
became one of the dirtiest vehicle reveals in New York International Auto
Show history. Within minutes, a fire truck roared in with sirens blaring.
Several individuals emerged from the truck and blasted mud off the
first-ever four-door Wrangler. When uncovered, Jeep's classic American
icon debuted with a radical four-door open-air design - the all-new 2007
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
The mudslinging didn't stop there. Jeep also made a splash with the
world debut of the all-new 2007 Jeep Patriot. Executives christened the
newest, most capable and most affordable compact SUV into the Jeep lineup.
But forget champagne. Jeep Patriot wants to get dirty, so the crowd got
into the mix, dumping barrels and balloons full of mud onto Patriot to
give it a proper welcome to the Jeep brand.
"In true Jeep fashion, we decided to get outside and play in the mud to
introduce the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and 2007 Jeep Patriot,"
said Joe Eberhardt, Executive Vice President – Global Sales, Marketing and
Service, Chrysler Group. "No other vehicle in the world can replicate the
Wrangler Unlimited's unique combination of four-door convenience, open-air
driving experience and unmatched off-road capability. And no other vehicle
in the compact SUV class can match Patriot's price or capability."
2007 Jeep Wrangler
Featuring a one-of-a-kind, four-door open-air design, the all-new 2007
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited expands the Jeep experience to new dimensions.
With room for five adult passengers - a Wrangler first - and the most
cargo space ever offered in a Wrangler, the Unlimited combines
class-leading off-road capability with everyday practicality.
The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited features a 116-inch wheelbase,
achieved by adding 20.6 inches to the standard all-new 2007 Wrangler's
95.4-inch wheelbase. The additional length allows for a larger rear seat
that features three seating positions, as well as more hip, leg and
shoulder room. In addition, Wrangler Unlimited offers nearly triple the
rear cargo space.
Offered in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, Jeep Wrangler
Unlimited utilizes the same five-link solid-axle suspension configuration
as the standard 2007 Jeep Wrangler. The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler
Unlimited also retains Wrangler's coveted removable full-framed or half
doors, exposed hinges, fold-down windshield and innovative removable and
convertible tops.
The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will be offered in three
models: Wrangler Unlimited X, Sahara and Rubicon, and will feature
hundreds of different top, door and windshield combinations. In addition,
nine exterior colors and available 16-, 17-, or 18-inch wheels will be
offered.
2007 Jeep Patriot
All-new Jeep Patriot combines the packaging and interior flexibility of
an SUV with the performance, handling, fuel economy and price of a compact
car or small pickup. Jeep Patriot will be the gateway to the Jeep brand
with a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) below
Jeep Compass, which starts at $15,985 (including $560 destination
charges).
In addition to its entry-level price, all-new Jeep technology gives
Patriot more capability than any other vehicle in its class. Patriot will
be available with three drive configurations: front-wheel drive, Freedom
Drive I and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package, which includes a
second-generation Continuously Variable Transaxle (CVT2L) with low range,
17-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire,
air-filtration system, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and seat height
adjuster. This system is recommended for true off-road situations that
include steep grades, wheel lift and rock or log climbing.
Jeep Patriot also offers confidence in all driving conditions, with
many standard safety features, including side-curtain air bags, Brake
Traction Control, driver-controlled three-mode ESP, Brake Assist,
Electronic Roll Mitigation and anti-lock brakes with rough-road detection.
Even More Vehicle Offerings in Jeep Showroom
The Jeep brand offers customers "even more" with its expansion of
rugged, versatile, innovative four-wheel-drive vehicles, further
solidifying its standing as the global leader in the sport-utility market.
Hot on the trails of the newly introduced 2007 Jeep Compass, 2007 Jeep
Wrangler and 2007 Jeep Patriot, the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
again underscores the brand's commitment to its core attributes of
freedom, adventure, mastery, authenticity and capability with its
first-ever four-door convertible.
The Jeep Wrangler customer is truly unique in that many have wanted a
Wrangler for years. "I've always wanted one" is a commonly expressed
sentiment. The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited effectively grows Jeep
Wrangler's appeal by offering authentic off-road capability to those who
desire more space and versatility.
Jeep's global lineup now includes Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee,
Jeep Liberty (Cherokee outside North America), Jeep Compass, Jeep Patriot
and the legendary Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
The Jeep brand continues to gain momentum, with 2005 sales up 12
percent over 2004. More than 400,000 Jeep SUVs were sold in the U.S. last
year.
Jeep Trail Rated®
The Jeep Trail Rated badge on the all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
verifies that the vehicle has been designed to perform in a variety of
challenging off-road conditions identified by five key off-road
performance categories: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability,
articulation and water fording.
Jeep Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology that objectively
measures and consistently predicts off-road performance for all Jeep
vehicles. Through a combination of natural and controlled field tests, as
well as computer-simulated environments, Jeep Trail Rated provides a
repeatable and consistent measurement of off-road performance for Jeep
vehicles. Only Jeep vehicles are Trail Rated.
Worldwide Availability
The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will be sold in more than 100
countries throughout the world, in both left- and right-hand-drive models.
Wrangler Unlimited will be available with a new 3.8-liter V-6 engine and a
diesel engine will also be available for key diesel markets outside of
North America. Built at Chrysler Group's Toledo Assembly Plant in Toledo,
Ohio, the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will arrive in U.S. Jeep
dealerships in the fall of 2006, and will follow to international markets
starting in the first half of 2007.
The 2007 Jeep Patriot will be available in U.S. dealerships in the
fourth quarter of 2006 and in global volume markets in both left- and
right-hand drive starting in the first half of 2007.
Production of the 2007 Jeep Patriot begins in the third quarter of 2006
at the newly refurbished Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant. The new
172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine that powers the Patriot is built in
the state-of-the-art Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance Assembly (GEMA)
plant in Dundee, Mich.
Source: DaimlerChrysler Media Services.
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