That said, the Wrangler Rubicon — two-door or four — is unquestionably the stoutest piece of off-road hardware you can buy off a showroom floor. True, it doesn’t have quite the integrated design and packaging of the Nissan Xterra or Toyota FJ Cruiser; both those vehicles were clean-sheet projects, while the Wrangler has a lot of legacy to cope with. Call it literary tradition, if you like. The Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is more civilized than ever, but it’s still a noble savage. Cooper would have been proud.

Image credit: www.carbuyersnotebook.com

A recent article in the San Francisco Journal finished up with that paragraph.

Overall, the review is fair. It starts out detailing the pains that make living with previous generations of the Wrangler name somewhat of a trade off.

With this newest model, it’s almost like Jeep took almost all of the rough edges, smoothed them out, then reviewed things and decided to add a smidge of pain back into the package. Just to keep with tradition.

To this end, they seem to have made sure the rear seat is solid, up-right and thoroughly uncomfortable. This is certainly nothing dramatic to any owner, as they’ll be up front, where new, nicer touches abound.

In the end, it’s only the 4,442 lb weight of the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (4 door) that startles a bit. WOW! Two and a quarter TONS. That’s only about 300 lbs off the 4WD Commander’s 4783 lbs…and at least THAT Jeep can be optioned with the HEMI engine to handle the bulk.

The Wrangler currently is only offered with the new 3.8 V6 engine, which struggles with the bulk around town and on the highway. offroad, the Dana 44 axles, lockers and very low ratio transfer case combine to make the 2007 Wrangler damn near unstoppable. In the Unlimited, you might be stuck in tight turns, or because of the reduced break-over angle, but this is what body armor is intended for.

…and with about 5 inches MORE width that past models, the 2007 Wrangler is goign to be a whole lot more comfortable on side hills.

Read the full review here.

Consumer Reports has some great crash test footage available now, and while it doesn’t cover every Jeep model, it covers most. The Wrangler, for example, is covered for the last generation only.

Since CR buys their own vehicles for testing, it’s hardly fair to expect them to have every single model and variant covered.

That said, the Wrangler doesn’t… Read the rest of this entry »

Dana Corporation Providing Drivetrain Components for New 2007 Jeep(R) Wrangler

Supplier Continues 66-Year History with Vehicle

Dana Corporation announced today that it is supplying Spicer(R) front and rear axles and Spicer Life Series(R) front and rear propshafts to the Chrysler Group for the new 2007 Jeep(R) Wrangler. The enhanced axles and Spicer Life Series propshafts are designed to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), while the propshafts also help to improve crash performance.

Dana has provided axles and propshafts continuously for the Jeep Wrangler since the Willys MA was first introduced in 1941. The supply arrangement is believed to be the longest in the automotive industry.

“Dana is pleased to extend its historic relationship with this vehicle by providing enhanced axles and new propshaft technology for the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler,” said Michael J. Burns, Dana chairman and CEO. “By working closely with the Chrysler Group, we have been able to reduce component complexity while providing drivers with advanced drivetrain technology.”

Dana provides front and rear steel propshafts for both the standard and extended-wheelbase versions of the Wrangler. The front propshafts feature staked-and-centered cardan universal joints, which improve refinement - resulting in an enhanced high-speed dynamic performance.

The propshafts on both the standard and extended-wheelbase versions feature a splined-tube design, which allows for additional plunge beyond a straight-tube design. The manufacturing technology ensures precise component orientation, which substantially improves propshaft balance characteristics.

The enhanced Spicer front and rear axles are balanced for improved NVH characteristics. The rear axles are available with an optional Spicer Trac- Lok(R) limited slip differential.

The new 2007 Jeep Wrangler also features a Victor Reinz(R) cylinder-head cover assembly on the 2.4L engine and exhaust manifold gaskets on the 4.0L Power Tech engine.

About Dana Corporation

Dana is a leading supplier of drivetrain, chassis, structural, and engine technologies. Dana people design and manufacture products for every major vehicle and engine producer in the world. Based in Toledo, Ohio, with operations throughout the world, Dana is focused on being an essential partner to automotive, commercial, and off-highway vehicle customers, which collectively produce more than 60 million vehicles annually. The company’s continuing operations reported sales of $8.6 billion in 2005. Dana’s Internet address is www.dana.com.

Dana and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries are operating under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code as debtors in possession. Information about the bankruptcy proceedings can be found at www.dana.com/reorganization. While Dana continues its reorganization under Chapter 11, investments in its securities are highly speculative. Although shares of Dana common stock continue to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB) under the symbol “DCNAQ,” the trading prices of the shares may have little or no relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by the holders under any eventual court-approved reorganization plan. The opportunity for any recovery by holders of Dana common stock under such reorganization plan is uncertain and shares of Dana common stock may be canceled without any compensation pursuant to such plan.

WOW! A guy over at Great Lakes 4×4 snagged some great shots of a European Wrangler CRD undergoing some cold weather testing.

Even better, it’s plated as a manufacturer’s vehicle, and, in his words “five guys ran him off” while snapping pics - seems like we might be getting the diesel Wrangler sooner than later! Excellent news.

Pic credits to MuddyPaws over at Great Lakes for posting these up. He’s got more pics posted including a great shot of a 2 door Unlimited model…

I wonder if that intake will become this year’s “must have” mod? …and it’d be great to know if Jeep did anything to reposition the oil filter on the 2.8 litre engine. In the Liberty is was dangerously exposed from the underside and could have been very easily damaged when offroading. I’m sure the aftermarket would have sprung to the need and created a special skid for it, but really, the best solution would end up being a relo kit and stand alone filter.

This is some serious offroading - about 10 minutes of it, in fact.

This is the sort of stuff I LOVE - tight, technical and a real test of driver skill, confidence and vehicle awareness.

This is a game of inches, not miles. And sometimes, even inches would be a luxury. (Same the smarmy jokes…)

Toledoan Bob Laucks isn�t saddened by the prospect of inspecting his final Jeep Wrangler this week, a move that will help signal the end of the nation�s longest-running auto plant.

Meanwhile, production of the redesigned Wrangler begins with four-door Unlimited models on July 17 after Mr. Laucks and others return from Toledo Jeep�s traditional two-week summer shutdown. The first finished vehicle is to be…

Read the complete article here, at TheBlade.com

For 65 years, Jeep has connoted ruggedness, durability and the versatility to go almost anywhere. Jeep’s classic Wrangler, with its ability to navigate off-road obstacles such as boulders, streams and sand, has satisfied outdoor enthusiasts since the model’s inception. The 2007 redesign of the Wrangler is no exception, incorporating a host of improvements in the powertrain, body and interior. In fact, its versatile performance also is reflected in the range of options available to consumers. DaimlerChrysler Corp. (Auburn Hills, Mich.) claims the 2007 model year Wrangler, available at dealers starting in August this year, offers literally dozens of combinations of doors, tops and windshields to satisfy a full range of needs.

The doors are proof of this point - the Wrangler will be available with either full-height or half-height doors, and a new four-door version is in the works, a first for this model. And with each door, prospective owners have the additional options of either power or manual windows and locks. For DaimlerChrysler, this range of options was a significant driver in rethinking door design and assembly, emphasizes Jeff Tibbenham, supervisor of DaimlerChrysler’s window regulator and door module center of competence. “We had to find a way to take some labor out of assembly and find a way to build more vehicles in the same assembly plant, with the same capital assets,” Tibbenham explains. Similar “rethinking” processes, years ago, led automotive OEMs to outsource integrated instrument panel modules and, more recently, integrated front-end components from outside suppliers. For the new Wrangler, DaimlerChrysler applied a similar solution, turning to key window regulator supplier Hi-Lex Controls Inc. (Troy, Mich.) to develop a modular door solution. The result is a single assembly that integrates the window mechanism (manual or power), lock and handle hardware, door latch and all cables and wiring, permitting rapid installation and pre-validated performance. Supporting all these components is a structural module plate, produced via injection-compression molding from a high-strength, long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) compound supplied by Ticona Engineering Polymers (Florence, Ky.). The long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) permits extremely complex shapes and…

Full story after the jump (opens a new window)

Even when design and production are weighed separately, Toledo-made Jeep Libertys and Jeep Wranglers still can’t break into a vaunted list of top compact sport-utility vehicles based on initial quality.

Buyers of the two local SUVs complained about wind noise; on the Liberty, brake noise was among problems reported, and for the Wrangler excessive fuel consumption was…

Read the full story here.
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OK, are we shocked by this? I mean really. Jeeps are known for their ability to handle pretty much any terrain dropped under them. They are NOT known for being the best screwed-together rigs on the road.

It’s damn near 2007 and I can walk onto a new-car lot, hop into a Wrangler, and within minutes spot two or three places where the soft-tops weren’t set up properly and day-light is visible.

Upon recently test driving a Liberty diesel, both my wife and I came to the same conclusion: This doesn’t FEEL like a $35,000 (CAN) vehicle.

The plastics on the dash were hard and shiny, the gaps between interior panels we not even - anywhere. The overall layout was fine, but it seemed like lots of “styling” bits were incorpoarted to break up things visually - lines, curves, colors, etc.

I LOVED the multi-tiered parcel shelf in the back of the Liberty, but after taking just over 4 minutes to figure it out and set it up, it was apparent you could not manipulate it with one hand - kinda crappy since my other hand was full of groceries. …and it didn’t feel all that sturdy, being made of yet more shiny, hard plastic. Our cold winters would leave that stuff as brittle as fresh ice on a pond.

Now, you might be thinking I didn’t like the Liberty. That even though I have this Jeep-focused website, that I’m a Libby-basher. You couldn’t be more wrong.

As a THIRD vehicle, I’d own one in a heart-beat. I’ve seen them in action offroad - they are VERY good performers right off the pavement - given decent tires. A small lift and they’re about on par with my old Cherokee with 3″ of lift.

Much more comfortable than the Cherokee of yore and more efficient - but note, it’s a third vehicle here.

And, I was driving a diesel model for my test - so that alone was enough to sell me - almost. I mean, Jeep should really consider renaming it the Jeep Torque or something - that engine transforms the normal Liberty into a real TRUCK - big towing, big power, big noises.

Had the dealer come down in a price a smidge, it’d be sitting in the driveway right now - but the bottom line was, for that kind of scratch, I do expect better quality.

While not really like that, a recent announcement means good things for Magna International of Ontario, Canada:

Magna joins Chrysler Group’s Supplier Park to support 2007 Jeep� Wrangler production

Magna, through Magna Steyr, is the automotive industry�s leading independent assembler of derivative, specialty and other vehicles for automotive manufacturers. Magna Steyr has operations in Europe, North America and Asia with headquarters in Graz (Austria). Within its existing partnership with the Chrysler Group, Magna Steyr builds the Chrysler 300C, Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander for international markets, including paint shop operations for these vehicles.

Kudos to Magna and DC on this one.

Been slow on the Jeep news lately, so let’s just take a look at this new rig and offer some opinions…

Shout out to Mike at Jeep News Now for first posting the pic in our world.
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OK, whether this is an “Unlimited” version, as originally suggested is open to debate. Doesn’t look that much longer in the rear end.

Regardless, it is what it is. A spiffy new ride for Jeepers to lust after. Or not.

I mean, I’m used to driving long-wheel base Jeeps offroad. They’re different than Wranglers - not as nimble. Sure the longer rigs are better on hill climbs, check out that break-over angle. If the 2007 Jeep Wranglers have low t-case skid plates like the older Wranglers came from the factory with, it’ll make for LOTS of noise on the trail.

Now, since even Jeepers spend most of their time on-road, I’m sure the payoff in very much increased ride comfort will be a no-brainer for most.

Besides, the lift kits on the market, or due out shortly, will give you the space you need between your underside and terra-firma. Slap on 33’s and be done with it. Reminds me of my Cherokee and Comanche, in fact.

Damn, now I want a 4 door Wrangler Rubicon, too.