Chrysler Group Announces Pricing for the New 2007 Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee CRD

* Full-size, diesel-powered sport-utility vehicle for under $39,000

* Up to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy and 20 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions

* Class-leading torque and driving range (450 miles); outstanding towing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Chrysler Group announced today at the Washington Auto Show pricing for its first diesel-powered, full- size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) to be offered in the United States. The 2007 Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee with a 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine will begin to arrive at Jeep dealerships in March.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited CRD will begin at $38,475, including $695 destination. The 3.0-liter V-6 CRD engine will be available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and Overland 4×2 and 4×4 models.

“The Chrysler Group is leading the way to bring the advantages of diesel to various U.S. vehicle segments,” Tom LaSorda, President and CEO, Chrysler Group, said. “Chrysler Group will continue to build upon our diesel leadership in the years to come. We believe that clean diesel technology can and should be a part of the national energy solution. It’s crucial that our country’s policymakers set regulations that encourage a diversity of approaches to reducing our dependence on oil.”

The new 3.0-liter V-6 CRD engine, built by Mercedes-Benz, produces 215 hp (160 kW) @ 3,800 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. torque (510 N*m) @ 1,600-2,800 rpm and gets an estimated fuel economy of 20 miles city and 25 miles highway for 4×2 models and 20 miles city and 24 miles highway for 4×4 models. Most recently, the engine earned a spot on “Ward’s 10 Best Engines” list.

The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD offers class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (7,400 pounds), and class-leading driving range of approximately 450 miles. Clean diesel technology also improves fuel economy by up to 30 percent and has up to 20 percent fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited CRD

With an MSRP of $38,475 for 4×2 models and $41,715 for 4×4 models (including destination) the Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited CRD includes Sirius Satellite Radio, Quadra-Drive II(R)*, five-speed automatic transmission, 17- inch aluminum wheels, memory system (seats, mirrors, pedals, etc.), air conditioning with dual-zone automatic temperature control, rain sensitive windshield wipers, premium leather seats, SmartBeam headlamps, tire pressure monitor, engine block heater, and AM/FM/six-disc CD/MP3 radio. (*4×4 models only)

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD

With an MSRP of $41,960 for 4×2 models and $45,395 for 4×4 models (including destination) the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland CRD includes a five- speed automatic transmission, Quadra-Drive II*, 17-inch chrome clad wheels, ParkView rear back-up camera, ParkSense(R) rear back-up system, skid plates*, trailer tow package, tow hooks*, engine block heater, Sirius Satellite Radio, DVD-based AM/FM/six-disc CD/MP3 navigation radio and UConnect(R) hands-free communication system. (*4×4 models only)

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel will offer excellent performance, increased fuel economy, class-leading torque, towing and a driving range of 450 miles - the equivalent of driving from Washington D.C. to Boston,” said Craig Love, Vice President–Rear-Wheel-Drive Product Team, Chrysler Group. “Unlike past experiences Americans may have had with diesel engines 20 years ago, the 3.0-liter CRD available on the Jeep Grand Cherokee is engineered to be a smooth-running, quiet, clean engine. Consumers may forget that they are driving a diesel vehicle.”

The Jeep brand also announced last year that the 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee would have a flex-fuel capable 4.7-liter SOHC V-8 engine, which gives customers the ability to use a fuel with an 85 percent concentration of ethanol (E85) in their vehicles. Flex-fuel vehicles support renewable sources of fuel and reduce emissions. The 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues Chrysler Group’s commitment to alternative fuels and technology.

More than 60 percent of the Chrysler Group vehicles sold in Western Europe are diesel powered. Between 2003 and 2007, the Chrysler Group will triple the number of diesel offerings outside North America. Of the estimated 20 vehicles available, 12 or more will have the option for a diesel powertrain (up from four in 2003).

The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. The Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD will be fueled with B5 (5 percent) biodiesel at the assembly plant to help increase the awareness of biodiesel. The 3.0-liter V-6 CRD engine is built at the Mercedes-Benz Berlin Marienfelde Plant in Berlin, Germany.

Well, I saw an old ad today for the Dodge GTX sold in South America in the late 60’s. That got me to thinking and I found this little number on YouTube.

It’s a scene from something - the whole thing is in Spanish, but hey, there’ snot much talking, yet a whole lot of tires squealing.

It’s a decent chase scene with all the hallmarks of low-budget shooting:

Well, I’m sure this won’t help SUVs get a better name, as it smacks of self-servitude in a big way. Still, there is a point in this info - mainly, that most of today’s cars lack the good to tow even modest amounts of cargo.

This has, the group says, had an impact on lifestyle choices folks have had to make with impacts felt in other industries and sectors…

That’s all well and good. Give me a Jeep Commander with a diesel option and I’ll happily tow my home around - just because I could and it’s be affordable to do so. Until then, perhaps this group should get it’s act together and work on ways to get more than 11 mpg out of the rigs that can tow things…

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99% of Car Towing Capacity Lost Since 1970s

In addition to the towing guide on http://www.suvoa.com/, there are a number of web sites to help consumers make informed purchase decisions to meet their towing needs.

Excellent preview of the hottest Audi in…well, ever.

DaimlerChrysler is the Only Manufacturer Building and Testing Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles with Lithium-Ion Battery Technology in Customer Fleets

- Lithium-ion battery research will accelerate future hybrid development

- DaimlerChrysler investigates plug-in technology with test fleet

- Dodge Sprinter Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) can drive up to 20 real-world miles on electric-only power

- Industry first PHEV combined with diesel for maximum fuel efficiency

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — More than 20 Dodge Sprinter Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) will be placed in the Untied States between now and the first quarter of 2008 as part of a test fleet program. Four of the vehicles are already in operation with customers. DaimlerChrysler is the only auto manufacturer currently evaluating a variety of plug-in hybrid powertrain configurations under customer-operation conditions in real-world service.

Battery development is one of the keys to the success of hybrid and fuel cell transportation. Lithium ion holds the greatest promise for battery technology. A number of the Dodge Sprinter PHEVs are equipped with lithium ion batteries which are about half the weight and have much greater storage capacities when compared to nickel-metal hydride batteries. The vehicles will yield technical information through real world driving conditions about lifetime, performance and cost of batteries.

“The future of plug-in hybrid technology rests on a number of improvements, the most significant being batteries,” said Dr. Andreas Truckenbrodt, Executive Director - DaimlerChrysler Hybrid Programs. “The battery systems in the PHEV Sprinter continue to provide valuable data on the possibilities with lithium-ion technology.”

Plug-in technology lends itself to commercial applications in which the vehicle returns to base after each shift to be plugged into the power grid but also works well in urban traffic situations for daily commuters.

Based on Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle technology, the Dodge Sprinter PHEV has the ability to drive up to 20 miles on electric-only power. It accomplishes this with a switch on the dashboard giving the operator the ability to manually switch between modes as needed, or automatically by the vehicle control system. Two different combustion engines are being offered in the PHEV - diesel or gasoline. The diesel version will yield the highest fuel economy benefit and is the first fleet test of a diesel plug-in hybrid system.

Plug-in hybrid technology is part of DaimlerChrysler’s advanced propulsion technology umbrella, which also includes exceptionally efficient gasoline engines, advanced diesel technology, ethanol flex-fuel and zero-emission fuel cell vehicles.

Source: Chrysler Group

CONTACT: Nick Cappa, +1-248-512-4266, or nc503@dcx.com, or Todd Goyer,
+1-248-512-0041, or trg32@dcx.com, both of Chrysler Group

Holy crap - if you live anywhere with winter, this has to be your worst nightmare - uncontrollably sliding downhill into other vehicles - on glare ice.

Zero traction in any direction.

This unique perspective really shows what can happen in town - all in about 2 minutes…too bad they didn’t keep filming the fire truck near the end…

What: More than 12 million Americans will take advantage of the winter
season and spend time outdoors sledding, skiing, snowboarding or
snowmobiling this year. Of those, nearly 400,000 - or
approximately one out of every 30 - people will sustain an injury.
To help prevent these injuries and keep children and families
safe, Dr. John R. Tongue and professional snowboarder Stacy Thomas
have teamed up with the Jeep(R) Safe Way to Play campaign to offer
important winter sports safety tips.

Dr. Tongue and Thomas will explain:
- Key facts about winter sports-related injuries
- The most common causes of sledding, skiing and snowboarding
accidents, and how to avoid them
- Additional ways to stay safe while traveling to and from the
slopes

Who: Dr. John R. Tongue: An orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports
medicine, trauma/fractures and arthroscopic surgery. A fellow of
the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Tongue has co-
authored a study on “The Hidden Dangers of Winter Sliding” and has
contributed to such varied media outlets as the Associated Press,
New York Times, Seattle Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and has
conducted numerous television interviews.

Stacy Thomas: A professional snowboarder, Thomas has been skiing
since she was 3 years old and has been snowboarding since she was
6. At the age of 22, she has undergone three ACL surgeries due to
winter sports injuries and knows first hand the many do’s and
don’ts of staying safe on the slopes.

When: Wednesday, January 24 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. MT*

Dr. John Tongue and Thomas are available for on-site TV interviews
at Buttermilk Mountain where they can demonstrate various safety
tips

1:30 - 4 p.m. MT*

Dr. John Tongue is available to conduct one-on-one media
interviews, including phone interviews

Thursday, January 25

8 a.m. - 1 p.m. MT*

Dr. John Tongue is available to conduct one-on-one media
interviews, including phone interviews

*Please schedule all interviews in advance by calling 312-464-1984
x240 or emailing Kodi Moore at Kmoore@clearblue.biz.

Where: 2007 Winter X Games
Buttermilk Mountain
Aspen, Colo.

Other: With millions of people watching as athletes perform daring stunts
during the 2007 Winter X Games, this is the perfect opportunity to
reach consumers with an important safety message before they head
to the slopes and try to imitate what they’ve seen on television.

The Jeep brand has been dedicated to safely transporting consumers
anywhere they want to go for more than 66 years. As part of an
overall focus on safety, Jeep not only wants to make sure
consumers get to where they’re going this season, but wants to
make sure drivers and passengers are playing safely once they
arrive at their winter sport destinations.

Contact: Jodi Tinson (248) 512-2944 jt658@dcx.com

ORANGE, Calif., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ — The Action Pursuit Group (APG), an operating company of Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC, today announced the re- launch of www.driveonline.com, a fully interactive digital extension of APG’s Drive! magazine.

Established over 20 years ago in 1986, Drive! magazine is the nation’s most comprehensive resource for automotive events and is annually distributed to over 4,500 automotive specialty shops and stores and at over 400 events. Automobile enthusiasts who share a passion for rodding, racing, building, buying and restoring collector cars and trucks will find the newly remodeled website to be a resourceful and exciting extension of Drive! magazine.

Craig Nickerson, CEO of APG, said, “We are very excited about the re- launch of the Drive! website, which will enable us to better promote the magazine while serving the needs of automotive enthusiasts across all segments.” “The legacy site had been generating strong traffic for quite some time,” added Nickerson, “but we believe the enhancements to the new site will provide us and our advertising partners significant growth opportunities for years to come.”

For more information about the Action Pursuit Group, please contact Craig Nickerson at 714-939-9991 or craig.nickerson@apg-media.com.

The Action Pursuit Group

The Action Pursuit Group (APG) is an operating company of Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC. APG, which is based in Orange County, California, operates publications including Drag Racer, Drifting, Diesel World, Drive! and StreetTrucks in the automotive segment; Bow & Arrow Hunting, Gun World and Knives Illustrated in the outdoor sports segment; Victorian Homes, Cottages & Bungalows and Romantic Homes in the shelter segment; and Action Pursuit Games, Ultimate Grappling and Inside Kung-Fu in the action enthusiast segment. Apprise Enthusiast Media is a strategic platform of Apprise Media LLC (www.apprisemedia.com), a leading investor in niche media.

Source: The Action Pursuit Group

CONTACT: Joanne Lessner, MarketcomPR, +1-203-622-1353,
jlessner@marketcomPR.com

Web site: http://www.driveonline.com/

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 18 — Camp Jeep(R) 2007, the annual three-day mix of off-road driving and other family-friendly outdoor activities, will be held July 26-28 at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County, VA, near Charlottesville.

Details about specific events will be announced later, but will definitely include trails for 4-wheeling, vehicle displays, activities for all ages, food and musical entertainment, and the opportunity for owners to talk about the ins and outs of their vehicles with Jeep engineers.

Registration for Camp Jeep, which is open only to Jeep vehicle owners, has been reduced by $100 from last year’s fees. Early bird registration is $245 per vehicle through March 31. After that, Camp Jeep registration is $295 per vehicle. Registration and additional information are available at http://www.jeep.com/campjeep.

“Camp Jeep is one of the premier owner-loyalty events in America, and the Blue Ridge Mountains are a beautiful backdrop for this hugely popular event,” said John Plecha, Director - Jeep Marketing and Global Communications. “The last time Camp Jeep was held in Charlottesville in
2004, nearly 10,000 Jeep vehicle owners and their families attended, making it the best-attended Camp Jeep ever. The Jeep vehicle lineup has expanded since then. That, plus the lower registration fees, and we could set a new attendance record this year.”

Four Jeep vehicles had been introduced, but were not yet on sale, when Camp Jeep was held last year at Road America at Elkhart Lake, WI. New owners of the redesigned 2007 Jeep Wrangler 2-door, the all-new 2007 Wrangler Unlimited 4-door, the all-new 2007 Jeep Compass and the all-new 2007 Jeep Patriot will be driving those vehicles to Camp Jeep for the first
time. They will be joined by owners driving other models in the Jeep family: the Jeep Liberty, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander. As in previous Camp Jeep events, owners are also expected to arrive with such Jeep heritage vehicles as CJs, Cherokees and Wagoneers.

This is the sixth time that Camp Jeep has been held at the Oak Ridge Estate. The first Camp Jeep was held in Camp Hale, CO in 1995.