Jeep Announces 70th Anniversary Edition Models at Detroit Motor Show

After releasing a barrage of refreshed models, Chrysler's Jeep division is now banking on a series of special edition models created to celebrate the brand's 70th anniversary.

“As part of our celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Jeep brand, we are creating stunning, premium special-edition models of each vehicle in our lineup that pay homage to the history of the legendary Jeep brand,” said Mike Manley, President and CEO of Jeep.

The 70th Anniversary Edition lineup includes the 2011 Jeep Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Patriot and Wrangler, all of which are distinguished by certain unique features such as specific alloy wheels and trim options, and will all be available in a special Bronze Star exterior paint, in addition to Bright Silver and Black. The special edition models are scheduled to arrive in Jeep showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.

More details as well as pricing for each model can be found in the press release below.

PRESS RELEASE

2011 Jeep Compass 70th Anniversary Edition
The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the Jeep Compass 70th Anniversary Edition starts at $24,270 (plus $700 destination). It is available on Compass Limited models. Features include:

• Unique, 18-inch aluminum wheel
• 70th Anniversary badge
• Dark Slate seats with perforated leather inserts embossed with Jeep logo and Chestnut accent stitching and piping
• Berber floor mats and cargo area with Chestnut binding
• Unique dark green cluster overlay
• Chestnut stitching in steering wheel
• 70th Anniversary logo on radio screen

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition
The U.S. MSRP of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 70th Anniversary Edition is $35,770 (plus $780 destination). It is available on Grand Cherokee Laredo X models. Features include:

• Unique, polished 20-inch aluminum wheel with Mineral Gray pockets
• 70th Anniversary badge
• Dark Olive leather seats with perforated inserts with Chestnut accent stitching and piping
• Black/Dark Olive with Chestnut accents is also available
• Door bolster and armrest in Dark Olive and wrapped with Chestnut accent stitching
• Center console in Dark Olive perforated leather wrapped with Chestnut accent stitching
• Black leather wrapped steering wheel with Chestnut accent stitching
• Berber floor mats with Chestnut binding
• New satin chrome-plated, graphite anodized paint and Black Lacewood interior finish
• Unique cluster overlay and needles
• 70th Anniversary logo on radio screen

2011 Jeep Liberty 70th Anniversary Edition
The U.S. MSRP of the Jeep Liberty 70th Anniversary Edition starts at $24,770 (plus $745 destination). It is available on Liberty Sport or Limited models. Features include:

• Unique 18-inch Mopar wheel with polished face and painted pockets (optional on Sport)
• 70th Anniversary badge
• Bright body-side moldings, roof rails and license plate brow
• Dark Olive/Dark Slate leather seats with Chestnut accent stitching and piping
• Door armrest and center console in Dark Olive with Chestnut accent
• Leather steering wheel with Chestnut accent
• New interior satin chrome accents and bezels in anodized Silver and Black Lacewood finish
• Berber floor mats with Chestnut binding
• Unique cluster overlay and needles
• 70th Anniversary logo on radio screen
• Mopar stainless steel sill plates

2011 Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition
The U.S. MSRP of the Jeep Patriot 70th Anniversary Edition starts at $22,170 (plus $700 destination). It is available on Patriot Latitude X models. Features include:

• 17-inch aluminum wheel
• 70th Anniversary badge
• Dark Slate seats with perforated leather inserts embossed with Jeep logo and Chestnut accent stitching and piping
• Berber floor mats and cargo area with Chestnut binding
• Unique dark green cluster overlay
• Chestnut stitching in steering wheel
• 70th Anniversary logo on radio screen

2011 Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition
The U.S. MSRP of the Jeep Wrangler 70th Anniversary Edition starts at $28,670 (plus $750 destination) for 2-door models and $31,370 (plus $750 destination) for Unlimited models. It is available on Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited Sahara models. Features include:

• Unique 18-inch wheel
• 70th Anniversary badge
• Dark Olive seats with perforated leather inserts and Chestnut accent stitching and piping
• Satin chrome HVAC rings, front doorpulls and grab handle
• Automatic shift knob with satin chrome cap and bezel
• Door armrest and center console in Dark Olive with Chestnut accent
• Leather steering wheel with Chestnut accent
• Berber floor mats with Chestnut binding
• Unique cluster overlay and needles
• 70th Anniversary logo on radio screen
• Mopar brushed aluminum sill plates

2011 Jeep vehicle lineup
Jeep builds on its tradition of providing unique, iconic, versatile and capable vehicles for 2011, with its next-generation, premium flagship vehicle – the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee – and with significant changes across the Jeep vehicle lineup.

With the greatest range of SUVs under one brand, the Jeep vehicle portfolio consists of:

• Compass: A compact SUV with a new sophisticated, premium design for 2011, the Jeep Compass delivers unsurpassed 4x4 fuel economy, freedom, utility, and Jeep 4x4 cachet and capability, all at a terrific value
• Grand Cherokee: The most capable and luxurious Grand Cherokee ever, balancing legendary Jeep capability with sophistication to deliver a premium driving experience for all adventures
• Liberty: The mid-size SUV from Jeep that offers Jeep Trail Rated® 4x4 capability combined with on-road refinement and numerous innovative features, including the industry-exclusive full-length Sky Slider® open canvas roof
• Patriot: A compact SUV delivering the fun, adventure and value only Jeep can offer, with unsurpassed 4x4 fuel economy and segment leading capability
• Wrangler: The icon of the Jeep brand, it remains true to its heritage as the original fun-and-freedom machine. For 2011, it boasts an all-new interior, and an available premium body color hardtop for Sahara models
• Wrangler Unlimited: The only four-door convertible SUV on the market with room for five adult passengers, Wrangler Unlimited receives an all-new interior for 2011 and an available premium body color hardtop for Sahara models

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Analyst Forecasts New Chrysler and Fiat Models Until 2012 Including Jeep based Alfa GTX SUV

Research firm IHS Global Insight (GI) has released a new analysis forecasting a variety of Chrysler and Fiat Group models to be built in North America between 2011 and 2012. Before we say anything else, we'd advise to pay attention to the words 'analysis' and 'forecast'. That said, don't take everything you read as a fact. The report begins with the Alfa Romeo 169, a BMW 5-Series rival that is said to be built at Chrysler's Ontario factory in Canada with the first models rolling off the assembly line as early as November 2011.

The analyst predicts that the 169 will be based on Chrysler's LX platform which underpins the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger models. While it makes sense for the Italians to use the LX platform, unless Fiat is planning to simply re-skin / re-mask the next-generation Chrysler 300 into an Alfa, in which case, we're talking about a mistake from Fiat's behalf, saying that that the Alfa Romeo 169 will be ready to enter production in about two years time, is quite optimistic. Plus, as you can see in one of Fiat's previous product plans, Alfa was supposedly scheduling to introduce a self-developed 169 in 2009 - what happened to that?

Talking about the LX platform, the forecaster said that due to the bankruptcy of Chrysler LLC and the plant closures, the start of production of the new 2011 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 have been delayed to November 2010 and January 2011 respectively.

Continuing with the North American-built Fiat models, Global Insight said that the highly successful in Europe, 500 mini, will be made in Toluca, Mexico with U.S. sales starting in July 2011.

The MINI-rivaling 500 will be the only Fiat-badged model to be sold in the States. Since the 500 is based on Fiat's 169 platform, the Toluca plant will also produce the Jeep Panda 4x4, again from July 2011. We're guessing that the Jeep variant will most likely be a remasked version of the European market Panda 4x4.

Next up we have an array of models based on the Fiat Group's C-EVO platform that underpins C-segment cars like the Lancia Delta and Fiat Bravo. The report says that the C-EVO will be used on the next-generation Dodge Journey crossover, Dodge Caliber crossover and Chrysler Sebring sedan. Production is slated to begin for the Journey and Caliber in July 2012 at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, and for the Sebring, in June 2011 at the Toluca assembly plant.

In addition to the above models, the C-EVO platform is also reported to form the base for an Alfa Romeo compact SUV (no date) and weirdly enough, for the successor of the Jeep Liberty (July 2012) with both SUVs said to be produced at the Toledo plant in Ohio.

But the report gets even better as it is predicted that Fiat will produce a larger Alfa Romeo SUV model called the GTX at Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant beginning in July 2011. The GTX is said to be based on Jeep's WL platform that underpins the 2011 Grand Cherokee. However, bear in mind that the Grand Cherokee's WL platform is derived from Mercedes-Benz (it was developed during Daimler's reign over the company) so we're not entirely sure if Fiat has the rights to use the platform for one of its own models.

The paper ends with two subcompact hatches, the Dodge Hornet and Alfa Romeo MiTo that will share the same hardware- aka Fiat's 199 B-segment platform. Both cars are reported to be built for the American market at Chrysler's Belvidere assembly plant in Illinois with production slated to begin in March 2011 for the Hornet and July 2011 for the MiTo.

Call us skeptics, but if you want our opinion, we find the forecast extremely optimistic in the sense that Fiat will not only have to develop, design, engineer and test a whole bunch of new cars but also revamp Chrysler's North American factories to build the vehicles and all this in just two years from now.