Jeep climbed to beautiful Red Rocks Park above Morrison last Monday for a late-afternoon showing of its 2014 lineup.
Intended focus for a gathering of 25 Colorado journalists was the newly produced Cherokee. A great deal of attention was drawn, too, by a Rubicon Wrangler and diesel-powered Grand Cherokee. The Patriot and Compass were also represented.
Colorado, with its mountainous terrain and heavy winter snowfall, long has been prime territory for Jeep.
Though densely populated New York is No. 1 in sale of Jeeps, the Rocky Mountain region is tied closely to 4-by-4 marketing. “In fact, per capita, no other state’s sale of Jeeps compares with Colorado,” according to Jeff Hines, director of the Denver office of Chrysler Group.
Hines was joined in the presentation by three other Chrysler executives – Mark Allen, head of Jeep design, of Detroit; Wendy Orthman, Midwest PR manager, of Chicago; and Katherine Graham, product PR manager, of Detroit.
A 9-speed automatic transmission which Chrysler developed with German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen is a highlight of the new Cherokee and mates up to either a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine or a 3.2-liter V-6 Pentastar. With the 4-cylinder/9-speed combination, the Cherokee carries an EPA estimate of 31 miles per gallon on the highway.
The all-wheel-drive Cherokee, successor to the boxy Jeep Liberty, is sleekly styled and based on the platform of the Dodge Dart and Fiat’s Alfa Romeo.
While the Cherokee’s looks seem to evoke a “love it or hate it” reaction, “efficiency is the key to its existence,” said Allen. “The Jeep lines emanate from the upright Wrangler with its front and rear solid axles to the refined Grand Cherokee and its offerings into the luxury category. The Cherokee is more connected to the Grand Cherokee side.”
A deep yellow Wrangler Rubicon was a standout in the Red Rocks setting. “The Rubicon is one of the highest-performance offroad vehicles you can get,” said Allen.
At the high end of the lineup of Jeeps was the Grand Cherokee Overland with the diesel engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, paddle shifters, Quadra-Drive 4wd, air suspension, numerous skid plates, navigation/audio technology and heated and ventilated seats, at sticker price of $54,480.
Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
