I Want A Jeep

The 2007 Jeep Wrangler is the 4×4 of the year.

The 2007 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon beat out three Chevys, a Hummer, a Toyota, a Kia and a GMC to capture the coveted 4×4 of the Year award by 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine.

It’s no easy task. Think of it as the 4×4 world’s version of fraternity hazing. Competitors have to show their stuff on a grueling 1,000 mile test which looks at its suspension, engine, transmission and transfer case along with the style and creature comforts. The most important test though, is how well the beasts behave off-road

“This award is the ultimate pinnacle,” said Mike Donoughe, Chrysler Group Vice President, Body-on-Frame Product Team. “We are honored that 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine selected the ultimate off-road icon, our new all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, as 4×4 of the Year.”

Said Rick Pewe, Editor of 4-Wheel & Off-Road: “The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon clearly won this year’s test, despite being pitted against formidable challengers. The fine mechanical attributes and classic styling and new- found comfort lifted the Jeep well above the competition, and the incredibly capable off-road ability helped propel it into the winners circle.”

From Chrysler’s media only blog

Chrysler is aiming to cut $1000 from the production costs of new vehicles. This effort is an attempt to get the Chrylser brands back into the black.

As part of that effort, Chrysler is trying to reduce the cost of producing new and existing vehicles by $1,000 per unit on average, Vines said. That savings is easier to achieve on larger vehicles, but far more difficult on smaller vehicles with lower sticker prices, he added.

If Chrysler had achieved the target over the first nine months of the year, it would mean a cost savings of $1.8 billion based on sales figures.

Dresdner Kleinwort said the full-year value of the cost- cutting would be near $2.8 billion, but questioned whether the goal was achievable.

“It appears hard to see how Chrysler could slash costs by another $2.8 billion without cutting too deep,” the brokerage said in a note for clients. “We anticipate significant capacity reductions.”

Chrysler has said health care costs for its U.S. work force amount to $1,400 per vehicle and the company has so far failed to win a cost-cutting concession on health care from the UAW of the type the union granted to its larger rivals General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.

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