TrailBlazer is considerably larger, heavier, and more expensive than the previous Blazer known to all. It does have the strong frame grinder, and struts in stead of torsion bars, which come standard on Chevrolet trucks. In addition it boasts a six-in-line power train with the output of 273 hp. The Grand Cherokee didn’t change so much; it still comes as the most affordable Laredo version, more or less standard Limited, and the luxury Overland. On the civilized asphalt highways Jeep feels as a much more dynamic driver’s car, even though the engine may be producing less power than that of a TrailBlazer. But you have to pay for that by sacrificing some of the comfort; here the TrailBlazer gets its way. And the European and Japanese bestseller 3.8L V6 Mitsubishi Pajero comes equipped with its famous Super Select 4WD transmission, where the driver can use any of four modes: rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive with limited slipping in center differential, four-wheel drive with locked center differential, and the same mode in low.

Comparing the capabilities of transmissions of the American counterparts we should say that in our opinion the all time 4WD with a locking interaxle differential of Jeep is much more convenient than the front axle engaged when the terrain requires for it that Chevy has. But on the other hand transmission without interaxle differential is much simpler and cheaper, especially taking into consideration that in North America TrailBlazer is also sold in a 2 WD version.

When we got the Chevrolet on the sandy gully in 2WD it quickly bogged down in the sand all the way to  the hubs of the wheels, asking for clicking a switch on the dashboard to engage the front axle and LO mode in the transfer case. With these enabled capabilities it continued to crawl slowly ‘till it came to a point where two of its wheels situated diagonally lost contact with the terrain and hang dangling helplessly in the air. In this case the locking differential of the rear axle doesn’t help, as it is designed with very soft characteristics. This is it, it is time to get the cable out and ask for help.

And what about Mitsubishi? Well, what can we say? Mitsubishi performs more than adequately. The SUV continues to creep steadily forward as long as there is enough traction of the tires. But Jeep with its Quadra-Drive II transmission with two-stage transfer case and three self-locking differentials doesn’t let Pajero beat it. Grand Cherokee gets stuck where Chevrolet gave up, but once you lock the center differential and get it in low it rewards the driver with endless crawling and crawling. Also, Jeep beats Chevy in angles of ascent and descent and higher ground clearance.

To sum it all up, Jeep Grand Cherokee once again proved its nickname of “a tank in a tailcoat”. It held its ground against its rivals. And remember, that hardly a quarter of all the owners of Pajero, Trail Blazer and Grand Cherokee at least once fully utilize the off road capabilities of their vehicles.

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The new Extended service program upgrades work exactly like a new car warranty except that they apply to the first owner of a Certified Pre-owned Jeep. In addition to the new lifetime extended warranty programs, Chrysler is also offering an option to purchase Jeep component coverage on top of the standing warranties on each certified pre-owned Jeep upon purchase.

From the press release:

The Lifetime Powertrain Care Coverage upgrade guarantees the engine, transmission and driveline of certified pre-owned Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles for as long as they are owned by the original CPOV buyer.

“In a tough economy, certified pre-owned vehicles become an even more viable option for vehicle shoppers, so we wanted our pre-owned warranty options to offer the same level of protection as our new car warranties,” said Lisa Way, Senior Manager – Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles, Chrysler LLC. “Our pre-owned customers tell us that worry-free ownership is just as important to them as it is to new vehicle buyers. The plans provide Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge CPOV dealers with an advantage over competitive CPO programs. At this time, no other OEM makes this type of coverage available for CPO units and no other franchised CPO dealers offer them.”

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Chrysler Introduces Three Advanced Electric-drive Vehicle Prototypes

• One targeted to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010
• Chrysler LLC to have approximately one hundred electric vehicles on the road in government, business, utility and development fleets in 2009
• Chrysler electric-drive technology to be applied to front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms
• Dodge EV: All-electric Performance Sports Car
• Jeep® EV: Wrangler Range-extended Electric Vehicle to allow customers to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time
• Chrysler EV: Town & Country Range-extended Electric Vehicle
• Chrysler and General Electric pursue joint project with U.S. Department of Energy

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., September 23, 2008 – Actions speak louder than words.

Chrysler LLC announced today that the Company and its ENVI organization have new production-intent, advanced electric-drive technology packaged in three different vehicles – one for each of its brands, Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge.

Chrysler will select one electric-drive model to be produced in 2010 for consumers in North American markets, and European markets after 2010. Additionally, approximately one hundred Chrysler electric vehicles will be on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009.

The Company said that it is well into the development of advanced, production-intent electric vehicles, and that it will apply electric-drive technology to its front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive platforms in the next several years.

At its World Headquarters here today, Chrysler revealed its electric-drive prototypes – Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV – and demonstrated the driving performance and capability of each.

“We have a social responsibility to our consumers to deliver environmentally friendly, fuel efficient, advanced electric vehicles, and our intention is to meet that responsibility quickly and more broadly than any other automobile manufacturer,” said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO – Chrysler LLC. “The introduction of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicles provides a glimpse of the very near future, and demonstrates that we are serious and well along in the development of bringing electric vehicles to market.”

ENVI Organization
The development of Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles and Range-extended Electric Vehicles is led by ENVI – representing the first four letters of “environmental” – the Company’s in-house organization that was formed to focus on electric-drive production vehicles and related advanced technologies. The development of electric-drive systems for future Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles is maturing quickly.

“ENVI was created just over one year ago with the strategic intent to develop electric-drive vehicles quickly for Chrysler, and it is surpassing expectations,” said Tom LaSorda – Vice Chairman and President. “With ENVI, Chrysler is developing technology to bring Electric Vehicles and extremely fuel-efficient Range-extended Electric Vehicles to market.”

Electric Vehicle Technology
Chrysler’s Electric Vehicles utilize just three primary components. These include an electric motor to drive the wheels, an advanced lithium-ion battery system to power the electric-drive motor, and a controller that manages energy flow. The electric-drive system is being developed for front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle applications.

“This technology provides customers with a vehicle that has zero tailpipe emissions and a 150 to 200 mile driving range – far exceeding most Americans’ daily commutes, as nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles per day, or 14,000 miles per year,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development. “Electric Vehicles provide the opportunity to fulfill social responsibility, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and eliminate monthly gasoline bills, while delivering performance and utility that our customers desire.”

Range-extended Electric Vehicle Technology
The Range-extended Electric Vehicle combines the electric-drive components of the Electric Vehicle with a small gasoline engine and integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle with the driving range equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – with no compromises in performance.

Range-extended Electric Vehicles offer environmental responsibility without giving up driving range, comfort or utility.

Dodge EV
The Dodge EV development Electric Vehicle is a two-passenger rear-wheel-drive sports car that marries high performance with zero tailpipe emissions.

“The Dodge EV sets a new standard for what can be expected in electric-drive vehicles,” said Lou Rhodes, Vice President – Advance Vehicle Engineering, and President – ENVI. “The electric-vehicle technology enables a fun-to-drive performance sports car and helps redefine the vision of an environmentally responsible vehicle for the Dodge brand.”

The electric-drive system consists of three primary components: a 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor, an advanced lithium-ion battery and an integrated power controller.

The 200 kW electric-drive motor generates 650 N·m (480 lb.-ft.) of torque. The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor delivers outstanding performance, accelerating the Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than five seconds, with quarter-mile times of 13 seconds. The Dodge EV has a top speed of more than 120 mph.

Working with the latest advanced lithium-ion battery technology, the Dodge EV has a continuous driving range of 150 to 200 miles – more than triple the average daily commute of most consumers. Recharging the vehicle is a simple one-step process: plugging into a standard 110-volt household outlet for eight hours. The recharge time can be cut in half to four hours by using a typical 220-volt household appliance power outlet.

The Dodge EV offers driving enthusiasts a performance sports car that can be driven to work every day – without consuming gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions.

Jeep EV
The Jeep EV development vehicle is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle that provides a glimpse into the future of a “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” vehicle with renowned Jeep Wrangler capability.

The Jeep EV combines Wrangler’s unmatched off-road capability with the ultimate “Tread Lightly” mindset by providing nature ambassadors with the ability to roam the planet and take care of it at the same time.

The Jeep EV Range-extended Electric Vehicle uses an electric motor, an advanced lithium-ion battery system, and a small gasoline engine with an integrated electric generator to produce additional energy to power the electric-drive system when needed. The 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor generates 400 N·m (295 lb.-ft.) of torque. With approximately eight gallons of gasoline, the Jeep EV has a range of 400 miles, including 40 miles of zero fuel-consumption, zero-emissions, all-electric operation.

“We are also exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of ENVI’s advanced electric-drive technologies,” said Rhodes.

The instant high torque of the electric-drive motor and the ability to precisely control each wheel independently results in off-road capability ideally suited for the Jeep brand, without compromising on-road driving capability.

Chrysler EV
The Chrysler EV development vehicle is a Range-extended Electric Vehicle that demonstrates another possible application of ENVI electric-drive technology in the segment-leading Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

“With the Chrysler EV, we are able to blend seven-passenger capability and the luxury of the Chrysler Town & Country minivan with electric-drive technology, demonstrating family practicality with zero compromise,” said Rhodes. “ENVI’s electric-drive development vehicles showcase our accelerated application of electric-drive systems into a wide range of vehicles in Chrysler’s future product portfolio.”

The Chrysler EV combines the electric-drive components of an Electric Vehicle with an integrated small-displacement engine and generator to produce additional electricity to power the electric-drive system when needed. This provides all of the positive attributes of an Electric Vehicle and extends the driving range to be equivalent to today’s gasoline-powered vehicles – without compromises.

The Chrysler EV uses a 190 kW (255 horsepower) motor, producing 350 N·m (258 lb.-ft.) of torque, providing 0 to 60 mph acceleration in approximately nine seconds. The Chrysler EV Range-extended Electric Vehicle can drive 40 miles on all-electric power, and boasts a range of 400 miles on approximately eight gallons of gasoline. This makes the Chrysler EV the perfect fuel-efficient family vehicle.

The knowledge and experience gained from the Chrysler EV will be applied to other front-wheel-drive applications in Chrysler’s portfolio.

Chrysler LLC Electric-vehicle Consumer Web Site
Chrysler LLC has launched a web site – www.Chryslergoeselectric.com – to allow consumers to view the latest updates on Electric Vehicles and Range-extended Electric Vehicles from the Company. Content will include videos, photography and news, and visitors can sign up for updates. In addition, the site features a blog where consumers can interact directly with the Company.

Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement
Chrysler and General Electric are jointly pursuing a project with the United States Department of Energy to explore advanced energy-storage technology.

“Chrysler’s partnership with General Electric combines the electric-drive technology demonstrated in the Chrysler Electric Vehicles, with GE’s research and development of advanced energy storage systems,” said Klegon. “Our collective goal working with the DOE is to develop a new, integrated energy-storage system to make electric vehicle battery packs smaller and significantly less expensive than current designs.”

Chrysler and GE will develop and evaluate dual-battery solutions based on GE’s unique technology.

“One of the challenges with electric vehicles is finding a battery with the correct balance between power – for example, during vehicle acceleration – and energy for long driving range,” said Klegon. “We believe that combining two unique battery chemistries – one biased toward power and the other toward energy – into a single battery pack is very promising for a future Chrysler Electric Vehicle.”

“The 2008 Jeep Liberty offers more value than ever before starting at under $21,000 for 4×2 models and under $23,000 for 4×4 models,” said John Plecha, Director – Jeep Brand Marketing and Global Communications, Chrysler Group. “We’ve reduced the MSRP by an average of $1,000 and added approximately $1,400 in features and content to both models. And, the Jeep Liberty Limited sets the bar high with the most combined comfort and convenience features available in its segment.”

Standard on both models is a 3.7-liter SOHC V-6 engine that generates 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. On-road ride and handling is improved with the addition of a new independent front and new five-link rear suspension systems. Staying true to legendary Jeep heritage, the Liberty offers two four-wheel-drive systems to meet customer needs, including Selec-Trac II — the most advanced four-wheel-drive system available in its segment.

MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System, remote start, memory seats, mirrors and radio controls, and express up/down windows are added to the vehicle’s list of available features and options. Making its world debut is the new Sky Slider full-length, open-canvas roof, an industry exclusive; giving the Liberty that “Have Fun Out There” open-air Jeep experience.

Press Release
——————-
**Chrysler Introduces New ‘Best-in-Industry’ Lifetime Powertrain Warranty on Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge Vehicles**

* The New Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty – the first from an OEM and the longest in the industry – is a statement of confidence in the reliability of Chrysler products
* Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components – engine, transmission and drive system
* Provides worry-free ownership for new Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge owners

Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 26, 2007 – Chrysler today announced that the Company would extend its powertrain warranty from the 3-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty to a new Lifetime Powertrain Warranty. The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty applies to most new Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles purchased from dealer inventory and delivered on or after July 26, 2007.

The Lifetime Powertrain Warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain components – engine, transmission and drive system. The new powertrain warranty is limited to the first registered owner or retail lessee. Customers should contact dealers for details on vehicle selection.

“This new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty is a statement of confidence to our customers to the reliability of their powertrain. It’s peace-of-mind reassurance for as long as they own the vehicle,” said Steven Landry, Executive Vice President – North America, Sales and Marketing, Service and Parts, Chrysler Group.

To continue warranty coverage, the owner must have a powertrain inspection performed by an authorized Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealer once every 5 years. This inspection will be performed at no charge. The inspection must be made within 60 days of each 5-year anniversary of the warranty start date of the vehicle.

Landry added, “The new Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty underscores our focus on quality and customer satisfaction. It demonstrates our commitment to customers and the confidence we have in our ability to produce quality, reliable and durable vehicles. That’s why we put ‘lifetime’ on it.”

Customers may visit Chrysler.com, Jeep.com and Dodge.com for more information. A warranty promotion – print, radio, television and Internet – begins Friday, July 27.

At first glance, the site is not very pretty. It utilizes a black and yellow color scheme that doesn’t do a very good job of helping with the legibility of the site. The various action items of each page are not clearly spelled out, and the lack of a page hierarchy lends itself to being very difficult to navigate.

Functionally, the site works fairly well. You can select the manufacturer that you wish to locate a dealership for and the results will be returned with a Google Map of each location. You can also search by zip code or browse by location. You can also get the very same results by going to Google Local, and searching for the very same thing.

In conclusion, I was not impressed with this site at all. Rather than come up with something new, it’s just a rehash of tools that are already available on the internet. I probably would never use this site, as I tend to shop for a new vehicles via the manufacturers and enjoy looking at dealer inventories via the manufacturer’s website.