NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Jeep lobs new Cherokee
Redesigned Jeep Cherokee confirmed for fourth-quarter launch in AustraliaJeep Australia has confirmed a fourth-quarter local release for the redesigned Cherokee, which was revealed over the weekend ahead of its world debut at the New York motor show on March 27.
“We are pleased to confirm that the all-new Jeep Cherokee will be available to Australian buyers in the fourth quarter of 2013,” said Fiat Chrysler Group Australia Chairman and CEO, Clyde Campbell.
“The current model Jeep Cherokee has been a strong sales performer since its launch in 2008 and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new model.”
Jeep sold more than 2000 Cherokees here last year, representing a 31.6 per cent increase on 2011 figures.
However, Cherokee sales trailed those of the larger new Grand Cherokee (8373), as well as the smaller Compass (2898) and Patriot (2125) crossovers and the hard-core Wrangler (2548), which together propelled the US off-road brand to a 108 per cent sales spike in 2012.
The second Jeep model co-developed with Fiat (after the Dart) will go on sale in the third quarter in North America, where the replacement for the Liberty will also be known as the Cherokee.
Although it has continued in the US as part of the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee’s nameplate, the Cherokee moniker was retired there early last decade after appearing on a number of mid-size Jeep SUVs in the 9180s and 1990s.
Chrysler said it will commence production of the 2014 Cherokee in May at its Ohio assembly plant in Toledo, which has been shut since August.
It has revealed few details of the “no comprise” 2014 Cherokee, but says the all-new medium SUV will set “a new standard with even more best-in-class capability, exemplary on-road driving dynamics and fuel economy improvements of more than 45 percent versus the outgoing mid-size SUV model”.
Until it is superseded around October this year, Jeep’s current Cherokee line-up will continue to comprise entry-level 3.7-litre petrol 2WD auto, mid-range 3.7-litre 4WD auto and flagship 2.8-litre turbo-diesel 4WD auto variants, priced between $28,000 and $37,000 plus on-road costs.
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