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Seven Jeep Concepts: A New Way to Celebrate Easter

3/20/2015

 
PictureStaff Car Concept (Photo: FCA)
With Easter on the horizon, most people think of colored eggs, baskets of candy, roast lamb or lilies.  But diehard off-road fans can now add Jeep® to the mix.  The Fiat Chrysler division is introducing seven concept vehicles with a host of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts and they are doing so at the Moab, Utah 49th annual Easter Jeep Safari, taking place March 28-April 5.  The setting contains some of the country's most rugged and recognizable trails, so thousands of off-roaders are expected to attend.

The seven new concept vehicles built for Moab this year were created by a small team of engineers, designers and fabricators that have been customizing production vehicles since 2002, and have introduced more than 50 concept vehicles for the enthusiasts who attend the popular Easter Jeep Safari.

Here are the seven featured vehicles:


Jeep Chief -- A tribute to the classic 1970s era full-size Jeep Cherokee, this Wrangler-based concept vehicle evokes the West Coast surfer lifestyle of sun and fun with a nod to nostalgic beach rides. Custom exterior design cues include a vintage "Ocean Blue" exterior color scheme with a white, "French Bread" roof; a custom modified razor grille that the original Wagoneer made famous; halogen headlamps; removable sides for an open-air feel and flexible hauling; chrome front and rear bumpers and classic, 17-inch slotted mag wheels for a true '70s vibe.

Jeep Staff Car -- The Jeep Staff Car was built as a salute to legendary Jeep military service vehicles.  The open-air Wrangler four-door-based concept vehicle looks historic and authentic, but is all new.  The function over form of the original Jeep military service vehicles is evident in the Staff Car.  Basic steel wheels, minimalist fender flares, "hungry horse" stretched canvas roof and bench seats all echo the original military Jeep vehicles. 

Jeep Wrangler Africa -- The Africa is the ultimate Jeep Wrangler for back-country and overland expeditions, with room for extra gear and auxiliary fuel tanks.  It sports a Desert Tan exterior paint, a high-clearance steel front bumper with winch, power step rock rails, power dome vented hood and an extended rear body and high-top roof. Powered by a 2.8-liter diesel engine mated to an automatic transmission, the Wrangler Africa also features fender-mounted auxiliary fuel cans. The Africa sports 17-inch body color steel wheels with 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud Terrain tires. 

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overlander -- The Overlander concept vehicle represents the rough-and-tumble side of Grand Cherokee, a rugged and dependable vehicle customized for the enthusiast interested in overland expeditions where they travel and camp out of their vehicle. It sports Sage Green exterior paint. Custom features include a one-off front fascia, integrated front winch, tow hooks, larger wheel flares, SRT taillamps and hood, off-road rock rails, front and rear skid plates and 18-inch milled wheels with BF Goodrich All-terrain T/A tires.

Jeep Renegade Desert Hawk -- The newest addition to the Jeep lineup, the Jeep Renegade, is the basis for the Desert Hawk concept vehicle, and is equipped with a selection of Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts.  The "Desert Tan" exterior features a Jeep Performance Parts body decal, a topographical hood decal that depicts the "Fins and Things" Moab trail, off-road rock rails and a skid plate kit. Also featured are Mopar's  trailer hitch receiver and roof rack.  

Jeep Cherokee Canyon Trail -- The Canyon Trail concept vehicle is developed from the Jeep Cherokee, Four Wheeler Magazine's "2015 Four Wheeler of the Year."  In the spirit of that award, the Canyon Trail ups the Cherokee's capability with specifically designed Mopar and Jeep Performance Parts.  The Canyon Trail's "Desert Tan" exterior paint is accented with a "Satin Black" hood that includes a topographical hood decal showcasing Hell's Revenge, a renowned off-road trail in Moab. The exterior also displays Jeep Performance Parts body decal, "Satin Black" roof accent colors and the 2015 "Four Wheeler of the Year" decal.

Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder -- The Red Rock Responder is a support vehicle purpose-built to traverse the world's harshest terrain with premium off-road equipment to respond to any vehicle emergency, with spare parts and tools stored in the cargo box's built-in drawers and compartments.  With a "Vibrance Responder Red" exterior paint, Jeep Performance Parts body decal, 10th Anniversary hood with hydraulic hood props, high-top fender flares and 17-inch beadlock wheels with body color beadlock ring, the Red Rock Responder stands out. The vehicle also sports LED headlamps and foglamps, LED A-pillar and off-road lamps. (See a photo of this vehicle on our home page.)

"The most enthusiastic off-roaders travel to Moab each year for this premier event, making Easter Jeep Safari the perfect place to showcase Jeep Performance Parts," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO – Mopar Brand Service, Parts and Customer Care. "Jeep owners are passionate about their vehicles and Mopar, with Jeep Authentic Accessories and Jeep Performance Parts, offers a full-line of products for them to express this passion through customization, making sure there is no other vehicle like theirs on the road."

MINI Superleggera Vision: The next Miata fighter?

3/2/2015

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Picture
With  the focus on Mazda's Monterey, California debut of the 2016 MX-5 Miata last August, many gearheads may not have noticed MINI's June European promotion of a stunning, Italian-designed electric concept roadster, the Superleggera (TM) Vision.  But you can bet that it raised eyebrows at Mazda headquarters.  And the MINI's classic Milanese coachwork may have even ruffled a few feathers in the halls of Fiat Chrysler, where executives are still noodling whether to launch the Miata's sister Alfa Romeo roadster (possibly as a Fiat) or to simply let next year's more upscale Alfa 4C Spider lead the brand in the ragtop department. 

BMW Group debuted the Vision at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014  in Cernobbio, Italy.  Says the company:  "This exclusive interpretation of an open-top two-seater was created by MINI and Touring Superleggera, the tradition-steeped design and coach building house based in Milan. The MINI Superleggera™ Vision is, on the one hand, a classic roadster, a compact and agile two-seater, expressing the most minimalist and emotional style of motoring; and on the other hand, its electric drivetrain gives the car distinctly modern driving dynamics. In collaboration with MINI, Touring Superleggera™ has designed and built an elaborately crafted, unique model which blends the tradition of classic coachwork construction with the MINI’s authentic British styling to create timeless aesthetic appeal."

Much of the press material on the Vision focuses on the various intricate design elements (we especially like the Union Jack taillights), but we believe the photo gallery below, courtesy of BMW Group, gives you a good idea of why such a roadster could give the Miata a run for its money on looks alone.  Couple that with a smooth, powerful electric drivetrain and MINI's always stellar and solid handling, and you have a sweet formula for sales success that could draw MX-5 fans out of the fold (assuming the price is right).

We have asked BMW Group officials for more information on the possible launch of such a roadster, especially in the U.S., and we've also requested the specs on the drivetrain if they are available.  We'll update you when we hear more. 

In the meantime, please enjoy the photo gallery:


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Chrysler 200C:  What the Mercedes CLA should have been

7/8/2014

 
PicturePhoto: Chrysler
Look out, Toyota, Honda and, yes, Mercedes.  We recently had a chance to drive the new Chrysler 200C and it is one fine automobile.  I can remember the days when the rental car agent would offer you one of Chrysler's hapless Sebrings, or even the prior 200 model, and you'd ask, "What else have you got?"  Well, those days are over.

Plush, quiet and solid are some of the adjectives that come to mind as we drove this car.  We were impressed with the precise steering and the thrust of its 295-horsepower V-6 that still manages to deliver 32 miles per gallon on the highway.  We could absolutely do without the fake wood pieces in the interior, especially the one offered in blue, but this was a minor criticism, indeed. 

Yes, our test Chrysler was loaded and the sticker price was over $34,000.  But you can pick up a nicely optioned 200 in the upper-$20,000 range and, in our part of the country, dealers are offering fairly good discounts.

We drove this car back-to-back with the Mercedes CLA and its souped-up cousin, the CLA45 AMG.  The two Mercedes cars felt cheap, while the Chrysler drove like something worth $10,000 more.  If I had $30K+ to spend on a near luxury vehicle, I'd  drive right past Mercedes and head down to my Chrysler dealer.  Let's hope the Fiat Chrysler folks in Auburn Hills and Turin (soon to be London for the world headquarters) can churn out more cars as good as this one.



BY THE NUMBERS
Price: $21,700 ($34,000+ as driven)
Horsepower: 184 (four-cylinder), 295 (V-6)
0-60: 8.6 secs
Curb weight: 3,473 lbs

TO LEARN MORE
Chrysler

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    David Fluhrer has been a classic car columnist for Newsday since 2008, as well as a new car reviewer for the auto section and a feature writer for Newsday's glossy magazines, Luxury Living and Long Island Living. 

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