First photos: 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Classic SUV nameplate replaces Liberty in Jeep lineup.
Chrysler Group revealed photographs and the name of its replacement for the Jeep Liberty on Friday after photographs of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee showed up on auto enthusiast websites earlier in the day.
The automaker had hoped to keep the mid-size SUV -- and its name -- secret until a planned reveal at the New York auto show in late March. However, photos of several 2014 Cherokees taken during pre-production at Chrysler's Toledo North Assembly plant were unveiled Friday morning on Jalopnik.
The automaker released few details Friday in revealing the name, but included four official photos of the new vehicle and said it will begin arriving in dealerships in the third quarter.
Automotive News has previously reported that the Cherokee would be powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine based on Chrysler's 3.6-liter Pentastar engine, as well as an all-new nine-speed front-wheel-drive automatic transmission designed by ZF Friedrichshafen. The Cherokee is scheduled to go into production in May.
Online reaction to the leaked photographs was less than stellar. Late Friday afternoon, Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's head of design, tweeted "have faith" to a Jeep enthusiast who had expressed disappointment with the design.
"We are shifting some paradigms around ... it is time," Gilles tweeted.
(No official rear or interior shots were released by Chrysler, but you can head to Jalopnik to see the spy photos.)
-- Larry P. Vellequette, Automotive News
Content provided by Autoweek.
Get more Car News from Autoweek.
Get the latest Car Reviews from Autoweek.
I bought my Jeep Cherokee in 2000 (last year for the old body style and engine -- there were so many orders that year Jeep had to continue into a 2001 model year) because I knew it could take me to work in all kinds of weather, had cargo space and more and if the spirit moved me, I could take it off roading with no problem. With my Cherokee I could haul 400 lbs of concrete mix, 8 ft 2x4s, 10 bags of topsoil and it would be my little workhorse. I could offroad to my favorite morel woods, take lunch out to the hired hands in the field, go to the garden with the tiller and the 5 gal buckets to tend and harvest.
Whatever happened to the work aspect of the Cherokee? I was willing to give the Liberty a chance, but it was nothing but a people mover -- there was no practical work use for it. This Cherokee model looks like another stupid crossover. Yes, I get it -- we need fuel efficiency and aerodynamic styling. But this is just a car -- it's NOT a Jeep.
I'm sorry the new Cherokee has been castrated and is no longer a Jeep. Fiat, I hope you are listening.
EXPLORE NEW CARS
MORE ON MSN AUTOS
Chrysler relents, recalls 2.7M JeepsAutomaker recalls 2 Jeep models for fire hazards, but says they’re safe.
ABOUT EXHAUST NOTES
Cars are cool, and here at MSN Autos we love everything about them, but we also know they're more than simply speed and style: a car is an essential tool, a much-needed accessory to help you get through your day-to-day life. What you drive is also one of the most important investments you can make, so we'll help you navigate your way through the car buying and ownership experiences. We strive to be your daily destination for news, notes, tips and tricks from across the automotive world. So whether it's through original content from our world-class journalists or the latest buzz from the far corners of the Web, Exhaust Notes helps you make sense of your automotive world.
Have a story idea? Tip us off at exhaustnotes@live.com.
