Chrysler has just issued a recall for 87,000 Jeep Wrangler models due to a risk that they could catch fire.

Thanks to data from automotive research firm Polk, we were able to compile a list of the top 10 most popular automakers for buyers aged 18 to 34 – roughly the Gen Y set.

“The Jeep brand is committed to China and therefore we must design and tailor our vehicles to the specific tastes and preferences of chinese consumers,” said Jeep Brand CEO and COO for Asia, Mike Manley.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the latest addition to the Altitude special edition family from Jeep, and the full details on the new Wrangler are out. 

The Altitude package adds some paint and plastic to give the Wrangler unique style. A body color hardtop, paint matched center bumper sections, 18-inch alloy wheels painted black with a matte Jeep badge make up the Altitude edition package along with a Mopar black fuel door and a black tone on tone hood graphic. Deep cherry red, black, bright white and bright silver metallic are the four paint colors offered with the special edition package.

Now that you know Toyota is the top brand for cheating men, what other automakers are on the list?

For the 46th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari, Jeep and Mopar brought out six concepts, with the most interesting design being the Mighty FC Concept.

Paying homage to the Jeep Forward Control built from 1956 to 1965, the Mighty FC features a full-size cargo bed with a custom front clip and roof from the Mopar JK-8 conversion kit. Massive 40-inch tires were wrapped around Hutchinson 17-inch headlock wheels giving it plenty of traction. And while the concepts certainly looked great, the Mighty FC decided to put on a show crawling through Moab.

The rock-ready concept had no issues taking on the rugged Moab terrain alongside its inspiration, a 1964 Jeep Forward Control.

This is one Jeep concept we would love see become a reality, the Mighty FC is definitely a winning design.

Watch the video after the break.

Chrysler has announced its plans to bring a pair of new concepts to the Beijing Motor Show, one of which is a custom 300C and the other looks to be a modified Jeep Wrangler.

Diesel engines offer unique advantages, with plenty of torque making tiny power plants more useable in small cars, while making modest size engines a functional alternative to much larger gasoline ones in SUVs. Towing, after all, is not something hybrids are known for. Additionally, diesel engines can provide fuel economy closer to that of a hybrid, without any of the worries surrounding new technology; plus, there’s no battery pack compromising passenger or storage space.

With those advantages, not to mention a push by automakers to meet increasingly strict corporate average fuel economy standards, a slew of diesel models are set to arrive on our shores in the near future. If you’re considering the switch to diesel power, here are a few options you’ll soon be able to consider.

Taking the top off your Jeep just got easier. Rugged Ridge has just introduced its first-ever PowerTop for the 2007-2012 JK Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Having shared a gallery as well as a walk-around video of the six concepts featured at the  Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari, new photos have just been released of the Moab concepts in action.

An annual showcase of upcoming, potential Jeep products, the Moab Safari is a great way for the iconic brand to connect with its core audience. Unlike other concepts, however, these Jeeps are not meant to sit in rotating pedestals in convention halls. At Moab, Jeep spent the week demonstrating its vehicles and gained a lot of instant feedback from its die-hard community of Jeep 4×4 fans.

At least that’s the news according to statistics released by the two American automakers. Chrysler said it sold 34 percent more vehicles this March, versus the same period last year, delivering some 161,381 cars and trucks, versus 121,730 in March 2011.

Armed with the “Queen of the Nürburgring” Sabine Schmitz behind the wheel, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 attempted to portray itself as a serious performance machine by taking on the Green Hell.

The results may be a bit disappointing though, especially compared to its closest competitor that has ran the ‘Ring which is the BMW X6 M. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 turned in an 8:49 time, which compared to the X6 M’s 8:24 seems… a little bit embarrassing.

Nonetheless, SRT is happy with the results still bragging that the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is “one of the fastest SUV in the world.” Packing 470-hp under the hood, there’s no doubt the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a great performer, it just might not be the most ideal vehicle to take on the Nordschleife without any other modifications.

The two-time 24 Hours of Nürburgring champion Schmitz however called the SRT8 a “house on wheels” that “just stuck” while she piloted it through the course.

In the Grand Cherokee SRT8’s defense however, it is faster than the Porsche Cayenne GTS and the Range Rover Sport V8 supercharged.

Watch the two videos of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 at Nürburgring after the break.

[Source: DriveSRT]

Four Jeep Wrangler SUVs have been completely destroyed due to a fire, with eight total incidents having been reported to NHTSA. Most of the reports state that the fires began while the vehicles were moving.

The Moab Easter Jeep Safari gave us six new Jeep concepts last week that were exciting to see and gave us a sneak preview at what Jeep may have in the works for the future.

Fiat is planning a new 500 based crossover, likely called the 500X, that will share its platform with a new small Jeep meant to slot in below both the compass and patriot. 

Earlier this week, we took a close and detailed look at the six Jeep concepts heading to this year’s Moab Easter Jeep Safari. As usual, a video has been released showcasing all six concepts.

The concepts heading to Moab, Utah this year are the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk concept, Wrangler Apache concept, Mighty FC concept, J-12 Conversion concept, Mopar Accessorized Wrangler, and the Wrangler Traildozer concept.

The video includes soundbites from President and CEO of Jeep Brand, Mike Manley and Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO Mopar Brand Service, Parts and Customer Care. Along with the feedback from them, we get a better look at all six concepts inside and out.

Watch the video of the 2012 Moab Easter Jeep Safari Concepts after the break.

Ever wonder just how different men are from women when it comes to picking their vehicle of choice? Here’s a top 10 list of vehicles with the highest proportion of female buyers, provided by Polk via InsideLine. There are a few unexpected models on the list, and a couple of models that, to our surprise, are missing.

This year the team stepped it up a notch, announcing six new Jeep concepts. Mopar has also announced an off-road division that will create authentic Jeep parts and accessories.

“The Jeep Safari has long been a great way for Jeep to connect with its core audience. We look forward to spending the week demonstrating our latest potential production and customization ideas and gathering instant feedback from the most knowledgable 4×4 enthusiasts in the world,” Jeep president and CEO Mike Manley said.

Mopar president and CEO Pietro Gorlier addded that “Mopar is tapping into a growing trend among extreme Jeep enthusiasts who want even more power and capability on the trail. This year, Mopar is pushing the envelope in this arena by offering our customers new Pro 60 portal axles and a new HEMI conversion kit, which we will showcase in those new vehicles. In addition, to further maximize our presence in the off-road market, we are creating a Mopar Off-Road division to develop Jeep Authentic Parts and Accessories.”

Back in January, Jeep launched a competition called “Name My Ride.” It was set up to find the perfect name for Jeep’s latest special edition models.

Jeep has teamed up with Chrysler’s special outfitting division, Mopar, to prepare six new Jeep concepts that will be shown off at the 46th annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. 

Back in February, San Francisco, California-based KGO-TV had a news report on a “death wobble” affecting 2005-2010 Jeep Wrangler owners. A month later, two members of the House of Representatives have written a letter to NHTSA to get some answers as to what’s going on.

The members of Congress are describing the death wobble as a “serious safety issue” and aren’t demanding an investigation or a recall but simply want to know more about it through a series of questions to NHTSA. According to complaints, the death wobble is “a powerful shaking of the steering wheel and front wheels after a driver hits road bumps at speed,” and apparently NHTSA has received over 600 complaints about it since 1995.

Chrysler has already issued out the following statement about the death wobble:

“Chrysler Group vehicles meet or exceed every applicable government safety standard and have excellent safety records. All manufacturer vehicles equipped with a solid axle are susceptible to vibration and, if experienced, it can be corrected by performing minor maintenance items, such as properly balancing or changing the tires, or a front end alignment, installing a new steering dampener, or by tightening or replacing other loose or worn parts. In fact, most reported incidents – in all manufacturer vehicles equipped with or without a solid axle – are often linked to poorly installed or maintained after-market equipment, such as lift kits, oversized tires, etc. This is not a safety issue, and there are no injuries involving Chrysler Group vehicles related to this allegation. Indeed, the name you’ve given to this condition has no basis in fact.”

We wouldn’t expect any other response from the automaker, but it appears that the two members of Congress want to ensure NHTSA is doing their due diligence in evaluating the underlying cause and whether or not the death wobble could result in serious injury.

“The Jeep ‘death wobble’ is a serious safety issue that must be evaluated by NHTSA. It is also representative of the problems involving lack of transparency and access to reliable repairs that are present in other safety and defect cases,” the letter said to NHTSA.

The two members, Anna Eshoo and Henry Waxman are requesting a response in writing no later than April 2nd, 2012. We’ll be sure to follow up as to what they hear back.

Watch one of many videos on YouTube about the Jeep Wrangler Death Wobble below along with the news report.

In an effort to curb spending, improve fuel economy and simplify its manufacturing process Chrysler introduced a new 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6 engine several years ago, with a plan that it would replace up to seven other V6 engines.

Jeep blazes trails in mountains rocks and mud, but this time the company is taking steps to tread new ground in education.

Jeep has just announced that it will recall 209,724 units of its Liberty model, built for model year 2004 and 2005. However, the recall is only for States that are considered “Snow Belt” areas.

Jeep is celebrating its 2 million  Facebook fans milestone as the first domestic automotive brand to reach the figure.

Jeep Europe announced yet another special edition vehicle that will be making its way to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The Wrangler Mountain special edition will make its debut out in Switzerland and according to Jeep Europe is designed to “stand out.”

Heading to the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show is a concept Jeep Compass that is “production-intent” according to Jeep Europe. Those familiar with Jeep products might find this Black Look concept Compass strangely similar to the 2012 Mopar Jeep Compass True North – save the different wheels and paint job.

Pickup trucks are usually used for work, and that’s probably why the Silverado, not to mention a few other pick-up trucks, are so cheap to insure. This model, with the V6 and Extended Ca,b features some good safety features and Chevrolet‘s OnStar vehicle safety service. The extended cab Silverado starts at $26,340, and comes with a 4.3L V6 with a meager 195 horsepower.

We got an up close and personal look at the Mopar’s take on the Jeep Compass, which they call the “True North” edition, today at the Chicago Auto Show.

Plans for a new Jeep model below the Compass and Patriot have been pushed back as part of a larger financial reorganization within Chrysler parent company Fiat. The new model, code named B-SUV, was to be built at the automaker’s Mirafiori plant in Italy, but a $1.3 billion expansion of that facility has been pushed back a year.

Two very special Jeeps were recently handed over to F1 pilots Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso to help the two pro drivers get around all the snow falling in Maranello these days. The pair of Scuderia Ferrari drivers each received a Ferrari-styled Grand Cherokee SRT8, the quickest and most powerful Jeep ever built.

Chrysler released details on the Mopar Jeep Compass “True North” today, along with three other vehicles meant to mark their 75th anniversary, all of which will be on display at the 2012  Chicago International Auto Show.

The modern Jeep Wrangler body style was first introduced in 2007, and this updated platform revitalized the brand. Jeep has long had a loyal, hard-core following among off-roaders and outdoor enthusiasts, but with the introduction of the four-door Wrangler, code named JK for the current Wrangler body style, the truck went from being a fun weekend vehicle to an SUV capable of fitting the whole family.

In September of 2011 we reported that 7 Jeep Liberty owners has apparently had their airbags deploy at seemingly random times causing injury to the vehicle occupants.

For Mopar’s 75th birthday they have added some style and performance to four of Chrysler’s cars.

Classic car insurance company Hagerty has just released its annual list of vehicles that it expects will become the collector cars of the future. The list of “affordable” collector cars is capped at $100,000 and comes on the heels of the annual Scottsdale collector car auction week.

On January 31st, Chrysler’s Mopar Division (a term coined from its original title, Motor Parts), celebrates its 75th birthday. And what  could be a better way to mark the occasion than unveiling four modified production vehicles created from the current Mopar performance catalog.

The ongoing investigation into the unwarranted air-bag deployment of almost 387,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs has been upgraded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Calls for a recall of the 1993 to 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee have been redoubled after the release of a new report documenting the growing list of fatalities associated with the SUV.

The Houston Auto Show isn’t known for big reveals, but that didn’t stop Jeep from unveiling a new Grand Cherokee special edition concept at the venue today. To name the new concept, Jeep is staging a contest, putting out the call to the public at http://www.jeep.com/en/2012/namemyride/ to put a badge on the back of this machine, which has been confirmed for production.

While past reports have suggested that the Dodge Avenger is dead, speculation has apparently been a bit premature. Chrysler/ Fiat have plans for a number of new cars in the future including the introduction of new midsize sedans which will update the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger for 2013. The new Avenger and 200 will be based on the Dodge Dart platform. Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne also intends to have a Chrysler premium compact hatchback in the mix, known for now as the “Chrysler 100.” If given the ‘okay’ for production, then the Chrysler hatch will be exported as Fiat European luxury brand Lancia as well.

However, that is nothing when compared to the growth the brand has enjoyed in Europe in 2011. In Germany for instance, sales have grown by 124 percent, and in Italy by 117.6 percent. In France they are up by 71.7 percent and even in economy stricken markets like Spain and UK, sales grew by 21.2 and 18 percent respectively.

Ohio Governor John Kasich and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon made a visit to Detroit this week during the North American International Auto Show in an effort to bring U.S. automotive manufacturing to their respective states.

According to a plan instigated by both Chrysler and the United Auto Worker’s union, an agreement between the two parties calls for a boost in Wrangler output to 90 vehicles a day at the Toledo Supplier Park  facility in Ohio (the only one that builds the traditional Jeep), by June 2012.

It’s official: The Chrysler Group has announced that a diesel variant of the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be offered in the North American markets and will be manufactured at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit.

Since Fiat restored Chrysler after its humbling bankruptcy, the third American automaker has been reinvigorated, and boasts industry leading statistics in growth.

Out of all the current 2012 vehicles available, which would you think are the most suitable when it comes to winter driving?

If you’ve got a full house, it means that you have a full car. And it probably means that you’ve spent a lot of frustrating time trying to fit three child-safety seats in the back seat of your car. It’s much easier with a minivan, but when you’ve got a car, it can drive you to distraction.

The upcoming 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 refresh will also be getting some new tweaks to its suspension, employing the services of Jeep‘s Grand Cherokee.

AMP Electric vehicles has just announced that it will unveil an electrified version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Let’s hope this alliance will bear better fruit this time around, as Maserati is set to unveil their Kubang SUV concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month.

Higher than anticipated demand for the JK-8 Independence  conversion kit, designed to turn a Jeep Wrangler into a pickup truck, led Mopar division president Pietro Gorlier joking that,” Santa Claus is coming early.”

Ward’s Auto released their 10 Best Engines List for 2012 today, and no surprise here but direct-injection and turbocharging – the two big trends for today’s automotive era – are heavily represented.

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According to Advertising Age, a sister publication to Automotive News, Chevrolet‘s Cruze, Kia‘s Soul and Jeep‘s Wrangler are among America’s top 25 hottest products for 2011, alongside Dove soap, Arizona Tea, Goldfish crackers, Sharpie markers and the Forever 21 clothing chain.

After announcing that the new Dodge compact won’t be called a Hornet, speculation began on what it will be named when it’s released. Even though it’s set to unveil at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show in January, Chrysler Group CEO Sergio Marchionne still isn’t hinting at what the new Dodge compact will be called, nor has he said what the 2013 replacement for the outgoing Jeep Liberty will be.

Is it OK to love one of your kids more than the others? If you work for Jeep the answer is a resounding yes. After the launch of the Grand Cherokee SRT8, brand enthusiasts might like to see other SRT-badge models, but they won’t. The same goes for the upcoming diesel version, which only recently was confirmed for a return to our shores.

Chrysler is getting some Italian style thanks to former Ferrari designer Lorenzo Ramaciotti, 63, who will now be lending a hand at Chrysler and Lancia.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles slapped Chrysler this month to the tune of $955,000 in fines.