The very first car to be unveiled at the most recent North American International Auto Show held in January in Detroit was the brand new Jeep Liberty. It also became the star of the show. Everyone was and still is talking about it.
Though it was not designed to replace the venerable Cherokee at first, it now has to do it because DaimlerChrysler decided that the midsize Jeep that was designed as a 1984 model by American Motors (before it was bought back by Chrysler that since became DaimlerChrysler) had clearly passed the end of its career. Beware, though, on other continents than North America, the Liberty is known as a Cherokee.
The design of the new Liberty comes partly from the Jeepster concept vehicle for the front end and the Dakar concept car for the body. Technically speaking, this Jeep remains a four-wheel drive vehicle that can be driven off-road, as for any Jeep. But its specifications are far from being traditional to the brand. Riding on a 104.3 inch wheelbase (2650 mm), its front suspension is independent, a first for Jeep (all other Jeeps had and have front beam axles).
Rear suspension is an all-new link-coil system similar to that of the Grand Cherokee. And for once, Jeep is offering a V-6 engine, a brand new 3.7-liter mill developed from the 4.7-liter V-8 already powering the Grand Cherokee. This V-6 pumps out 210 hp at 5200 rpm and 225-ft.lbs. At 4000 rpm. It incorporates a gear driven balance shaft to reduce engine vibrations. The base engine is the 2.4-liter PowerTech inline four banger. It comes with a five-speed manual transmission that is also combined to the V-6. A four-speed automatic is optional. American specifications say that there will be a two-wheel drive version, something that might not be in Canada.
Though it was not designed to replace the venerable Cherokee at first, it now has to do it because DaimlerChrysler decided that the midsize Jeep that was designed as a 1984 model by American Motors (before it was bought back by Chrysler that since became DaimlerChrysler) had clearly passed the end of its career. Beware, though, on other continents than North America, the Liberty is known as a Cherokee.
The design of the new Liberty comes partly from the Jeepster concept vehicle for the front end and the Dakar concept car for the body. Technically speaking, this Jeep remains a four-wheel drive vehicle that can be driven off-road, as for any Jeep. But its specifications are far from being traditional to the brand. Riding on a 104.3 inch wheelbase (2650 mm), its front suspension is independent, a first for Jeep (all other Jeeps had and have front beam axles).
Rear suspension is an all-new link-coil system similar to that of the Grand Cherokee. And for once, Jeep is offering a V-6 engine, a brand new 3.7-liter mill developed from the 4.7-liter V-8 already powering the Grand Cherokee. This V-6 pumps out 210 hp at 5200 rpm and 225-ft.lbs. At 4000 rpm. It incorporates a gear driven balance shaft to reduce engine vibrations. The base engine is the 2.4-liter PowerTech inline four banger. It comes with a five-speed manual transmission that is also combined to the V-6. A four-speed automatic is optional. American specifications say that there will be a two-wheel drive version, something that might not be in Canada.