Jefferson North Assembly Plant as Flexible as Commander it Produces
Jeep's upcoming 7-passenger Commander headed off of its Jefferson North (Detroit) Assembly Plant production line last week, home to the Grand
Cherokee since 1992. The Commander is Jeep's fourth model, joining the Toledo, Ohio-built TJ and Liberty compact models.
The Jefferson plant wasn't previously capable of producing more than a single model at a time, but in November it will add production of the 415-horsepower Grand Cherokee SRT8 as well.
The Commander melds design cues from Jeep's recent past with a few styling details of the current generation Grand Cherokee, a move that will make many that miss the 1984 through 2001 Cherokee very happy. "The Jeep Cherokee is an authentic, classic shape that is rooted in the public consciousness," said Donald A. Renkert, Senior Manager, Jeep Studio, Chrysler Group Product Design Office, when the model was launched in New York last March. "By reinterpreting that vehicle, and other classic Jeep vehicles of the past, the Jeep Commander elicited nods of recognition from consumers, even though it is a brand new vehicle. There is a sense of deja vu about the Jeep Commander that brings knowing smiles of satisfaction."
The new model also pays respects to an entire field of military-derivedSUVs that helped popularize the segment. Favourites of theirtime, the Isuzu Trooper, Land Rover Discovery, Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 and LJ77, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, and most other late-'70s to mid-'80s sport utilities. were utilitarian, living up to the middle initial in SUV, less concerned about styling as they were with accommodating as many people and as much cargo inside the least expensive body shell as possible. Thus, slab-sided troop carriers were the order of the day. That in mind, not everyone will appreciate the styling direction Jeep has taken with its largest offering, but the world's most recognized 4x4 brand feels that there are plenty who long for something similar to a model that wasn't only extremely popular on the road and in the bush, but by being so literally saved Jeep from possible extinction.
Jeep's upcoming 7-passenger Commander headed off of its Jefferson North (Detroit) Assembly Plant production line last week, home to the Grand
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| The Jefferson plant, home of the new Commander and recently updated Grand Cherokee, wasn't previously capable of producing more than a single model at a time, but in November it will add production of the 415-horsepower Grand Cherokee SRT8 as well. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
The Jefferson plant wasn't previously capable of producing more than a single model at a time, but in November it will add production of the 415-horsepower Grand Cherokee SRT8 as well.
The Commander melds design cues from Jeep's recent past with a few styling details of the current generation Grand Cherokee, a move that will make many that miss the 1984 through 2001 Cherokee very happy. "The Jeep Cherokee is an authentic, classic shape that is rooted in the public consciousness," said Donald A. Renkert, Senior Manager, Jeep Studio, Chrysler Group Product Design Office, when the model was launched in New York last March. "By reinterpreting that vehicle, and other classic Jeep vehicles of the past, the Jeep Commander elicited nods of recognition from consumers, even though it is a brand new vehicle. There is a sense of deja vu about the Jeep Commander that brings knowing smiles of satisfaction."
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| "The Jeep Cherokee is an authentic, classic shape that is rooted in the public consciousness." (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |