Contemporary Chrysler Dodge Jeep

• July marks the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases
• Dodge Challenger and Dodge Journey each set sales records for the month of July
• Ram Chassis Cab sets record for best monthly sales ever
• Thirteen Chrysler Group vehicle lines improve year-over-year sales

Chrysler Group LLC Reports June 2010 U.S. Sales Increased 35 Percent - Momentum Continues with Third Consecutive Month of Year-Over-Year Increases

Yesterday, J.D. Power and Associates announced the results of their 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS), which measures new vehicle quality at 90-days of ownership.

The off-road ex-perts at Four Wheeler Magazine gave the 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee an impor-tant endorsement, concluding that the SUV "is more refined and car-like than ever on pavement" while "still worthy of the Jeep name in the dirt."

After a day on Moab?s Hell Revenge and Fins ?N Things trails, Four Wheeler wrote, "(We) are happy to report that the new Grand Cherokee has lost none of its previous off-pavement capability."

Fortune Magazine's website declared that the Grand Cherokee lives up to its advance notices.

Writing for The Wall Street Journal, Dan Neil said, "Nothing short of a Land Rover LR4 can hang with the Cherokee off road, and anything that matches the Overland's lux-eness and level of amenities (Nappa leather seats, leather and wood trimmed dash and doors, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, power liftgate, among many other premium features) is about $10,000 more and made in Germany. By my calculations, that makes the Overland a pretty interesting vehicle."

steal" and that the Jeep vehicle "effortlessly scampered up a trail so steep and slippery you could barely climb it on foot," according to The Journal.

MSN Autos said it is safe to say that the Grand Cherokee "is as good or better than" the Land Rover LR4, Volkswagen Toureg, Toyota 4Runner and Honda Pilot.

The Jeep 4x4 "boasts a new level of refinement unheard of for Jeep in terms of exterior detailing, interior décor, and the overall driving experience," MSN Autos said.

Chrysler Groups June sales were up 35 percent compared to June 2009, reported The Wall Street Journal website.

Chrysler Group said its Dodge brand led sales, with a 67 percent increase, according to The Associated Press. Sales were also higher in the Chrysler, Jeep® and Ram brands.

The Detroit Free Press re-ported that June marks the third consecutive month for year-over-year sales in-creases for Chrysler Group and that the 35 percent sales jump is "double the industry's expected average increase."

"This 35 percent increase in year-over-year sales shows that we continue to build on our sales momentum," said Fred Diaz, president and chief executive officer of Ram Truck Brand, and lead executive for U.S. sales, according to The Detroit News.

"Consumer buzz is building tremendously with the arrival of our all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee in dealerships now, as well as the continuing accolades for our new Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks," Diaz added, according to The News' website.

Tuesday, June 22

"A dramatically upgraded interior is provided, with soft-touch plastics, leather, or real wood trim, 4 inches more of rear legroom, double-laminated glass on all models, and much greater sound insulation all around. The result is an extraordinarily refined truck that no longer handles like an off-road vehicle but can be tossed with surprising alacrity on twisty roads."

"The new truck is so heavily revised that it is difficult to identify a direct competitor for it-it has off-road capabilities seen only in vehicles from luxury brands like Land Rover, but costs a fraction of a Land Rover's sticker price."

"While maintaining its reputation for off-road prowess with the Grand Cherokee, Jeep also wants to make it competitive in the luxury SUV segment, putting it up against the Lexus RX 350. That is a tall order, but from our initial look at the cabin, Jeep is off to a good start."

"What we found more interesting were some of the driver assistance technologies as we drove the Grand Cherokee down the freeway. This is decidedly a new era for Jeep."

"Where many SUVs can feel like dumb crates with unpredictable handling, Jeep kept the Grand Cherokee tight, with good damping response when hitting the inevitable bumps in the road."

"The most amazing challenge of the day was a steep, 100-yard descent on a loose dirt road. Watching others in our party take this descent convinced us that the Grand Cherokee has few equals in the luxury SUV segment for off-road prowess."

"Jeep faithful can breathe a sigh of relief."

"While we can't vouch for the Rubicon, Chrysler took us to Moab, Utah, where "sport" in this sport/utility is the way it traverses thin paths of slippery rock and deep sand at speeds perhaps as high as 12 mph. Our Hemi-powered Overland with Uconnect Internet access and panoramic sunroof did everything doorless Wranglers could do, and most everything Gary Fishers could do on this offroad paradise."

"With the air suspension raised 2.6 inches, the Grand Cherokee's moderately high and wide stance and precise steering makes rock crawling at Moab easy for a sub-expert off-road driver."

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1008_2011_jeep_grand_cherokee_drive/index.html#ooid=RrcWlmMTpSnrDMaJoU6U6piv0ZjUG8cI

"The newest generation of Jeep's iconic Grand Cherokee can still rock-crawl with the best of them but looks a whole lot nicer doing it, both inside and out."

"It looks great in the city, more attractive than the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne, for instance, while the inside swaddles you in soft-touch leather and the roof slides back to open the biggest sunroof we can think of on the market today."

"On-road it is a pleasure, with the multilink suspension (independent rear!) handling twisty mountain roads with ease, though not quite as masterfully as the X5 or the Cayenne. The difference is that this one can go off road, too."

"Inside, the Grand Cherokee surprised us with exceptional quietness."

"Building on the precedent set by the 2009 Dodge Ram, the well-executed cabin should be a key factor in reestablishing Jeep's claim that this is a premium SUV."

"The familiar Grand Cherokee look is retained via the same proportions, basic shapes, and seven-slot grille as the outgoing model. But with more athletic sculpting and softer edges, the new Grand Cherokee is better dressed to mingle with the soft-roader crossovers in the suburbs."

"If the GC's insides are any indication, journalists will need a new horse to flog if these kind of appointments disseminate throughout the Pentastar's offerings."

"Jeep says this is the most capable off-road vehicle it's ever produced, and in the midst of a steep upward ascent followed by a treacherous trek down, we're keen to agree."

"The GC's Benz architecture makes for a seriously pleasing ride on the open road, and with a triple-sealing strategy to separate engine and wind noise from the cabin, NVH levels are vastly improved. We're talking Lexus quiet."

"No matter your destination or proclivities, there's a Grand Cherokee to suit your needs on road, and the competition doesn't even come close to matching its abilities off road. If this is the shape of things to come from Chrysler, there might just be a little life yet in the halls of Auburn Hills."

"The latest Ram and Ram Heavy Duty pickups are good indicators of what Chrysler is still capable of-they're very good. Hooray for Chrysler, then, that the 2011 Grand Cherokee is good, too."

"We easily conquered super-steep rock faces, craggy stair climbs, and sandy washouts-all with ventilated seats whirring under our butts."

"On-road, where a large part of GCs will spend the entirety of their lives, our test vehicles were as well behaved as they were climbing Moab's stoic rock formations."

"The interior now befits an entry-luxury SUV that Jeep says will carry out such varied duties as driving the trail to delivering tuxedoed folks to the symphony."

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q2/2011_jeep_grand_cherokee_-first_drive_review/gallery

"The new Grand Cherokee manages to provide on-road driving refinement that can go toe-to-toe with the best that the crossover segment has to offer - and it does so without sacrificing its considerable off-road capabilities."

"It's a no-excuses SUV if there ever was one and, in effect, takes on Land Rover at its own game. Let your brain wrap itself around that concept for a moment, and it becomes clear how much the Grand Cherokee has evolved."

"The 2011 Grand Cherokee pulls off the challenging feat of possessing a clear design connection with its predecessor while looking completely new and modern. It's clearly a Grand Cherokee, but it has a sleekness that its predecessor lacked."

"With the weight of an entire corporation riding on its success, can the fourth-generation 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee deliver? In a word, YES!"

"With three 4X4 systems available, the new Grand Cherokee offers unsurpassed off-road capability (especially when Quadra-Drive II is combined with its Quadra-Lift air-suspension system). At the same time, with its four-wheel independent suspension system, the Grand Cherokee's on-road comfort rivals car-based crossovers."

"The new Grand Cherokee interior is a first-class effort. Not only is it class competitive, it now ranks near the top, rivaling leaders like the Volkswagen Touareg."

"If the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is any indication, an important first step has been taken. From our limited vantage point, it appears they've turned the first corner. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee clearly addresses the criticisms leveled at its predecessor, especially where exterior styling and interior refinement are concerned."

"As you might expect, the combination of a rigid body and independent suspension gives the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee a far smoother ride with much more body control. On a long trek through Northern California across narrow mountain roads and high-speed freeways, the Grand Cherokee proved impressive. A quicker steering ratio and a supple front suspension helps this SUV carve confidently through the corners."

"We drove a couple Grand Cherokees with the coil-spring suspension that Jeep expects more than 75 percent of buyers to choose, and it proved very good. But once you experience the Quadra-Lift air suspension, you'll never be content with coil springs again."

http://www.insideline.com/jeep/grand-cherokee/2011/2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-limited-4x4-v6-first-drive.html

"Completely new save for its optional carryover V-8 engine, the 2011 Grand Cherokee has traveled leagues in refinement while not losing its vaunted off-road capability. But don't worry, you'll get used to rock crawling in luxury almost immediately."

"Past the major leap in design, fit, materials and features, perhaps Jeep's most amazing accomplishment is that it's delivered the new Grand Cherokee for less money than its distinctly dated predecessor."

"The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee represents a quantum leap for Chrysler's ageless off-road brand. The wholesale revisions, updates and numerous high-tech additions give this fourth-generation wagon more passenger comfort and carrying capacity, not to mention improved off-road prowess."

"The fresh-face styling is reminiscent of previous Grand Cherokees, but thoroughly reworked with cleaner lines, stylish body creases and a less upright windshield."

"Most significantly, the distance between the front and rear wheels grows by 5.3 inches. That means wider and taller front and rear door openings plus considerably more reclining rear-seat knee and leg space, areas that have required Jeep's undivided attention since the first 1993 GC hit the trail."

June 30, 2010

- Jeep® Wrangler wins "Instant Classic Under $30,000" category

- Recognition follows Four Wheeler magazine editors naming Jeep Wrangler "Best and Most Significant 4x4 Vehicle of the Decade," and "Best New Car for Off-Roaders" award from Cars.com

- Wrangler provides legendary Jeep capability, interior space and comfort, and unique open-air fun

The iconic Jeep® Wrangler has captured another prominent accolade, laying claim to the Edmunds' Inside Line 2010 Readers' Most WantedSM Award in the "Instant Classic Under $30,000" category.