It might sound crazy, but hear me out...
Examine the trend that Jeep has been taking over the last couple of years. I think their first big step into this "soft-roader" rut was when they canceled the Cherokee and made the Liberty. It's rounder, bubbly, and looks like a 16 year old cheer leader would love one for her birthday. Then look where we have gone, the Grand Cherokees are loosing their solid axles, and to top it off; Jeep is producing two vehicles that they themselves say aren't "Trail rated".
20 years ago this would seem unthinkable. Jeep was always thought of the utility vehicle, go anywhere, do anything type. Now it has been degraded to cross branded mall crawlers.
You still might think it would seem insane for Jeep to produce a car, but what sort of market segment they are trying to capture? Go watch a few Jeep ads and you will see them driving around the country side enjoying the wondrous views, blah blah blah.
Besides Hummer (which is dead in the water at this point), who else markets to these types of people...?
Subaru.
Yes, rally cars, rally racing. All that cool stuff. How many of you would also want an WRX?
I think Jeep is going to build a Rally Car.
Is it that hard to imagine? Heck, the Compass already has a trim level called "Rallye". Have you ever heard of the Jeep Varsity? That was a concept CAR. Linky
This is what is going to happen. Mopar is going to grab some 4 door sports car from the Chrysler family tree, slap a turbo 4 cylinder SRT type engine in it. Add 4wd, do some suspension work and call it a day. Sounds cool right?
Well it would be, but Im sure it would end up like the Compass and Patriot and turn into some watered down version that no one likes but they sell anyways to expand their market appeal.
Examine the trend that Jeep has been taking over the last couple of years. I think their first big step into this "soft-roader" rut was when they canceled the Cherokee and made the Liberty. It's rounder, bubbly, and looks like a 16 year old cheer leader would love one for her birthday. Then look where we have gone, the Grand Cherokees are loosing their solid axles, and to top it off; Jeep is producing two vehicles that they themselves say aren't "Trail rated".
20 years ago this would seem unthinkable. Jeep was always thought of the utility vehicle, go anywhere, do anything type. Now it has been degraded to cross branded mall crawlers.
You still might think it would seem insane for Jeep to produce a car, but what sort of market segment they are trying to capture? Go watch a few Jeep ads and you will see them driving around the country side enjoying the wondrous views, blah blah blah.
Besides Hummer (which is dead in the water at this point), who else markets to these types of people...?
Subaru.
Yes, rally cars, rally racing. All that cool stuff. How many of you would also want an WRX?
I think Jeep is going to build a Rally Car.
Is it that hard to imagine? Heck, the Compass already has a trim level called "Rallye". Have you ever heard of the Jeep Varsity? That was a concept CAR. Linky
This is what is going to happen. Mopar is going to grab some 4 door sports car from the Chrysler family tree, slap a turbo 4 cylinder SRT type engine in it. Add 4wd, do some suspension work and call it a day. Sounds cool right?
Well it would be, but Im sure it would end up like the Compass and Patriot and turn into some watered down version that no one likes but they sell anyways to expand their market appeal.
