Ever lusted after one of those ultra-cool Jeep conversions by American Expedition Vehicles? Now's your chance to own one, and it could only cost you a hundred bucks. This AEV 570 Jeep Hemi Wrangler will be raffled off in Missoula, Montana, as a fundraiser for the Missoula Skatepark Association. Just 2,000 tickets will be sold at $100 apiece. The profits from the raffle will go towards building a free public skatepark in Missoula.
There's no set date for the raffle. Ticket sales will continue until all 2,000 are sold, and then the winner will be chosen. The good news for those of us who don't live in Montana: You can buy tickets online at www.missoulaskatepark.org/jeep.
AEV values the Jeep, built as a show vehicle for DaimlerChrysler, at more than $72,000. Its construction included a 5.7L Hemi conversion; high-pinion Dana 44 front axle and high-pinion Dana 60 rear, both equipped with ARBs and 4.88 gears; Recaro seats; custom paint; and "much, much more," says the Missoula Skatepark Association.
Front-Wheel-Drive Jeeps?We've seen spy photos of what are reported to be front-wheel-drive, crossover SUVs that will be sold by Jeep (and Dodge) in either the '07 or '08 model years. Those reports say the Jeep will be badged Compass, while the Dodge will be called Caliber. Another industry report said there will actually be two compact Jeep SUVs, one aimed at the Subaru Forester-type buyer, the other similar to the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and other mini-utes. If these reports are true, it will mark the first Jeep based on a FWD platform, though those in the know say it will probably be equipped with some sort of AWD drivetrain. The new SUVs are reportedly about the same size as the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe.
The photo here is of the '01 Jeep concept vehicle, also named Compass. We have no idea if the new Jeep will look like this, as all the spy photos we've seen show fully camouflaged vehicles. (That's why we didn't spend the money to buy a spy shot; you can't see much of anything.) But the protos share roughly the same shape as the concept, though they're clearly four-doors, while the show Jeep was a two-door.
New RamDodge has announced several significant revisions to its 11/42-ton Ram pickups for '06, including the addition of the cylinder-deactivating MDS system to the truck's optional Hemi engine. (MDS is already used on Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango Hemis.) MDS shuts down half of the Hemi's cylinders under light loads, improving the engine's fuel economy by up to 20 percent, says Dodge.
Other revisions to the Ram include an all-new, hydroformed, and fully boxed frame; a revamped 4x4 front suspension featuring new control arms and coilover shocks; a new rack-and-pinion steering system; a quieter, redesigned interior; and restyled exterior parts, including the grille, headlights, fenders, and wheels.
Autopilot TouaregLook closely at this Touareg and what do you see? Or, what don't you see? That's right. No driver. Nicknamed Stanley, this Touareg is a test bed for some pretty advanced VW technology. Stanley can make its way around one of VW's off-road test facilities without any human input. It does so by utilizing "countless" sensors, says VW, in addition to laser detectors, stereo visual equipment, radar systems, and satellite-supported GPS navigation. All the data from these various sources are sent to computers in the Touareg's cargo bay, where they determine, in real time, the proper steering, acceleration, and braking needed to keep Stanley on course.