January 2006 Drivelines - 4x4 News

Last month we showed you the sketches; now here are photos of two Jeep concept vehicles that were unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Both the Patriot (the off-roady one) and the Compass (the streety one) "would allow Jeep to provide best-in-class capability to the compact SUV buyer at a great value, and do so with the credibility that only comes with a Jeep," said Trevor Creed, senior VP of Chrysler Group Design. In other words, with these vehicles Jeep enters "cute-ute" territory now populated by the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and others.

Jeep was not very forthcoming with technical details about the vehicles. We have their dimensions-just a tad smaller than Liberty, very close to Escape-and we know that in the U.S. they'll get a "powerful yet fuel-efficient all-new 2.4L World Engine" backed by a continuously variable transmission, according to Jeep's press materials. That Jeep debuted these vehicles in Europe points to the company's intent to sell them globally; international markets will have a 2.0L diesel engine option.

It's our understanding that these Jeeps, and the upcoming Dodge Caliber, all share the same front-wheel-drive platform, yet the Patriot will be equipped with "all-new Jeep off-road technology [that] would ensure Jeep Patriot could be a Trail Rated 4x4," says Jeep, "which would make it the most capable vehicle in its class." As more details come to light we'll bring them to you.

Yes, that iconic Swedish automaker is now selling an SUV, the 9-7X. Slightly more engineered than a trim-level execution, the new model sits on the same platform as the Chevy TrailBlazer (GMT360 architecture), but with the AWD traction system of the Buick Rainier. While you wouldn't want to boogie in the Baja, we found the handling somewhat slick and steady on a winding dirt track. The new Saab arrives in two strengths-the $40,000 base version, powered by GM's 4.2L I-6 producing 290 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque; and the $42,000 V-8 model, with a 5.3L, 300hp Vortec under the hood.

(Maybe this means we can expect a V-8 under the hoods of other GM trucks currently five- and six-cylinder powered, like the H3 and Canyon/Colorado, for example.)

True Saab-o-philes will be happy to find the signature center-console ignition; distinctly Saab sheetmetal and interior trim; as well as driver-oriented handling and a level of safety equipment that's up to par with other Saabs. And in case you're wondering why Saab would build an SUV, the company's research indicates that nearly 40 percent of Saab owners also drive an SUV, and 30 percent of former Saab drivers abandoned the brand for a sport utility.
-Sue Mead

At least they do in California. According to the California Highway Patrol and the SoCal chapter of the AAA, the top 10 stolen light trucks in the Golden State are:
1. '88 Toyota pickup
2. '86 Toyota pickup
3. '87 Toyota pickup
4. '85 Toyota pickup
5. '86 Toyota van
6. '87 Toyota van
7. '84 Toyota pickup
8. '85 Toyota van
9. '84 Toyota van
10. '86 Nissan pickup

Alert reader Dave Goddard caught what appears to be a Jeep Wrangler mule on Highway 90 just west of Castroville, Texas. The camouflage coverings, Michigan plates, and numbers on the hardtop indicate this is a proto of some type, but note that the camo is limited to the hood and under the rear bumper. Under the bumper? What are the engineers hiding? Wrote Dave, "As we were doing 70 on the highway, I couldn't hear the Jeep, but I'm guessing it was a diesel." Which means Jeep may be contemplating a diesel Wrangler, or the Wrangler body was being used over something else...like maybe a diesel-powered Patriot. What makes us say Patriot? Because we can't see a rear pumpkin below the muffler out back. Looks more like a front-driver with a rear beam axle. Hmmm.

Toyo is new to the competitive rockcrawling scene, but it didn't take long for the tiremaker to get on the scoreboard. At the UROC Pro National event in Vernal, Utah, Mark Berger's Super Modified rockcrawler won his event rolling on 37-inch Open Country M/T tires. (The photo is of Berger in Phoenix, just prior to his run in Vernal.)

Ford has launched a massive recall of some 3.8 million '94-'02 Ford F-150s, '97-'02 Ford Expeditions, '98-'02 Lincoln Navigators, and '94-'96 Ford Broncos equipped with factory installed cruise control. The maker wants to correct a "systems interaction"-corrosion, caused by leaking brake fluid, can raise current flow through the cruise control system and cause the deactivation switch to overheat, which could lead to an underhood fire. Ford will install a fused wiring harness between the cruise control deactivation switch and the cruise control mechanism to act as a circuit breaker, eliminating the electrical current to the switch in the rare event of increased current flow.

As of this writing (in early September), Ford was in the process of acquiring enough fused wiring harnesses to make the millions of necessary repairs. If you own one of the affected vehicles, Ford recommends you take it to your nearest dealer. If a fix can't be done right away, the dealer will deactivate the cruise control until the parts are in.