The diesel Jeep is dead, long live the diesel Jeep! Sounds stupid, right? Well, you'll think what DCX (DaimlerChrysler) is doing is stupid after reading this. The company announces just a few days ago that a diesel version of the popular Grand Cherokee will be made. "Hoo Yah", screamed we off-road lovers of low-end torque worldwide! But wait! Today (6-6-06) they tell us that the super-popular Jeep Liberty diesel is being discontinued. Why? The same old story: DCX doesn't want to spend the money to Federalize the diesel engine in that vehicle.
Less than a week after announcing plans to offer a diesel-powered Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicle in the United States, DaimlerChrysler's (DCX) Chrysler Group said it is ending production of the diesel version of its small Jeep Liberty SUV.
The Liberty's diesel engine doesn't meet tougher federal emissions standards taking effect next year, and Chrysler said it wasn't cost-effective to replace it with a newer version.
"Our initial plan was always to offer a Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel as long as the Jeep Liberty diesel tested well" among consumers, Chrysler spokeswoman Dianna Gutierrez said Monday. "It's still a strong seller, it's got great benefits to it — better fuel economy, more towing power ... but emissions standards for 2007 became more stringent."
Chrysler has opted to not develop a cleaner diesel engine for the Liberty, Gutierrez said. "We couldn't make a credible business case for such an investment, especially for a limited production number of vehicles."
Sales of the Liberty diesel have exceeded Chrysler's expectations since its introduction in the 2005 model year. More than 11,000 have been sold, the company said.
For 2007, the Liberty will be available only with a gasoline engine. However, Gutierrez said, "We are still committed to diesel technology." (Car Nut note: Yeah, we can see how committed you really are.)
Chrysler Group President and Chief Executive Tom LaSorda introduced the diesel-powered 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee last week. The company also will offer a 2007 Grand Cherokee with a 4.7-liter V-8 engine capable of running on E85 ethanol, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. (Car Nut note: The ethanol-loving bandwagon is beginning in Detroit: "Don't need no ticket, y'all just git on-board". GM is now blaring about what a "clean car" company they are because of their ethanol-ready vehicles. Problem is, you can only buy the stuff in about 600 of the 20,000 gas stations in the country, almost all of them in the corn-growing, ethanol-loving midwest and ethanol gets about 20% fewer miles than a comparable amount of gasoline. Finally, corn is one of the worst crops to make into ethanol. It is a seasonal-only crop, it takes up huge amounts of land and chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers to grow and will eventually leave that land barren. Sugar cane and sugar beets make much, much better ethanol fuel [called cellulose-based ethanol, as they use in Brazil].)
Diesels accounted for only about 3% of U.S. vehicle sales last year, compared with 50% in Europe. But Chrysler is betting that will change as cleaner diesel fuel reaches the U.S. market this fall and more consumers discover diesel's improved fuel economy and power. (Car Nut note: Until California and New York change their rules concerning diesels, large-scale sales in the USA will never happen. If comopanies can not sell their vehicles in those two states alone, even only their diesel models, they will never make the commitment to production. EXACTLY THE REASON JEEP IS DROPPING THE LIBERTY DIESEL MODEL.)
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