Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248



<B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
Rated'</B>


By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News

The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
vehicles.

"We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
a press event in Austin, Texas.

The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
an SUV is expanding.

The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.

Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.


---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

In article <b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.com >, spam_box@ev1.net
(Joshua Nelson) writes:

>
>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
>Rated'

Anyone who's seen the Liberty already knows this. At least they are saying
they're keeping "serious" off-road vehicles in the lineup.

"Jeep advertising will tout five areas of off-road vehicle performance tested
by an independent third party and designated Trail Rated. The areas of
performance are: traction, articulation (climbing), ground clearance,
maneuverability and water fording."

Articulation is defined as climbing ability? Pshaw.
The Trail Rating thing means nothing to people who don't care, and it will mean
nothing especially if they put the badge on the Liberty. Notice the first two
words of the passage.

* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

In article <b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.com >, spam_box@ev1.net
(Joshua Nelson) writes:

>
>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
>Rated'

Anyone who's seen the Liberty already knows this. At least they are saying
they're keeping "serious" off-road vehicles in the lineup.

"Jeep advertising will tout five areas of off-road vehicle performance tested
by an independent third party and designated Trail Rated. The areas of
performance are: traction, articulation (climbing), ground clearance,
maneuverability and water fording."

Articulation is defined as climbing ability? Pshaw.
The Trail Rating thing means nothing to people who don't care, and it will mean
nothing especially if they put the badge on the Liberty. Notice the first two
words of the passage.

* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

In article <b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.com >, spam_box@ev1.net
(Joshua Nelson) writes:

>
>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
>Rated'

Anyone who's seen the Liberty already knows this. At least they are saying
they're keeping "serious" off-road vehicles in the lineup.

"Jeep advertising will tout five areas of off-road vehicle performance tested
by an independent third party and designated Trail Rated. The areas of
performance are: traction, articulation (climbing), ground clearance,
maneuverability and water fording."

Articulation is defined as climbing ability? Pshaw.
The Trail Rating thing means nothing to people who don't care, and it will mean
nothing especially if they put the badge on the Liberty. Notice the first two
words of the passage.

* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

I think I'm gonna be sick!!!

Greg

"Joshua Nelson" <spam_box@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.c om...
> I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
> whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:
>
>
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248
>
>
>
> <B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
> Rated'</B>
>
>
> By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
>
> The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
> away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
> vehicles.
>
> "We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
> percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
> a press event in Austin, Texas.
>
> The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
> position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
> an SUV is expanding.
>
> The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
> slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
> market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.
>
> Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
> Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
> last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.
>
>
> ---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
> Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
> I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
> the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.
>

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

I think I'm gonna be sick!!!

Greg

"Joshua Nelson" <spam_box@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.c om...
> I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
> whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:
>
>
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248
>
>
>
> <B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
> Rated'</B>
>
>
> By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
>
> The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
> away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
> vehicles.
>
> "We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
> percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
> a press event in Austin, Texas.
>
> The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
> position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
> an SUV is expanding.
>
> The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
> slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
> market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.
>
> Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
> Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
> last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.
>
>
> ---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
> Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
> I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
> the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.
>

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

I think I'm gonna be sick!!!

Greg

"Joshua Nelson" <spam_box@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.c om...
> I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
> whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:
>
>
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248
>
>
>
> <B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
> Rated'</B>
>
>
> By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
>
> The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
> away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
> vehicles.
>
> "We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
> percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
> a press event in Austin, Texas.
>
> The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
> position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
> an SUV is expanding.
>
> The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
> slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
> market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.
>
> Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
> Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
> last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.
>
>
> ---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
> Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
> I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
> the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.
>

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

Yeah, I have an XJ and I don't know what I will get after it is done. I
only have 130K miles on it, but at some point I may need another car. I
guess I will have to find a D-90 or something. The only problem with those
is they are all automatics in the US.

Oh well.
Curt

"Joshua Nelson" <spam_box@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.c om...
> I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
> whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:
>
>
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248
>
>
>
> <B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
> Rated'</B>
>
>
> By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
>
> The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
> away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
> vehicles.
>
> "We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
> percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
> a press event in Austin, Texas.
>
> The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
> position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
> an SUV is expanding.
>
> The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
> slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
> market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.
>
> Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
> Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
> last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.
>
>
> ---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
> Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
> I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
> the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

Yeah, I have an XJ and I don't know what I will get after it is done. I
only have 130K miles on it, but at some point I may need another car. I
guess I will have to find a D-90 or something. The only problem with those
is they are all automatics in the US.

Oh well.
Curt

"Joshua Nelson" <spam_box@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.c om...
> I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
> whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:
>
>
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248
>
>
>
> <B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
> Rated'</B>
>
>
> By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
>
> The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
> away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
> vehicles.
>
> "We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
> percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
> a press event in Austin, Texas.
>
> The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
> position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
> an SUV is expanding.
>
> The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
> slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
> market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.
>
> Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
> Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
> last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.
>
>
> ---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
> Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
> I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
> the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.

Re: Jeep brand to become "less rugged" according to chrysler
 

Yeah, I have an XJ and I don't know what I will get after it is done. I
only have 130K miles on it, but at some point I may need another car. I
guess I will have to find a D-90 or something. The only problem with those
is they are all automatics in the US.

Oh well.
Curt

"Joshua Nelson" <spam_box@ev1.net> wrote in message
news:b102b6e4.0310271147.63e5e07a@posting.google.c om...
> I have cut and pasted some of the key passages. Didn't reproduce the
> whole thing due to lack of copyright. For the full article, link to:
>
>
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=06685248
>
>
>
> <B>Jeep planning less-rugged models; 2004 4x4s to be badged 'Trail
> Rated'</B>
>
>
> By MARY CONNELLY and RICK KRANZ | Automotive News
>
> The Chrysler group plans to expand the Jeep line with SUVs that move
> away from Jeep's historic roots and won't be serious off-road
> vehicles.
>
> "We have to extend our lineup" and offer Jeeps that will be used "99
> percent of the time on-road," COO Wolfgang Bernhard said last week at
> a press event in Austin, Texas.
>
> The decision comes as the Chrysler group is spending heavily to
> position Jeep as the "real 4x4" in a world in which the definition of
> an SUV is expanding.
>
> The Chrysler group needs to re-energize Jeep because the brand has
> slipped badly in recent years. Jeep held 19.0 percent of the U.S. SUV
> market in 1999 but only 11.2 percent in 2002.
>
> Jeep sales peaked at 554,466 units in 1999, the year after
> Daimler-Benz's acquisition of Chrysler Corp. Sales fell to 459,796
> last year and are down 6.4 percent so far this year.
>
>
> ---> P.S. - I saw another related "new product" article which says
> Subaru is coming out with a model called the "BC9 Scrambler" in 2004.
> I dunno how trademark law works exactly, but I bet this will prevent
> the new TJ8 from being called a Scrambler.