The NEW 2014 Jeep KL Cherokee - Check it out!!
- Thread starter wayoflife
- Start date
bl17z90
New member
As sad as it may be Jeep seems like they are trying to appeal to average person with this thing. People don't buy a wrangler unless its a person who wants to drive topless and doorless or they want to wheel it. And then there is that guy who thinks the wrangler is a cool vehicle so he buys one and doesn't use it to its full potental.
My point is there are a lot of average people out there who want a modern looking vehicle and sadly this ugly, skinny headlight, fat ass, asain car looking design is what most of the general public considers modern. :naw:
My point is there are a lot of average people out there who want a modern looking vehicle and sadly this ugly, skinny headlight, fat ass, asain car looking design is what most of the general public considers modern. :naw:
BlackRockBurner
New member
The NEW 2014 Jeep Cherokee - Check it out!!
We are not the target audience for the new Cherokee. It does not compete with the Wrangler. The Cherokee competes with the Equinox; Rav4; Sportage and the like. That crossover market is all about style and comfort. When you compare the Cherokee against its like competition, that would be fair judgement. It's based on a European Alfa Romero chassis, with world market intentions. The USA market is not the high volume market anymore, China is the new market along with India & Brazil. Our middle class and its purchasing power is shrinking, while the booming middle class in China is outpacing the USA. So Jeep/ Fiat is building for that market: we as jeepers may not like it and prefer the old boxy AMC version of the Cherokee, but we buy JKs.
As far as styling goes, yes it looks different. And in a crowded market, that's what you want. Mechanically, I'm sure that Jeep will make sure the Cherokee out performs the competition off road, and Alfa Romero understands chassis tuning to enhance road dynamics. The best of both worlds for that market segment that more likely than not, said vehicles off road excursions mean a maintained gravel road up to the ski lift. I'll not pass judgement until I see one in person: pictures don't convey proportions very well. Cars and trucks ( jeeps ) are more like sculpture. You have to experience these things up close.
We are not the target audience for the new Cherokee. It does not compete with the Wrangler. The Cherokee competes with the Equinox; Rav4; Sportage and the like. That crossover market is all about style and comfort. When you compare the Cherokee against its like competition, that would be fair judgement. It's based on a European Alfa Romero chassis, with world market intentions. The USA market is not the high volume market anymore, China is the new market along with India & Brazil. Our middle class and its purchasing power is shrinking, while the booming middle class in China is outpacing the USA. So Jeep/ Fiat is building for that market: we as jeepers may not like it and prefer the old boxy AMC version of the Cherokee, but we buy JKs.
As far as styling goes, yes it looks different. And in a crowded market, that's what you want. Mechanically, I'm sure that Jeep will make sure the Cherokee out performs the competition off road, and Alfa Romero understands chassis tuning to enhance road dynamics. The best of both worlds for that market segment that more likely than not, said vehicles off road excursions mean a maintained gravel road up to the ski lift. I'll not pass judgement until I see one in person: pictures don't convey proportions very well. Cars and trucks ( jeeps ) are more like sculpture. You have to experience these things up close.
ssh6314
Member
Re: The NEW 2014 Jeep Cherokee - Check it out!!
While this all may be true. And I'm not arguing with you. Jeep needs to stick with calling pavement pounders wierd names like the compass, or from rumors I've read they are going to strip the Cherokee name off this and call it the "spirit". Just a rumor. The point is you can't use the name of one of the most capable Jeeps out there,
superseded only by the JKU. In my opinion.
With something that's only "off roading" will be in the driveway.
Sent from my EVO-3d using WAYALIFE app.
While this all may be true. And I'm not arguing with you. Jeep needs to stick with calling pavement pounders wierd names like the compass, or from rumors I've read they are going to strip the Cherokee name off this and call it the "spirit". Just a rumor. The point is you can't use the name of one of the most capable Jeeps out there,
superseded only by the JKU. In my opinion. With something that's only "off roading" will be in the driveway.
Sent from my EVO-3d using WAYALIFE app.
BlackRockBurner
New member
The NEW 2014 Jeep Cherokee - Check it out!!
Ssh6314- fully understand about branding but business does re-branding all the time. Recall the original Thunderbird was direct competitor to Corvette only to turn into a land cruiser. Hey, at least it will still have a 'name', not some unimaginable alpha-numerical title like say " OR3.2".
Now, what are the plans for a small Panda based entry level 4x4? If that's boxy, it competes with the JK taking away sales and profit. And our JK is due for a revision in the next few years. I'm just glad Fiat and not Mercedes is running the business. Fiat wants to grow: Mercedes was a takeover. Chrysler use to have excellent design teams that left for GM. Daimler-Chrysler gave us boring forgettable sleepy style. Only 2 cars with imagination came from the skunkworks- Prowler and Viper, both low volume platforms.
If the Cherokee is a high volume hit, great, thats more money for R&D and maybe a even more off-road cabable future JK platform. I would like to see Dana 44s as a minimum across the board.
Ssh6314- fully understand about branding but business does re-branding all the time. Recall the original Thunderbird was direct competitor to Corvette only to turn into a land cruiser. Hey, at least it will still have a 'name', not some unimaginable alpha-numerical title like say " OR3.2".
Now, what are the plans for a small Panda based entry level 4x4? If that's boxy, it competes with the JK taking away sales and profit. And our JK is due for a revision in the next few years. I'm just glad Fiat and not Mercedes is running the business. Fiat wants to grow: Mercedes was a takeover. Chrysler use to have excellent design teams that left for GM. Daimler-Chrysler gave us boring forgettable sleepy style. Only 2 cars with imagination came from the skunkworks- Prowler and Viper, both low volume platforms.
If the Cherokee is a high volume hit, great, thats more money for R&D and maybe a even more off-road cabable future JK platform. I would like to see Dana 44s as a minimum across the board.
gouacats
New member
Definitely agree with this...I'm reserving judgement.
Ret Vet 007
New member
Guess this us the best that the folks at Fiat could come up with. Wonder if they understand that Most GC lovers would rather drive a 4 Runner than their new model. Makes me wonder if they plan to butcher the next Wrangler? 
Moochie
Active Member
The NEW 2014 Jeep Cherokee - Check it out!!
This is not the replacement for the Grand Cherokee.
Guess this us the best that the folks at Fiat could come up with. Wonder if they understand that Most GC lovers would rather drive a 4 Runner than their new model. Makes me wonder if they plan to butcher the next Wrangler?
This is not the replacement for the Grand Cherokee.
ichthus
New member
They're aiming for the Millenial crowd with that schnoz, and I think they still missed the mark. It's bold, in a way that can only be compared with the Nissan Juke or long dead Aztec... But bold is also polarizing and can drive the mainstream market away. I'm glad they did away with the boxy, but mis-proportioned Liberty, and I expected this new Cherokee to be more cross-over than JK, I just wish they could have captured the GC design more.
The GC is arguably the best looking midsize SUV on the market, and a few of its design cues applied to the horrendous Compass deceived many into thinking that heap was worth buying. If the tweets from Chrysler claiming the unveil at New York will differ from this are true, lets all pray they have time to salvage the Cherokee name with a different headlight treatment and a COMPLETE LACK OF ANY FWD base model. This last point is what I fear the most....CAFE limits, courtesy of our coastal-pass-the-responsibility-change-the-world-with-my-laws-not-with-my-actions nutbag politicians.
The GC is arguably the best looking midsize SUV on the market, and a few of its design cues applied to the horrendous Compass deceived many into thinking that heap was worth buying. If the tweets from Chrysler claiming the unveil at New York will differ from this are true, lets all pray they have time to salvage the Cherokee name with a different headlight treatment and a COMPLETE LACK OF ANY FWD base model. This last point is what I fear the most....CAFE limits, courtesy of our coastal-pass-the-responsibility-change-the-world-with-my-laws-not-with-my-actions nutbag politicians.
Ret Vet 007
New member
Got it, thx for clarifying this.
JKBANDIT55
New member
Although It is ugly to us Jeepers, I think the non so much off road crowd is going to like it. I hate it personally. And this is what scares me about it. If it does sell good. Its going to have an impact on the way they design the future jeep builds. Just like when KIA first came out with the small SUV back in like 95. It was the ugliest thing, and only thing like it on the market. But it sold and people liked it. Crazy how people like such weird looking things. Look at our wranglers. Very different looking than anything else made. A lot of non jeepers hate it and think its ugly. But to us its pure beauty and bad ass. :idontknow:
BlackRockBurner
New member
The NEW 2014 Jeep Cherokee - Check it out!!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That 95 Kia had 4 wheel drive, 2 speed transfer case, rear solid axel, body on frame, auto locking hubs and close to 8" of ground clearance. Sure it had double a-arms up front, great on road but gave away offroad flex & an engine that lacked power. It hung with a Grand Cherokee in Hollister on the green & blue trails. It's competition was the Geo Tracker, Rav4, CRV. Jeeps back then were 8 grand more and lacked cargo room. I'll take a chance and say that old Sportage will probably out do the new CUSW based crossover jeep.
I took part in a Chrysler design critique for the pre-release of the PT Cruiser back in the mid 90s. Jeep had a prototype of the 4 door Wrangler. I told the designers if they build it, I would buy it. It took 12 years for Jeep to do it.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That 95 Kia had 4 wheel drive, 2 speed transfer case, rear solid axel, body on frame, auto locking hubs and close to 8" of ground clearance. Sure it had double a-arms up front, great on road but gave away offroad flex & an engine that lacked power. It hung with a Grand Cherokee in Hollister on the green & blue trails. It's competition was the Geo Tracker, Rav4, CRV. Jeeps back then were 8 grand more and lacked cargo room. I'll take a chance and say that old Sportage will probably out do the new CUSW based crossover jeep.
I took part in a Chrysler design critique for the pre-release of the PT Cruiser back in the mid 90s. Jeep had a prototype of the 4 door Wrangler. I told the designers if they build it, I would buy it. It took 12 years for Jeep to do it.
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