New Jeep Liberty will have 3.2L V6

[haven]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/next-jeep-liberty-to-get-shrunken-pentastar-v6/

Automotive News is reporting that the new Jeep Liberty will debut at the Detroit Auto Show next January. The new Liberty will use a chassis based on a Fiat design, but enlarged so XX-size Americans will fit in the back seat. One engine will be a 3.2L gasoline V6, a variant of the Pentastar V6 used in many Chrysler products. The engine will be mated to a 9 speed automatic transmission designed by ZF.

A 9 speed trans makes me wonder if there will be a need for a low range in the new Liberty. While Wrangler customers would be upset if they lost the ability to shift into low range when facing some off-road obstacle, the Liberty customer is much more likely to need a secure all weather SUV with some ability to handle forest service roads. The two speed transfer case adds weight, which affects mpg.

(The photos at the link above show the current Liberty, not the new vehicle.)

 

[Dan Grec]

Great to see they are actively moving in the more sophistication / more efficiency direction all the time.

I like the direction Jeep is heading. Fingers double crossed for more diesels after the GC.

-Dan

 

[montypower]

I like the direction Jeep is heading. Fingers double crossed for more diesels after the GC.

Have there been any reports of diesel going in the Wrangler? That would be a neat setup especially if the range increased.

 

[Dan Grec]

Have there been any reports of diesel going in the Wrangler? That would be a neat setup especially if the range increased.

It's been confirmed the 3.0 VM Diesel will be in the 2013 GC. (I expect a real announcement soonish)

As for the Wrangler and other vehicles, there has been nothing said, other than the rumor mill. We can continue to hope.

-Dan

 

[ihatemybike]

While I support Jeep expanding their customer base, I feel that they are losing some of their off-road chops. With the CUV redesign of the Liberty/Cherokee it leaves only two Jeeps with the low range needed to really get out there and only one with the suspension travel.

The ZF HP9 transmission is said to have a 9.84 gear spread. If related enough to the HP8 two of the 9 gears will be overdrive gears. I'm guessing the lowest gear the HP9 would be near 5.00, low, but not as low as the 7.72 (2.84*2.72) available in the current Liberty.

Also, the new Liberty will feature front and rear independent suspension, which will decrease articulation.

This picture is the shell of a Liberty mule getting prepped at the factory.