Interest Strong for Upcoming Jeep Liberty Diesel
Liberty Photos
Are American New Vehicle Buyers Warming to Diesel Power?
Are new vehicle buyers in America ready for diesel engines? The technology has long been used for heavy-duty trucks, and made a brief stint in passenger cars that may have done more damage than good due to noisy, smoky and unreliable versions built by General Motors and installed in Cadillacs, GMs answer to Mercedes-Benz diesels of the 70s and early 80s.
Unlike owners of the poorly designed domestic diesels, those who lived with Mercedes and Volkswagen diesels swear by them. The same goes for those who purchase todays modern diesels, which in the case of Mercedes and VW incorporate common rail, direct injection technology for reduced noise, emissions and improved fuel economy. In todays auto market, which includes extremely high fuel costs and environmental concerns, modern diesels seem to be a smart alternative, despite the penalty of a high initial surcharge over their gasoline counterparts. But are the benefits of diesel intriguing enough to lure in American buyers?
“Weve had 30,000 hand-raisers” who have made contact with dealers about the vehicle in the first two weeks of September, Zetsche stated, according to a Detroit News report.
Jeep is taking a very different route in reducing fuel economy and therefore emissions than Ford, for instance. While the blue oval brand is introducing its Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid gasoline-electric (HEV) sport utility, the Liberty will be the first diesel-powered compact SUV available in America, in recent times at least. Previously Toyota offered a diesel-powered Land Cruiser FJ40 and BJ70 in the compact SUV class, while Land Rover offered diesel-powered Defenders before the model was ever designated with a military nameplate.
The all-new 2.8-liter CRD (common-rail diesel) makes 160 horsepower at 3,800 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at an extremely low 1,800 rpm. Thats an incredible level of torque, which makes the recently upgraded model the titleholder of best-in-class towing. The technology will also use about 25 to 30 percent less fuel on average, has much longer maintenance intervals and delivers surprising power. Its the ideal engine for the less than lightweight Liberty. The diesel is available in both Sport or Limited trim levels.
Chrysler Group expects to sell approximately three thousand per year, but that estimate may be low if early indications of interest are to be believed. Of course, even if such preliminary sales numbers double or even triple, compared to the European market where the Liberty is also available and diesels account for almost half of new vehicle sales, this amounts to less than a single percent of the U.S. market.
Chrysler Group would like nothing more than for the Jeep Liberty CDI to succeed in its domestic market, as it may point the way for additional diesel-powered models to enter America. The automaker sells diesel versions of many Chrysler Group models in Europe, such as the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, Chrysler minivans, and the new 300 Touring sport wagon that recently debuted in Paris.
Only time will tell if diesel versions of such models will become available in Chryslers home market, but cleaner diesel fuel legislation due out in 2006 and competitive diesel-powered models that are expected to arrive in the U.S. from Honda and others, could force DaimlerChryslers hand.
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| 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited | Austin, TX | Price: $7,991 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited | Hollywood, FL | Price: $8,991 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport | Honolulu, HI | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport | Abington, MA | Price: $7,631 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited | Abington, MA | Price: $10,431 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited | Pasadena, CA | Price: $9,999 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited | Milbank, SD | Price: $8,975 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport | San Antonio, TX | Price: $8,688 | |
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| 2002 Jeep Liberty Sport | San Jose, CA | Price: $7,997 | |
| 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited | Racine, WI | Price: $9,988 | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Limited | Sullivan, IL | Price: $11,995 | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Ontario, OR | Price: $9,741 | |
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| 2003 Jeep Liberty Limited | Austin, TX | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Limited | Hemet, CA | Price: $13,999 | |
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| 2003 Jeep Liberty Renegade | San Antonio, TX | Price: $9,995 | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Freedom Edition | Denver, CO | Price: $7,988 | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Limited | Port Jervis, NY | Price: $12,995 | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Freedom Edition | Bronx, NY | Price: $8,495 | |
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| 2003 Jeep Liberty Freedom Edition | Grand Rapids, MI | Price: $8,720 | |
| 2003 Jeep Liberty Limited | Syracuse, NY | Price: Contact Seller | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited | Irvine, CA | Price: $12,991 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Golden, CO | Price: $10,490 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Peoria, AZ | Price: $7,995 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Milford, CT | Price: $10,990 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Jacksonville, FL | Price: $9,988 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Abington, MA | Price: $12,731 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Waukesha, WI | Price: $10,983 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | San Leandro, CA | Price: $9,700 | |
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| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Brooklyn, NY | Price: $9,500 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Aurora, CO | Price: $11,887 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | North Olmsted, OH | Price: $9,588 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited | Wichita, KS | Price: $12,872 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Arlington Heights, IL | Price: $10,557 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Beaver Falls, PA | Price: $13,800 | |
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| 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited | Auburn, WA | Price: $11,988 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Henderson, NV | Price: $12,991 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited | Bellevue, WA | Price: $15,991 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Mesa, AZ | Price: $11,992 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Ventura, CA | Price: $10,188 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited | Las Vegas, NV | Price: $13,594 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Fort Myers, FL | Price: $8,280 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Limited | San Diego, CA | Price: $8,994 | |
| 2004 Jeep Liberty Columbia Edition | Webster, NY | Price: $7,994 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Hayward, CA | Price: $13,981 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Pasadena, CA | Price: $9,982 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Schaumburg, IL | Price: $13,495 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Mesa, AZ | Price: $12,988 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Racine, WI | Price: $12,990 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Westfield, MA | Price: $13,786 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | New Port Richey, FL | Price: $10,987 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Victor, NY | Price: $11,488 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited | Springfield, IL | Price: $12,758 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited | Portland, OR | Price: $9,977 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Torrington, CT | Price: $12,999 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | East Brunswick, NJ | Price: $11,999 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Tewksbury, MA | Price: $11,850 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Englewood, CO | Price: $13,491 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Hemet, CA | Price: $14,993 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Milbank, SD | Price: $12,675 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited | Brooklyn, NY | Price: $10,900 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Red Lion, PA | Price: $10,995 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Chesapeake, VA | Price: $11,400 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited | Beaver Falls, PA | Price: $14,500 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Denver, CO | Price: $9,988 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Morton Grove, IL | Price: $6,998 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited | Phoenix, AZ | Price: $13,527 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Corpus Christi, TX | Price: $12,792 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Columbia, CT | Price: $10,971 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Albany, GA | Price: $11,995 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $12,819 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Colorado Springs, CO | Price: $12,921 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Fayetteville, AR | Price: $10,759 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Germantown, TN | Price: $9,999 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Kalispell, MT | Price: $10,990 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Stoneham, MA | Price: $12,995 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Daytona Beach, FL | Price: $13,998 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Bronx, NY | Price: $8,495 | |
| 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport | Raleigh, NC | Price: $12,788 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Redwood City, CA | Price: $12,190 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Las Vegas, NV | Price: $13,991 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Englewood, CO | Price: $18,490 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Pittsburgh, PA | Price: $12,995 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Renegade | Las Vegas, NV | Price: $16,999 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Limited | O Fallon, IL | Price: $18,995 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Tempe, AZ | Price: $9,914 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Limited | Pinellas Park, FL | Price: $14,494 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Limited | Sullivan, IL | Price: $16,995 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Westfield, MA | Price: $14,965 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Limited | Richardson, TX | Price: $13,241 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Victor, NY | Price: $15,488 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Victor, NY | Price: $14,988 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Victor, NY | Price: $13,788 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Morristown, NJ | Price: $16,395 | |
| 2006 Jeep Liberty Sport | Morristown, NJ | Price: $15,795 |