With the weather being bad enough to postpone the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) Winter Vehicle Awards testing twice in the past three years, it’s no surprise to learn the group decided to announce its most recent honors in May. Of course, it’s also no surprise to learn that the Grand Cherokee was named the Official Winter Vehicle of New England for 2013. After all, the Jeep flagship won the award in 2011 and 2012, and the 2011 model scored again this year as Previously Owned Vehicle of the Year. And a four-peat certainly wouldn’t be out of the question, since the Jeep Grand Cherokee will add further unmatched advantages for the new selling season.

Not only will all 2014 Grand Cherokee models rely on Jeep’s new and efficient eight-speed automatic transmission, but drivers will be able to configure the award-winning SUV with a new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine that serves up fuel economy of 30 mpg in highway driving.

Significantly, NEMPA journalists also recognized the efforts of Jeep chief Mike Manley during the 2013 awards ceremony, honoring the brand’s president and CEO as the 2013 NEMPA Executive of the Year. (Another Chrysler Group product, the Ram 1500, earned the title of Best All-Weather Pickup Truck.)

Said Keith Griffin, NEMPA president: “During Mike Manley’s tenure, Jeep has enjoyed a renaissance applauded by both consumers—with ever-increasing sales—and by automotive writers, who have heaped awards upon the Grand Cherokee. Regarding Chrysler Group’s vehicle awards, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ram 1500 4×4 are perfect winter companions. Congratulations to Jeep Grand Cherokee, our first-ever three-peat winner, for one of the most successful remakes of a vehicle in American history. And Ram 1500 4×4 is the benchmark of the full-size pickup segment with its refinement, capability and efficiency.”

The reborn 2014 Jeep Cherokee was just introduced at the New York International Auto Show in March, but it’s already conquering new territory. That was clear as soon as it hit the stage at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show in China in April, wowing the crowds in advance of its retail launch in that country later this year. The site of the all-new Cherokee’s first international appearance was no accident.

“China is the largest market for the Jeep brand outside of the U.S., and one out of every five vehicles in the mid-size SUV segment is sold in China,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of Jeep. “Hence, it just makes sense that the new Jeep Cherokee has its international debut in Shanghai.”

Of course, the 2014 Cherokee will have plenty to offer customers both at home and overseas, including:

• The first nine-speed automatic transmission in its segment
• Fuel-economy ratings of up to 31 mpg
• Three all-wheel-drive systems and a five-mode Jeep Selec-Terrain traction-control setup
• Standout road manners, enabled by new independent front and rear suspensions
• Chrysler’s new 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine
• A world-class cabin highlighted by the award-winning Uconnect media system with 8.4-inch touchscreen
• A dynamic exterior design enhanced by advanced LED lighting
• Jeep’s hallmark Trail Rated off-road capability assisted by a 56:1 crawl ratio

“Jeep is our global brand and, since its inception, the all-new Jeep Cherokee was conceived and developed not only for our home market of the U.S. but also for world markets,” added Manley. “The new Jeep Cherokee will become a benchmark in the global mid-size SUV segment by combining the segment-first nine-speed automatic transmission, refined on-road manners and fuel efficiency with the capability that only Jeep can deliver and that our customers have learned to trust.”

U.S. customers can expect the 2014 Jeep Cherokee to reach dealerships in the third quarter of the year.

One of the most iconic names in Jeep’s long history will be back in business come the third quarter of the year. That’s when the all-new 2014 Cherokee reaches dealerships. The Cherokee will feature an unparalleled combination of off-road performance, on-road efficiency, world-class style and cutting-edge technologies—like the first nine-speed automatic transmission in the midsized SUV segment.

That’s just the first of the many “firsts” being highlighted by the reborn Cherokee. It also introduces the Chrysler Group’s new 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine to Jeep customers, as well as the automaker’s new “compact U.S. wide” vehicle architecture, a rear-axle-disconnect system, and the innovative ParkSense Park Assist feature that aids in both parallel and perpendicular parking scenarios.

To meet customer demand, the 2014 Cherokee will be offered in four different flavors—Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk—with both the fresh V6 and a 2.4-liter TigerShark four-cylinder with MultiAir technology that enables fuel-economy marks of up to 31 mpg highway. Either way, the Cherokee is then wrapped up in a modernized design that offers dramatic, LED-enhanced lighting and a panoramic sunroof, but also maintains aggressive approach and departure angles for off-road enthusiasts. Inside, the driver-oriented cabin can be filled out with numerous premium amenities, too, including the award-winning Uconnect multimedia command center with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth capabilities, popular music apps like Pandora and iHeart Radio, and navigation functionality. All occupants will enjoy upscale soft-touch materials throughout the interior, highlighted by comfortable seating in either leather or premium fabric.

“The all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee will be the benchmark for mid-size SUVs with a new level of on-road driving dynamics and fuel economy, while at the same time improving the 4×4 capability that customers expect from Jeep,” said Mike Manley, the brand’s president and CEO “Jeep Cherokee boasts a new design, a nine-speed automatic transmission and two advanced engines, class-leading capability from three innovative 4×4 systems, more than 70 safety features, and a host of new technology features.”

With the kickoff of the 47th annual Easter Jeep Safari just a few days away, so are the debuts of five new Wrangler concepts. The quintet is headed toward the Safari’s site in Moab, Utah, right now, and will showcase some of the latest goodies from both Mopar and the Jeep Performance Parts catalog.

Slated for introduction at one of the country’s most popular Jeep gatherings are:

Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon: Despite its name, there’s nothing stealthy here; instead, engineers packed in a 6.2-liter, 470-hp HEMI V8, mounted the Wrangler on massive 39-inch off-road tires, and accented the package with style enhancers like LED headlamps, “Stinger” bumpers, Mopar half-door and window kits, and more.

Jeep Wrangler Stitch: This concept has the title of lightest Wrangler all sewn up, thanks to a drastic diet that helped remove some 750 lbs. from its bottom line and deliver a power-to-weight ratio on par with that of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

Jeep Wrangler Sand Trooper II: Building on the success of the original Sand Trooper, which was first introduced at the 2012 SEMA show, engineers matched the HEMI-powered concept vehicle with features like Mopar’s eight-lug Portal axles, a vented hood and rearview camera system.

Jeep Wrangler Flattop: The Flattop throws some wrinkles into the Wrangler recipe by adding custom style touches—and eliminating the Jeep’s B-pillars — while still maintaining the trail-tested capabilities that are the brand’s hallmark — and then increasing them with components like DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 front axles and Dana 60 rears.

Jeep Wrangler Slim: Another svelter Jeep, the Slim concept wears lightweight rock rails, wheels, and bumpers, but also boasts heavy-duty hardware that includes 17-inch forged beadlock wheels, a two-inch lift kit, and a cold-air intake from Mopar — plus a CB radio, too.

Note: If you can’t make it to Moab, rest assured that many of the Mopar accessories introduced at the Safari will certainly make it to Jeep fans.

“We created our new Jeep Performance Parts portfolio for extreme off-road fanatics,” said Pietro Gorlier, president and CEO of Mopar, the Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care division. “Jeep owners who are passionate about customization, performance and personalization will have a long menu of Jeep Performance Parts from which to choose.”

The annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah, draws the hardest of the hardcore Jeep fanatics. This year, they’ll be rewarded with a first look at a flagship designed just for them: The new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept. The vehicle was developed to be the most extreme Grand Cherokee to ever hit the road — or leave it.

The Trailhawk soars above the toughest terrain on massive 35-inch off-road tires from Mickey Thompson, wrapped around 17-inch Rubicon-style aluminum wheels. Also featured are custom front and rear skid plates, dual rear tow hooks, and modified Mopar rock rails for added protection on the trail. There’s a surprise under the hood, too, where Jeep’s new EcoDiesel V-6 makes its home.

Capable of unleashing 420 lb.-ft. of torque, the engine has enough grunt to conquer just about any obstacles when off the beaten path. At the same time, it delivers impeccable on-road driving manners and surprisingly strong fuel-efficiency. In fact, when that engine debuts in the 2014 Grand Cherokee, it will deliver EPA grades of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway, a driving range of more than 730 miles, and an impressive tow rating of 7,400 lbs.

The Trailhawk Concept also looks the part, with an eye-popping blood-orange exterior set off by a black grille, matte-black roof, custom-designed roof rails, and some notable body modifications to make room for its big wheels. Although based on the hood and fascias of the Grand Cherokee SRT8, these components on the Trailhawk were further modified for extra ground clearance and aggressive fender flares.

And note: The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is just one of the six new concepts making their premiere in Moab.

“Off-road enthusiasts will be pleasantly surprised by the range of Jeep models we’re bringing to this year’s Easter Jeep Safari,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of the Jeep Brand for the Chrysler Group LLC. “We go to this extremely popular event in Moab each year to showcase the latest production vehicles from Jeep, as well as a host of new customization and personalization ideas. In doing so, we connect with and receive a tremendous amount of feedback from our most loyal customers.”

Even as the U.S. auto industry continues to gather strength, it looks like another challenging year for companies selling to the European market. Well, most of them anyway. Jeep is coming off a year in which it lifted European sales by almost 20 percent and set an all-time global sales record with more than 700,000 international deliveries. The brand has now reloaded its lineup with the Euro premieres of three more vehicles.

The fresh faces made their first European appearances at the International Geneva Motor Show recently, where they were showcased at Jeep’s eye-popping exhibition space. Covering more than 11,300 square feet, the display hosted:

• 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is now offering an eight-speed automatic transmission, standard LED daytime running lights, the award-winning Uconnect system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, and enhanced safety features like Forward Collision Warning with Crash Mitigation and Selec-Speed Control. (U.S. drivers should also remember that the 2014 Grand Cherokee will be available in this country with a next-gen 3.0-liter clean-diesel engine.)
• 2014 Jeep Compass, which the brand promises will offer a more refined driving experience thanks to a new six-speed automatic transmission, upgraded cabin comfort, and standard content such as fog lamps and keyless entry.
• 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10^th Anniversary Edition, which Jeep says is the most capable off-road production vehicle ever sold in its segment, has been enhanced by a redesigned dual-intake Power Dome hood, 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels with polished faces, and a unique cockpit design with exclusive red leather seating.

The trio will be joined by the Jeep Patriot, Jeep Wrangler and, in some markets, the all-new Jeep Cherokee to fill out the brand’s global lineup.

Per Jeep: “The three Geneva reveals represent a further expression of the brand’s constant evolution in terms of innovation, technological contents and performance.”

Goodbye, Jeep Liberty. Hello, Jeep Cherokee!

Jeep fans knew Chrysler planned to continue their beloved Liberty — no one could guess in what form. While sales figures of the compact SUV have been slow but steady, the Liberty was in desperate need of a heavy refresh, if not an outright redesign like the much larger Grand Cherokee.

So everyone was shocked when Jeep announced it planned to not only  drop the Liberty moniker, but resurrect the Cherokee nameplate for the Liberty’s replacement after an absence of over a decade. Jeep then released images shortly afterward, saying the  all-new Cherokee would debut during the New York Auto Show later this month.

The first thing we noticed about the 2014 Cherokee is its grill. The familiar seven-slot grill has evolved from its flat design to smaller, thinner columns that bend and blend into the curvaceous hood. (Traditionally, the Jeep hood rests above the front grill.) The front headlamps now split in two, with the main beams topped by a row of smaller lights. The front bumper practically vanishes with the new design. Overall, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee is less boxy than the out-going Liberty; in profile, we’re reminded of the Kia Sportage.

Jeep did not release any interior or rear shots of the 2014 Cherokee, and provides no detail on its powertrain. The automaker says there will be “no compromise” with the SUV, which many interpret to mean this new Cherokee will have some off-road capability. How much, though, is anyone’s guess.

The most significant teaser is the Cherokee’s fuel economy. The new model, states Jeep will offer a 45-percent improvement in mpg compared to the Liberty. Since the latter currently gets 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined, those new figures will be significant, especially among consumers.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee is scheduled to go on sale sometime this summer. Chrysler will unveil the compact SUV to the media ust before the show opens to the public.

Written by Joel Arellano.

It turns out that the best-priced 4X4 in America is pretty good when it comes to minimizing overall ownership costs, too. In fact, that vehicle—the 2013 Jeep Patriot—was the this year’s “5-year Cost to Own” award winner, leading the Compact SUV/Crossover segment in Kelley Blue Book’s annual ratings of ownership costs five years after purchase. According to the experts on the KBB.com website: “Jeep’s most value-oriented vehicle offers a taste of the adventurous lifestyle for which the brand is known. With its Freedom Drive II option, the Patriot also offers a degree of off-road capability for when those adventures leave the pavement behind.”

Getting down to the heart of the matter, the 2013 Patriot rolls out of dealerships with an MSRP that starts at just $15,995—and impressively, so will the 2014 Patriot. But while its price is unchanged, its powertrain selection gains a notable new member. The entry point to the Patriot lineup, the Patriot Sport, continues with its five-speed manual transmission, capable of delivering up to 30 mpg on the highway. But now drivers can now enjoy an advanced six-speed automatic as well. The advanced transmission was “designed for fuel efficiency and improved performance,” according to the brand (although EPA ratings are not yet available).

The 2014 Patriot will be built in the United States, at Jeep’s facility in Belvidere, Ill., just as its predecessor was.

“Jeep Patriot delivers best-in-class 4×4 capability with an iconic Jeep design,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of the Jeep Brand. “With a new six-speed automatic transmission for 2014, Patriot features improved on-road driving dynamics without sacrificing any of its best-in-class off-road capability. Best of all: Jeep Patriot is still the best-priced SUV in America.”

The most capable compact SUV in the country will soon be capable of providing a more refined driving experience than ever before: When the 2014 Jeep Compass reaches dealerships in the second quarter of this year, it will offer a cutting-edge six-speed automatic transmission designed to optimize fuel efficiency, improve performance, and reduce both unwanted noise and ownership costs.

Jeep also has refined the styling of the Compass for the 2014 model year. For example, designers have added bold new details to give the vehicle a more aggressive face, with a texturized Billet Silver grille and plated upper-grille trim in the Latitude and Limited models. The latter also introduces:

• Sportier, projector-style halogen headlamps set off by black inner bezels
• Fog lamps now highlighted by chrome bezels
• “Smoked” taillamp bezels
• Painted exterior mirror caps
• 18-inch aluminum wheels
• Plated chrome tailgate inserts

The cabin of the Compass has been touched up as well, with rugged, vinyl-wrapped armrests and center-console lid, updated instrument cluster graphics, and new satin chrome accents throughout.

But don’t get the idea that the Compass is trading away capability for comfort. The compact Jeep is still available with the Freedom Drive II off-road package for Trail-Rated capabilities. And on the road, it continues to provide EPA marks of up to 30 mpg.

“Jeep Compass provides consumers with a combination of fuel economy, safety, value—and, of course, Jeep capability—in the important compact-SUV segment,” said Mike Manley, president and CEO of the Jeep brand for Chrysler Group LLC. “For 2014, Jeep Compass buyers will enjoy their driving experience even more, courtesy of an all-new six-speed transmission and a refined interior and exterior design.”

After finishing 2012 by setting an all-time annual sales record—with 141,669 deliveries that marked a 16 percent increase over 2011—the Jeep Wrangler kicked off 2013 on a high note as well: Autobytel.com, one of the country’s leading online sources of vehicle info, has named the 2013 Wrangler its “SUV of the Year.”

“The 2013 Jeep Wrangler continues to remain the classic off-road choice and continues to be a choice on-road because of the array of comforts and technology, all packaged in timeless design and category-leading value,” said Michelle Naranjo, editor-in-chief of Autobytel.

And that package continues to get better for the new year. A wide range of comfort and convenience upgrades have launched on the 2013 Wrangler, including new, more supportive seating, sophisticated LED interior lighting, dual windshield-washer nozzles, premium audio from Alpine, an available rear locker, and a new, three-layer soft top. Of course, Jeep hasn’t forgotten to deploy additional capabilities in the Wrangler, too. The 2013 Jeep Wrangler Moab edition, for example, is fitted with rock rails, winch-compatible steel bumpers, a rear limited-slip differential, Goodyear Silent Amor off-road tires reinforced by Kevlar, and more. In fact, in its Wrangler Unlimited configuration, the 2013 Moab model already has been named Four Wheeler of the Year by Four Wheeler magazine.

“We’re honored that Autobytel is recognizing the capability and class-leading features in the Jeep Wrangler,” said Doug Betts, senior vice president of Quality for the Chrysler Group LLC. “We’ve invested a lot of time and resources to revamp our product line and improve customer satisfaction.”

The award-winning 2013 Jeep Wrangler is at local dealerships now, starting at $22,195.