Jeep
Comparison: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 vs. 2011 Porsche Cayenne S
It is rare that we find a road test summarized by a switch. But when we climbed into the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, we looked down and sure enough, there it was: The Knob.
Driven: 2012 Dodge Durango Citadel AWD 5.7
It’s this combination of old and new that really makes us like the Durango. The fact that it’s a decently entertaining way of hauling seven people doesn’t hurt either. That V-8 engine is Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, and produces 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, meaning the three-row Dodge can really scamper. We didn’t run any performance tests, but we’d feel comfortable estimating a sprint to 60 miles per hour in the seven-second range. Not blistering, but plenty quick for a 5400-pound vehicle.
First Look: 2013 Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute
Dodge showed the 2013 Dart GTS 210 Tribute at today’s Chicago Auto Show. The car is part of Mopar’s 75th anniversary celebration, and is meant to evoke the spirit of the original Dart from the heyday of muscle cars.
Quick Drive: 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser
I attended the launch event for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler only a few short months before are Toyota FJ Cruiser loaner arrived at the office. What strikes me about the FJ is how it drives so differently than the Jeep, while still being almost as capable on the trail.
Winding Road Video: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon – Quick Drive
Come along for the ride as we take the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon into its natural habitat and get it all muddy.
List: Top Ten American Cars On The Comfort Index
In case you haven’t heard, we are in the process of ramping up for our inaugural Comfort Index Awards. These awards will highlight the most comfortable vehicles in a variety of categories. So to whet your appetite for the awards, here’s a list of the most comfortable American cars on the Winding Road Comfort Index.
Frankfurt 2011: Maserati Kubang
Maserati has revealed its sport luxury SUV concept to preview a new chunk of its model range. Using its sister company Jeep as a jumping-off point, Maserati promises that the Kubang will capture the essence of the Trident, and will feature Maserati style, performance, and craftsmanship.
Model Evolution: Jeep Wrangler
In celebration of the 2012 Wrangler, we’ve strung together some of the highlights of its long history. Starting off as the vehicle that helped defeat Hitler, the Jeep has soldiered on for 70 years, delivering affordable off-road performance that can’t be beat.
Driven: 2012 Jeep Wrangler
If we had to hand out an all-star award for best brand to come out of the Chrysler bankruptcy, it would more than likely go to Jeep. The venerable off-road brand went from having a portfolio of lackluster vehicles (SRT8 being a notable exception), with shoddy interiors a few years back to being the darling of the Chrysler universe. First, it was the debut of the all-new and drastically improved Grand Cherokee. Then the Liberty and Wrangler received new, upscale interiors. Most recently, Jeep debuted the second-generation Compass, which is a dramatically better vehicle than the one it replaces.
Driven: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
The Angeles Crest Highway was a beautiful way to get from Los Angeles to Willow Springs raceway, and a great venue to display the handling prowess of the all-new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. The scenic mountain curves tested the grip of the P295 Pirellis, and no matter how hard we pushed it, the rubber never broke loose at any corner. Tossing the wheel back and forth, the Jeep responded quickly, with easy transitions and amazingly little body roll. Having those comfortable bolstered seats to hold our torso in place didn’t hurt either. In the tighter corners (and, later, navigating the paddock area of the big track at Willow), the Grand Cherokee felt a lot smaller than expected, thanks to a decent 37.1-foot turning circle. On top of all this, the steering wheel (shared across the 2012 SRT lineup) is thick and nicely shaped for aggressive driving, and wrapped in nice leather—the cherry on top of a good steering experience.
Driven: 2011 Jeep Compass 4×4
Jeep has gotten a number of things right with this new Compass. For a start, a Grand Cherokee-inspired front fascia has replaced the cutesy, on-road-only looks of the last-generation model. We heard more than one passerby mention just how handsome the new front end looks on this small Jeep. From the profile, the Compass benefits from an extra inch of ride height, making it look like it’s actually capable of crossing something tougher than the street. The slightly awkward looking rear end is still there, but the addition of LED taillights improves the overall look, especially at night.
Quick Drive: 2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X
The Nissan XTerra reminds me of my 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport I used to drive. Firstly the suspension is pretty stiff over the smaller imperfections, but there’s still a lot of bounce in the front springs. While that may seem a bit annoying driving in the city, it makes for good articulation off-road. Secondly, when I shifted the XTerra into four-wheel drive, turning becomes a wholly different affair. Especially with the steering wheel near lock in either direction, the power steering fights against you, and the car is reluctant to turn sharply. I encountered this problem in my old Jeep, and was surprised to find it in a new vehicle. It’s not a big deal, just weird, and probably alarming to a driver who hasn’t encountered it before. The third similarity was in the simplicity of the layout of instruments and switchgear—a good thing in my opinion.
First Look: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
The new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 we’ve been patiently waiting for has arrived in New York. The 2012 model, which will go on sale the third quarter of this year, promises to be the fastest Jeep yet.
Secondhand Gems: $50K Fast Sport Utes
High-performance sport utility vehicles are a lot like veggie burgers. Yes, they can be tasty, but the whole time there’s this sense that the meal is trying to be something it’s not, which of course, is the exact truth. That doesn’t automatically mean the feast is destined to be a bad experience, just don’t take a bite expecting it to taste like a medium-rare hamburger.
Flip This Car Extra: 1994 Buick Roadmaster—Beast vs. Blizzard
Seyth Miersma recently had his own tale of conquering Snowpocalyse 2011 in the Mazda 2 long-termer around Ann Arbor. Since I work outside the Winding Road home office a few hours north, I’m privy to a more rural setting for my daily commuting, but that can bring with it a whole new set of problems when it comes to big snow. The 1994 Buick Roadmaster is still in my grasp; it has proven to be a staple of all-weather reliability and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to relay my own blizzard story as experienced behind the wheel of the Beast. It also gives me a chance to drop a few not-so-sneaky hints as to the new Flip This Car machine, which also happens to be a white sedan but is decidedly better suited for rallycross. Whoops, there’s a hint already.
Quick Drive: 2011 Jeep Liberty Renegade
Dynamically, the Liberty isn’t a very good vehicle. The 3.7-liter V-6 is the very meaning of substandard, producing 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque. Doing a bit of math reveals this engine’s poor power-to-displacement and torque-to-displacement ratios (56.7 horsepower and 63.5 pound-feet of torque for each liter of displacement). The 3.7 redlines at 6000 rpm, but with peak horsepower and torque only coming on at 5200 and 4000 rpm respectively, the Liberty really needs to be revved to get anywhere.
Driven: 2011 Year In Review(s)
2011 has been a busy year in the Winding Road offices, with auto shows, new model launches, and the usual comings and goings of the automotive industry filling the virtual pages of our website. Even with all the activity, there has been a near-constant stream of automobiles filtering in and out of our parking lot, giving us no shortage of vehicular material to write about.
Detroit 2011: Chrysler Highlights Mopar Brand With Six Different Models
When talking about factory-backed aftermarket tuners, fewer names are held in higher regard than Mopar. The brand was synonymous with Dodge and Plymouth performance vehicles during the muscle car wars of the 1960s. Since then, it has turned from pure performance tuner to a manufacturer of aftermarket items for all the brands under the Chrysler umbrella. Seeing an opportunity to demonstrate the its expertise, Chrysler is showing several Moparized vehicles at this year’s North American International Auto Show.
Quick Drive: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Sport 6MT
You know the kind of movie where you think, “That’s so bad, it’s good?” Well, the Jeep Wrangler is sort of like that.
Driven: 2010 Year In Review(s)
It’s getting to be that time of year again—the holiday season is upon us, snowy weather is well and truly on its way, and another calendar is due to be replaced. A time to take stock of the year that’s passed, and look forward to the new one at hand, and all that.
Driven: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
If there is one vehicle that is key to Chrysler’s survival, there is a good chance that it is the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee has always been a popular choice, especially in the Snow Belt, due to its off-road ability, large but easy-to-handle size, and general coolness. For 2011, the resilient GC gets some new sheet metal, and importantly, an all-new 3.6-liter V-6 motor. Jeep offered us a week behind the wheel, and during that time, we pushed it to the max both on- and off-road.
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