|
| 
|
 Jeep 3
Over the course of many years, or even decades, Willys Overland aspired to break free from its reliance on the military. In addition, there was initially the civilian version, which hasn't been modified much. In 1948,
the Jeepster was introduced, featuring a six-cylinder engine, a longer wheelbase, and independent front suspension, but no longer with four-wheel drive.
Whether it was a takeover or, in reality, a merger, in any case, "Willys" became 'Kaiser-Willys' in 1953. The Kaiser-Frazer Group’s greatest contribution to the development of the Jeep is
likely the creation of the world’s first Sport Utility Vehicle, also known as the ‘Wagoneer’.
It was the near-total freedom of being able to take your family and plenty of luggage along on four powered wheels, all this while enjoying plenty of comfort. In the end, the only question that remained - for almost everyone -
was which tires to choose: road tires or off-road tires. In the end, the car is even available with a V8 engine.
The Jeep dominated the off-road vehicle market unchallenged for a long time, until International and then Ford, with the Bronco (see next chapter), began to discover the increased popularity among buyers.
Kaiser-Willys tried everything imaginable with the Jeep, but never managed to achieve a reliable production volume for the private sector.
In 1970–1971, the club changed owners once again in the midst of a crisis. Willys was sold to the American Motors Corporation. The review provided an overview of the dealer network. There were
major upheavals here, with roughly as many new people joining as old ones leaving (or having to leave). They were too unprofessional, well-suited for a time when only farmers and foresters were interested in the Jeep.
br>
| Four lines of Jeep models |
| 1. An advancement of the classic Jeep, featuring an even more compact exterior, more powerful engines, striking tires, and roll bars |
| 2. Enlarged body while retaining the Jeep's distinctive front end, closed body style, retaining the four-wheel drive |
| 3. A highly simplified, very cost-effective version of the all-wheel-drive system, enclosed. |
| 4. An SUV that barely resembles a Jeep anymore, offering plenty of space and comfort, yet still featuring all-wheel drive |
AMC was targeting the enormous potential of urban buyers. Surprisingly, the changes were mainly cosmetic, the technology remained largely unchanged. AMC has been part of Chrysler since 1987 and part of the Fiat-
Chrysler Group since 2014. The Jeep model range now appears to be heavily centered around the Wrangler, which has also become the brand's best-selling vehicle.
Overall, the company's sales have seen a tremendous upswing. Originally limited to North America, the SUV boom has led toa widespread popularity of the Jeep brand. From four
production facilities in North America, the number grew to ten across six countries. More than 1.4 million units are now (in 2017) sold each year. It was obvious the potential of the brand name.
You can get a good idea by looking at the brochures for the four brands. The Wrangler still featured a picture of the drive train from the engine to both axles, but with the Cherokee no longer, even though it shared the same
chassis, with the exception of the independent suspension. But it was already considered the more comfortable option, especially as a Grand Cherokee.
Moving down the range, and thus toward a more affordable drivetrain, came the Compass. It and the even more affordable Renegade, which had somewhat less powerful engines, benefited from the indomitable nature of
the Wrangler, even though they were equipped with transverse engines and selectable rear-wheel drive. Starting with the Cherokee, there were also Jeeps with two-wheel drive.
| The Jeep Renegade received only three stars in the crash test. |
The Renegade also had a sister model in the Fiat 500X, but that wasn't something they were eager to publicize either, since the Jeep was, after all, about €1,500 more expensive. No, a selectable rear axle is also a
full-fledged all-wheel-drive system. The fact that not even a manager specifically asked about this issue knew which type of selectable all-wheel drive was available in which model shed a particular light on sales and
customers.
|
|
