Jalopnik: unlimited

SEMA 2007: AEV Hemi-fies Wrangler Unlimited JK For SEMA!

Ray Wert — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT

The boys at American Expedition Vehicles plan to show a custom Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK in the Chrysler display at SEMA 2007. What's so trick about it? Well, our friends at the Michigan and Montana based custom shop took their experience performing hundreds of Hemi conversions on the Jeep Wrangler TJ to have some fun with the new four-door from "The New Chrysler." So, instead of the stock 3.8-liter V6 under the hood, the Mopar-mavens at AEV have shaved away enough room to wedge a 6.4-liter Hemi into the engine bay. So, instead of 204 HP, this bad boy four-door's gonna get 525 horses. In addition to showing off the Hemi-powered four-door rock crawler at SEMA next week, AEV's set to announce the availability of turnkey 5.7-liter and 6.1-liter HEMI conversions for the new Wrangler JK. As someone who's driven one of their HEMI-powered Brute conversions and seen a great number of their amazing pieces of work on the road (like the above four-door Wrangler Rubicon) I can say my pants are tightening at the mere thought of seeing this in person. That's right — a full-on Hemi-gasm. Full press release after the jump and the gallery below filled with AEV awesomeness. [via AEV]

AEV Installs 6.4L HEMI on Jeep JK Wrangler; Vehicle to Appear at 2007 SEMA Show
Premier Jeep aftermarket supplier American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) will show a custom Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK in the Chrysler display at SEMA 2007. The vehicle will feature an AEV conversion to a 6.4L HEMI engine. AEV also announces plans to provide customers with turnkey 5.7L and 6.1L HEMI conversions for all JK Wranglers "in the very near future."

Missoula, MT (PRWEB) October 25, 2007 — Jeep aftermarket supplier American Expedition Vehicles(AEV), in conjunction with the Chrysler Corporation, will debut a monster 6.4L 392 HEMI engine in a Jeep Four Door show vehicle for the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.

Does this mean a similar HEMI conversion is coming for the new Wrangler JK model?

You bet. AEV founder Dave Harriton confirms that AEV will announce the availability of turnkey 5.7L and 6.1L HEMI conversions for the popular new Wranglers.

The Montana and Michigan-based AEV has already performed hundreds of HEMI conversions on the Jeep Wrangler TJ model. Customers have been strongly requesting a HEMI for JK. Harriton took greater pains to integrate the new JK with the HEMI powertrains to lower costs and ease production.

"Our new JK HEMIs will set the standard for engine conversions," says Harriton. "We tooled up many new parts specifically for this application. It looks and feels like it came from the factory."

AEV has earned a reputation for making a splash at the annual SEMA show, and their HEMI conversion on the Jeep JK should not disappoint.

The 6.4L, 525 hp HEMI Wrangler will show as a concept vehicle in the Chrysler display. The Mopar Performance crate engine will feature a fully-integrated OE-style electronics module developed by AEV. The truck will also have an AEV HEMI-integrated heat-reduction hood. AEV has built a strong working relationship with the Jeep brand, and has won four Chrysler Design Excellence Awards in the last ten years.

Asked if the 6.4L will be offered to AEV customers (in addition to the 5.7 and 6.1), Harriton said: "We'll gauge the interest. The technology is already there to properly integrate the stand-alone engine package with the OE electronics on the vehicle, so it wouldn't be that difficult to offer."

AEV will have a further SEMA presence at the Kicker Audio OEM display. The Kicker vehicle will feature a JK Wrangler Unlimited with AEV's Expedition and Appearance packages, including an AEV bumper, hood, wheels, skid plate, and a custom appearance group option.

AEV's JK Wrangler packages have been extremely popular with customers. Turnkey vehicles feature a number of AEV's high-quality stamped steel components create an attractive road vehicle that can handle the most extreme off-road driving conditions.

Kicker will equip the Jeep with its latest in car audio products, including two sets of Kicker OEM 6.5" two-way speakers; each set will include its own 200 watt subwoofer and 4.2 channel amp.

Across the aisle at the Katzkin Leather display, a Chrysler owned 4-door JK Unlimited will be featured with an AEV bumper and hood.

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It will be held Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, 2007 in Las Vegas.

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Which New Car Keeps Catching Your Eye?

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Today's question is pretty simple. I was in the parking lot of Noah's Bagels today (can you believe they sell pork sausage bagel dogs?) and I saw a triple-black four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with the soft top on. It looked totally, fantastically, great. One part of the secret (as with most cars) is the black. Considering the sheer number, we'd assumed Jeep sprayed the first couple thousand Unlimiteds in that metallic pea soup green. Not so much. But black? Winner. An honorable mention goes to the new Infiniti G35. Looking good, Carlos. Looking good. You?

Ad Watch: Chrysler, Dodge And Jeep Look To Stem Sales Losses With Crappy Satellite Radio Deal

Ray Wert — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:01:00 EST

Yes, we know Sirius sucks compared to XM — but, free satellite radio's free satellite radio, and considering the lease deals the folks at the Chrysler Group are now reported to be offering, I feel like it's almost a pity deal. So pony up your $185 or whatever per month, and you too can save a starving automaker — remember, leasing a Commander, Aspen or Durango can help to feed, clothe and pay for college for the entire family of one engineer in Auburn Hills, MI. Do your part. Two more commercials, one for Chrysler and one for Jeep, can both be found below the jump. [Addendum: Sirius doesn't actually suck compared to XM — the comparison was made to accentuate the Chrysler Group's loan deals. Sirius is a very fine satellite radio system, and hey, they've got Howard Stern — and who doesn't love Howard, right? That is all.]– Ray Wert

Chrysler tries risky lease plan [Detroit News]

Exclusive 2006 SEMA Preview: Four-Door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited — Like A Hummer, Only Good

Ray Wert — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 23:16:50 EDT

While at the Paris Auto Show at the beginning of the month, Spinn and I walked past the Chrysler Group display and as we passed the four-door Wrangler Unlimited, we both made a startling realization — the 4x4 with more off-road lineage than a Hummer could ever have totally has the potential to be a Hummer killer. We even remarked as much to an auto writer with one of the local Detroit dailies later that evening, and we received the same agreement. Now what you have before you is obvs not the standard, it's actually a Rubicon model featuring some editions by the Jeep/Truck engineering-design build shops, a team run by 300C/Charger/Magnum design chief and all-around good sport Ralph Gilles. His team put together a 4-door 4x4 with an interior featuring custom Katzkin leather seating and powered it with a 3.0L CRD diesel with some Tru-Lok-equipped Dana 44 axles supporting the weight. A performance suspension lift gives it the clearance to take on a set of 35-inch BFG (why yes, there're all sorts of acronym-busters for that one) Mud Terrain tires mounted on Custom 18-inch aluminum wheels supplied by Taneisya. The external toys also include a Warn 9.5ti winch mounted on American Expedition Vehicles (Who woulda thunk there'd be an AEV connection here, right?) new front bumper. And yes, it does look like a billion and a half bucks sprayed in that Rolex Silver paint — and you probably will only feel for maybe a split second like you're driving in a G500 look-alike. – Ray Wert

[2006 SEMA Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Gallery]

Ad Watch: Forget Beef, Jeep's What's For Dinner...If You're King Kong

Ray Wert — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 08:45:00 EDT

We snagged another new commercial from the folks in Auburn Hils for the German-American hybrid's new four-door member to the Jeep family. In this ad, two gorillas are grooming each other when one spots a tasty little bug on the forest floor. Poor little gorilla's gonna get a nasty surprise in the form of tire marks on the tongue. The ad's part of the "Bugs" marketing gameplan for the new bigger, badder and bolder (apologies to FoMoCo, we guess) Wrangler.

Ad Watch: Jeep Goes "Bigger, Deffer" But Doesn't Want To Touch A Lizard

Ray Wert — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:02:40 EDT

The German-American hybrid's readying a blitzkreig for the airwaves with five tv spots highlighting the new 2007 Jeep Wrangler lineup, including the newest member of the family, the Wrangler Unlimited four-door. "Grooming" and "Bird" introduce the Wrangler Unlimited; "Lizard, which we've YouTube'd a copy of above introduces the all-new 2007 Wrangler, and "Rock Crawler" features both vehicles. Then, in what we think is another weird move, the Wrangler Unlimited will be introduced to the African-American market with a spot called "Bigger Deffer" which, according to Chrysler Group PR, "pays homage to Wrangler's place in the beginning stages of Hip Hop music." And what exactly were those beginning stages the Wrangler played a part in — did we miss something? We know the Escalade's an SUV holding a coveted place in hip-hop mogul garages, but when did the Wragler become a hip-hop icon? We've kicked out a copy of "Bigger Deffer" below the jump.

Jeep Suppliers Get JIT All Over The Assembly Line

Ray Wert — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:26:56 EDT

Jeep's newest assembly line in Toledo, the one that's opening today to make the 2007 Jeep Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited, is money when it comes to the JIT. That's Just-In-Time — the inventory strategy whereby parts are stocked and ordered only as needed and it's the way things've been done with suppliers and the automakers around this here town for a while. Apparently the folks in Toledo are doing something a bit different — and it takes JIT to a whole new level by integrating suppliers into the actual assembly line. Sounds like a blast right? Yeah — it bored the shit out of us too — but we'll do anything for a Jersey "money shot" joke.

Jeep facility puts suppliers right on line [Detroit News]

Related:
And Now Back to the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited [internal]

No Free Mustache Rides From Dr. Z — How About A Free Dodge Challenger Instead?

Ray Wert — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 11:36:20 EDT

Other than the PT Cruiser PCH Edition, the big news out of the Chrysler shindig this morning next to Duggan's Irish Pub on Woodward Avenue was the answer to apparently one of the most asked questions on the "Ask Dr Z" website. Although we were hoping more for the answer to the question, "Do you give free mustache rides?" — the question Dr. Z's minions answered today was still pretty good — "How can I win a Dodge Challenger, or another Chrysler Group product?" The press release below the jump can give you all the details how you can win one of nine Chrysler Group cars — three Jeep Wrangler Unlimiteds, three Chrysler Sebrings, and yes, three Dodge Challengers — we were more impressed with the hooplah surrounding the giveaway — including the dubiously legal driving of a non-street-legal car down a small stretch of Woodward Ave. In fact, so impressed were we, we dropped the pictures into a gallery for your enjoyment — and probable evidence for prosecution by the Royal Oak Police Department.

Consumers to Win All-new Dodge Challenger, Chrysler Sebring and Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited in Dream Car Sweepstakes

* Chrysler Group Sweepstakes is next phase of popular "Ask Dr. Z" campaign
* Dodge Challenger T-shirts to be sold at Woodward Dream Cruise; proceeds to Gail Purtan Ovarian Cancer Research Fund

Royal Oak, Mich., Aug 15, 2006 -

How can consumers win a Dodge Challenger — or an all-new 2007 Chrysler Sebring or Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited? By asking Dr. Z, of course.

Consumers can enter the "Ask Dr. Z" Dream Car Sweepstakes between Aug. 15 and Sept. 4 by going to www.AskDrZ.com, after visiting any Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge dealer showroom. George Murphy, Senior Vice President - Global Brand Marketing, Chrysler Group, announced the Dream Car Sweepstakes here on Woodward Avenue, kicking off the 2006 Woodward Dream Cruise.

"The Woodward Dream Cruise is all about dream cars and is the perfect place to introduce the 'Ask Dr. Z' Dream Car Sweepstakes," Murphy said. "The 'Ask Dr. Z' campaign has resulted in positive consumer feedback and increased brand Web site traffic, and we're building on that by driving even more consumers to www.AskDrZ.com and ultimately increasing traffic in Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge showrooms.

"We believe consumers will jump at the chance to win Chrysler Group's dream vehicles — the Challenger, which looks right at home on Woodward; the completely-redesigned 2007 Chrysler Sebring, and the latest rendition of a true American icon, the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited," Murphy added.

A total of nine vehicles will be awarded: three all-new Dodge Challenger models, three all-new 2007 Chrysler Sebring models and three all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon models.

Dodge Challenger
Unprecedented public response to the Dodge Challenger concept resulted in Chrysler Group announcing last month that after nearly 35 years, the Dodge Challenger will return as the ultimate modern American muscle coupe.

Set to debut as a 2008 model in calendar-year 2008, the Challenger will feature the long hood, short deck, wide stance and two-door coupe body style that distinguished the iconic Challengers of the 1970s.

Chrysler Sebring
With the all-new 2007 Sebring, Chrysler is creating inspiration in the common car. An all-new mid-size sedan, Chrysler Sebring combines stunning design with interior craftsmanship, high levels of safety and reliability, exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency — all at a surprisingly affordable price. Sebring also features many class-leading technologies not available in the mid-size segment.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Featuring a one-of-a-kind, four-door open-air design, the all-new 2007 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited expands the Jeep experience to new dimensions. With room for five adult passengers — a Wrangler first — and the most cargo space ever offered in a Wrangler, the Unlimited combines class-leading off-road capability with everyday practicality.

Ask Dr. Z campaign
The Dream Car Sweepstakes is the next phase of Chrysler Group's "Ask Dr. Z" ad campaign that focuses on consumer benefits of the best of American and German Engineering and Design — and specifically on the innovative design, quality, reliability, performance and fuel economy of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles. The campaign's spokesperson is DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche.

In the first six weeks of the campaign, there have been more than 600,000 visitors to the Web site and more than 4.2 million questions have been answered.

"The 'Ask Dr. Z' campaign has driven our brand Web site traffic up consistently by 15 percent over June and our Web leads have increased by 27 percent," Murphy said. "And recent Millward Brown research shows that 83 percent of in-market consumers find Dieter credible and believable, and 73 percent stated they understood Chrysler Group vehicles combine the best of American and German engineering and design — additional evidence that our message is getting through.

"Furthermore, IAG Research — a third-party service which measures advertising effectiveness, reports that the campaign is significantly outperforming almost every IAG automotive norm," Murphy added.

Chrysler Group at Woodward Dream Cruise
The 12th annual Woodward Dream Cruise — billed as the largest one-day celebration of car culture, attracting approximately 1.7 million people and more than 40,000 cars — takes place on Saturday, Aug. 19. Located in the Northwood Shopping Center at the southwest corner of 13 Mile Road and Woodward in Royal Oak, Chrysler Group will host a variety of interactive, classic and concept vehicle displays.

Various Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mopar® merchandise and apparel will be sold at the displays — including made-for-Woodward "Dodge Challenger - It's A Go!" T-shirts. Proceeds from the shirt sales will be donated to the Gail Purtan Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Trail-Mix-a-Lot Marketing

Ray Wert — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:26:18 EDT

Who doesn't love trail mix (minus those prone to anaphylactic shock) and otherwise mixing it up on the trail? BBDO-Detroit hopes prospective buyers of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited are all over the outdoors like a mad squad of earwigs. The agency concocted a series of print ads to promote the new four-door Jeep that makes even us city dwellers want to pound a bag of GORP and hit the switchback. And we don't even like saying GORP.

(Hat Tip - Advertising/Design Goodness)

Related:
And Now Back to the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited [internal]

And Now Back to the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 10:12:31 EDT

The photos were up, then they were down, now they're up again — for good this time. The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep's new, "we're still Trail Rated" model is premiering today at the New York show. We're so tempted to compare the quad-door Jeep with a Caribbean resort hotel's airport car, but that'd be the easy joke (and not that funny). We'll have more details later, but so far the concensus on this one is "yes."