Jeep kills Liberty diesel
for US market! What?!?!?! I thought this was a big hit, outselling early predictions! What's going on here?
Jeep officials are saying it the diesel won't meet tougher federal emissions standards that go into effect next year...
This has to be one of the biggest boneheaded marketing moves I've ever seen. If Jeep knew this—and surely they did—they should never have introduced the Liberty diesel in its current form. In my eyes, and I'm sure in the eyes of many others, this will surely hurt Jeep's reputation, and will also hurt the image of diesels (in general) in terms of being marketed here in the USA.
Snippet: "This doesn't mean that since we're discontinuing the Jeep Liberty diesel that we're not committed to diesel," Gutierrez said.
She declined to say whether Chrysler will eventually market the Liberty with a more modern diesel engine. For 2007, at least, the Liberty will be available only with a gasoline engine.
The diesel Liberty, which is built in Toledo, will still be sold in Europe, where diesels are far more popular and emission regulations are less stringent.
"Our goal was to test (U.S.) consumer interest in a diesel-powered vehicle and, based on the Liberty diesel, it obviously exceeded our expectations," Gutierrez said.
I'm sure current Liberty diesel owners will feel great knowing they were nothing more than guinea pigs for DC.
Snippet: "This doesn't mean that since we're discontinuing the Jeep Liberty diesel that we're not committed to diesel," Gutierrez said.
She declined to say whether Chrysler will eventually market the Liberty with a more modern diesel engine. For 2007, at least, the Liberty will be available only with a gasoline engine.
The diesel Liberty, which is built in Toledo, will still be sold in Europe, where diesels are far more popular and emission regulations are less stringent.
"Our goal was to test (U.S.) consumer interest in a diesel-powered vehicle and, based on the Liberty diesel, it obviously exceeded our expectations," Gutierrez said.
I'm sure current Liberty diesel owners will feel great knowing they were nothing more than guinea pigs for DC.
gypsyjon says:
08:24 AM, 06/ 5/06
My wife bought a Liberty diesel last fall and it turns out to be just a great little SUV...good mileage, fun to drive, plenty of power and interior room...pulls two big Sea-Doos just fine...
All in all she loves it and so do I!!
ateixeira says:
09:29 AM, 06/ 5/06
I bet they have enough demand in Europe to sell all they can produce, so sending them there is easier than tuning them to meet USA's bizaarre (and various) emissions standards.
I don't put the blame on DCX, I put the blame on CARB.
moparbad says:
10:41 AM, 06/ 5/06
Liberty will be re-design for 2008. Expect to see diesel option at that time. Too expensive too add new diesel engine for only 1 year for the 2007 Liberty.