Bankruptcy documents submitted in court yesterday don't bode well for vehicles like the Dodge Viper and even the Jeep Wrangler. Problems trying to offload the Viper business have been discussed for months now, but the new documents also point out the difficulty of trying to sell Jeep as a separate brand. One consultant estimates it would take as much as $1B to restart a product as a stand alone brand.
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estreka says:
08:54 AM, 05/ 5/09
I thought the Viper was getting the axe here shortly anyway.
I'm sure there's a very long list of potential Jeep buyers. There's no way this brand will die anytime soon.
firstwagon says:
11:25 AM, 05/ 5/09
Why sell Jeep at all? It's been a big money maker ever since they picked it out of the remains of AMC.
Just give the Wrangler a stronger engine, and update the Grand Cherokee and Liberty.
bankerdanny says:
11:38 AM, 05/ 5/09
Where is the Wrangler built and what else is built on that line? If Chrysler had to sell they should be able to work a deal where they sell the name and continue to build under contract.
Eventually the buyer might want to move production, but there is no reason they should have to right away.
I agree with firstwagon about the power though. One of the things that has kept me away from the Wranger over the years has been the abysmal engines. For a while the 190hp 4.0L 6 compared well to the competion. But the output of the current V6 is pathetic compared to the Toyota and Nissan engines.
Chrysler has a perfectly good V8-5 speed auto combo in the Grand Cherokee that is desperately needed in the Wranger, especially in the 4-door Wrangler, which other than the wussy engine, may well be the SUV I would design for myself.
carswapper says:
02:12 PM, 05/ 5/09
Well they poisoned the brand with the Patriot, Compass and Commander
stephen987 says:
03:45 AM, 05/ 6/09
Wrangler should've gotten the diesel engine from the Sprinter, if they could make it pass emissions.