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Diesel Grand Cherokee Coming to US!

29K views 139 replies 52 participants last post by  mpatel1080 
#1 ·
Faced with ever-stricter fuel-economy regulations, Chrysler Group will launch diesel-powered and hybrid vehicles in the U.S. market. According to Automotive News, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne believes diesels and hybrids are the only way for his company to meet future Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules. Marchionne revealed that Chrysler will launch a diesel version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2013. Thereafter, many larger Chrysler vehicles will be offered with diesels in the U.S. Chrysler has said that by 2014, diesels would account for 14 percent of its global sales, compared to 8 percent in 2009.

:cool:
I don't understand what the US's issue is with diesel today, but it's apparently becoming a bit more "acceptable" seeing this headline!
 
#45 ·
i0r15;502270 If you enjoy driving and like cars in general. Get a gasoline engine.[/QUOTE said:
Spoken like someone who has never driven a modern diesel.

^^^^^I would consider a diesel Overland for my wife if it can get in the lower 30's MPG...but the above statement is one of the reasons I wouldnt. My wife is a regional President, wears $500 shoes and cant smell like diesel.....LOL
If the regional VP I work for can drive a Mercedes Diesel so can your wife. He never smells like diesel fuel. (not that I check to see what he smells like on a regular basis lol).
 
#59 ·
Spoken like someone who has never driven a modern diesel.



If the regional VP I work for can drive a Mercedes Diesel so can your wife. He never smells like diesel fuel. (not that I check to see what he smells like on a regular basis lol).

I enjoy filling up diesel at dirty truck stops! Diesel is cheaper and the big rigs always yell at you that you are putting diesel in your jeep!!!! I have a commercial fuel card from my buddy and pay 5% cheaper then retail!
 
#46 ·
We all have different preferences for engines and so Chrysler's offering a diesel just makes it better for all.
Today's paper, Toronto Star, said Marchionne plans to start with the GC in 2013 but diesel power will flow over to most of Chrysler's large cars, including the 300 and Dodge Charger to meet the new fuel economy regulations.
 
#51 ·
The US has the cheapest petrol in the world, due to the massive demand for it. If Americans were paying the same for petrol as the rest of the world the diesel would all of a sudden become a much more attractive proposition.

No serious touring or off road rig in Australia is petrol powered. The advantages of range, towing ability a torque far outweigh anything a petrol engine can offer.
 
#52 · (Edited)
Diesel costs more than regular gas (87 octane) in the US. In Canada, diesel is the cheapest form of fuel.
However, the cheapest gas is not in the US as you might think. Here are a few current prices of the world...per gallon.

US .......$4
France..$5.55
Brussels ...$10.11
Saudi Arabia...$0.45
Kuwait....$0.78
And the lowest in the world.....Venezuela....$0.11 per gallon !!! :eek:
 
#54 ·
While the price of Gas in the USA may be less that Diesel currently, this will change over time. This is because the rest of the world is putting pressure on the USA to start to tow the line with the rest of the world and get mroe fuel efficient and environmentally responsible.
Rather than having 1/2 the population running in large v8's and chewing up gas like water, they will slowly push people over to efficient CRD motors.
90% of people do not care for the type of fuel their vehicle uses, they usually just have preconceived opinions based on hearsay and Bullshit.
My v6 CRD has a great sound to the motor when you wind it up and has the same driving feel as a petrol.
I just hope that the USA embraces the CRD GC when it is released, as it is a great car/motor combo.
 
#56 ·
What is BS about it ?
Unlike the USA, the rest of the world is working against stuffing up the planet.
The new emission laws will just keep getting tougher and it will directly affect gas guzzlers.
Like it or not, the world is changing and everyone will be expected to do their bit.
 
#57 ·
There will never be a sound as sweet as a burbling V8. A very small piece of me wishes I got the Hemi, but realistically it is old technology and is on the decline. Car companies in Australia are falling over themselves to put a CRD model in their line up because if they don't they lose market share, This was evidenced with the Ford Territory the Aussie Ford SUV. It is now enjoying record sales. When you get a chance go for a test drive with an open mind, you'll be surprised.
 
#61 ·
I just want to dust people from a JEEP lol!

And the fuel range is quite nice.

-Think there be programmer support for this motor? Friends have programmed their VW TDI's and seen almost double HP(exaggeration, but ya get me) so pay a little dollar for a programmer and it would beat the 5.7 Hemi. I know guys with lifted Dodge 2500 Cummins that could pull away from your "0-60 in 7 second," so I'm sure a jeep(with tuner support) could easily do the same.
 
#62 ·
My question is- if Americans did not buy a Grand Cherokee with Mercedes Diesel in 2007 & 2008 (the same 3.0 CRD engine now sold in Mercedes) why will they buy a Fiat CRD Grand Cherokee in 2013 or 2014?
What has changed?
 
#63 ·
My question is- if Americans did not buy a Grand Cherokee with Mercedes Diesel in 2007 & 2008 (the same 3.0 CRD engine now sold in Mercedes) why will they buy a Fiat CRD Grand Cherokee in 2013 or 2014?
What has changed?
A lot has changed. With each passing year diesels become more and more accepted by Americans. Fuel prices are higher, people have sat through this terrible economy longer...outlook has changed.
 
#64 ·
LJS, that is what is being said.
I do not know if enough in the world has changed for the USA to embrace CRD. How well do the Euro maker's Diesels sell in the USA ?

I am not trying to cause conflict, only debate. Yes I drive a CRD and I am very happy with my decision. In the USA you will soon have the choice like I did, I am more curious as to the reasons people do not want this motor.

As for the rest of the world's pollution, the USA still is the highest user of Petroleum per head in the world.
 
#66 ·
This diesel is also better. If you YouTube "jeep CRD" the first video is a motortrend review of an '07 Jeep WK CRD.

The new diesel has more torque, and better gas mileage.

PS the '07 they tested did 0-60 in 8 seconds flat, completely stock and with less torque than the newer model.
 
#67 ·
The old Merc diesel was a fairly expensive option and the fuel economy gains werent enough to make up for it. I think at 06 prices the break even point was around 100k miles.

Diesels also have a much better reputation this time around, several audi, vw and mercedes diesels sell well and its now considered a cleaner alternative to gas (see A3 tdi winning green car of the year)

I think the US is finally ready for passenger diesel, with chrysler planning several and chevy dropping one into the Cruze.
 
#68 · (Edited)
Many of you make good points, there was little if any advertising and the CRD option was costly. Also I think the Liberty with a smaller diesel sold fairly well.

In 2007, at least the Chicago area diesel fuel cost was , If I remember correctly 10 to 20% cheaper. Also this is the same engine sold in todays Mercedes so I do not think its considered out of date, yet!
In 2008 the split between Chrysler & Mercedes was also becoming apparent. If Jeep had heavily advertised it the public would think it was a Jeep engine. Its possible Mercedes may not have wanted to loose credit for their brand new 3.0 CRD (Wards engine of the year). At the time there were rumors about Mercedes putting certain limits on jeep.
I do hope the diesel does sell well, it is a good option for a Jeep, off road the torque is great.
It's my understanding Fiat is putting a big effort into it, spreading it to all vehicles. That should help spread the word.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_OM642_engine
Vehicles using this engine include:
Dodge / Freightliner Trucks / Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (2006-present)
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK (20051-20072-2008)
Mercedes-Benz C320 CDI (2007-present)
Mercedes-Benz E320 CDI (2007-present)
Mercedes-Benz S320 CDI (2005-present)
Chrysler 300 (2006-present) (Europe and Australia only)
Mercedes-Benz Vito Van 120 cdi and Vito 204 Sports (2006-present UK)
 
#69 ·
People probably didn't buy the CRD Jeep for the same reason I bought the ML CDI back in 2007....An '07 Overland CRD listed for over $46k and the dealers AND Chrysler were pigs. The gassers had several thousands in rebates and the diesels had almost none...On top of that, the residuals on the WK were crap, so to spend that kinda loot for an engine was just not smart. I think I paid $51k for the MB, and car for car (at that time) , the MB was a better package, returning way more than the $6k delta when I sold it...
 
#70 · (Edited)
To the previous post..it is actually NOT the same engine that is sold today. In 2007 MB brought in the CDI (common rail/ direct injection)..This engine was not 50 state compliant. By 2008, the CDI/ CRD was not available in most of the northeast region as well as California, due to these states adopting the strict California emmissions standards. This happened much to the dealers upsetment, as MB was selling EVERY CDI car they could get. I actually purchased one of the last new 2007 CDI cars sold in Connecticut.
As a result, several key markets were left without the ability to purchase a new deisel.
In late 2008, the latest offering was launched, known as Bluetech "technology"...most MB models have forfieted their spare tires so that a urea tank could be added to aid in "purifying" the tailpipe emmissions.
 
#73 ·
The new Jeep CRD does not have the Urea injection, for which I am glad.
The diesel trucks in most countries still do not have a requirement for a exhaust filter.
Mind you I saw a new 320CDI Merc that was smoking like a Trojan the other day, as well as many VW Golf Diesels, so I guess they are not perfect.
 
#77 ·
Nope. Self-cleaning does not mean pouring soot out the exhaust pipe. Self-cleaning means super-heating the Diesel Particulate Filter to atomize the soot. We have 5000 miles on our BMW 335D(iesel) and we never see soot coming out the tailpipes, nor is there any soot IN the tailpipes - it's extremely clean.

For the un-initiated, it can be a little disconcerting during a diesel's self-cleaning process as it smells just like an oven does during the cleaning process.

When I bought my '08 WK I considered the CRD, but it seemed like the Merc engine just wasn't that reliable and would be very expensive to fix. (The BMW diesel will be just as expensive to fix, but seems to be extremely reliable.)
 
#75 ·
I don't believe you can convert a person to go from Gas to Diesel. It really is a personal choice and right now, the only good sensible choice for any SUV or truck is a Diesel.
Sure, it doesn't have the HP to get you from 0-60 the quickest but that's really not why you buy an SUV or truck.
I say, if you're happy with your Hemi, keep driving it. For the few of us Diesel owners, we never look back 'could've had a V8?'
 
#76 · (Edited)
I don't believe you can convert a person to go from Gas to Diesel. It really is a personal choice and right now, the only good sensible choice for any SUV or truck is a Diesel.
Sure, it doesn't have the HP to get you from 0-60 the quickest but that's really not why you buy an SUV or truck.
I say, if you're happy with your Hemi, keep driving it. For the few of us Diesel owners, we never look back 'could've had a V8?'
I think most of the people who criticize them have not driven a new diesel like BMW, Audi, VW, and Mercedes offer. If the VM Motori 3.0 CRD is anything like these, you will need to drive one to believe. I don't really care about 0-60 times in a vehicle like this but the Aussies that have them say they are faster than the Hemi and costs the same. I don't really see the downside. If they bring the 2013 with the 8 speed, I am in.
 
#78 ·
Those who keep saying, " the diesel would be expensive to fix" make it sound like by buying a diesel you're going to throw a rod or it's going to crack a head. That's an expensive fix for any motor. Fact is, diesels last longer. They don't even break in until ~150K miles, where as gasoline engines break in around 90K or less.

That's also why they have a power train warranty, etc. big trucks are able to pull huge horse trailers for the entire life span and the engine runs fine. Most put 150K within the first several years. Which is more reliable?
 
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