Jeep Renegade Concept?

[Muddy Paws]

I just watched the (far too wordy) video of the three newest concept cars Chrysler unveiled.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...14/074998.html

When will Chrysler actually design vehicles for Jeepers and NOT soccer moms and mall crawlers? The Renegade misses the mark with true Jeepers. I think Chrysler needs to actually get out on some trails and talk with Jeep owners to get a better grasp on the Jeep brand. It’s cool to go after "green technology" but do it in such a way that caters to what Jeeps were initially designed to do... Off-roading, mudding, rock crawling, etc. The Renegade incorporates an electric motor on each axle - making it a 4wd vehicle. That's great, but...

For instance, how can Renegade be effective as an off-road vehicle with no top or option of a top? So we need to get saturated on a rainy day? The Renegade might be great in a climate like Arizona, but with no optional bikini top, the sun will fry its occupants. Not to mention that in snowy climates, you’d be forced to park your Jeep "golf cart" in a garage and leave it there until Spring.

Also, since it’s more like a Jeepster and less like a Wrangler, what about water crossings? Are the electrical components waterproof? With no top and openings in the doors, the thing will take on water easily. Are those "drain plugs" on a switch or will we need to stop the car and remove a rubber plug like in a CJ or YJ? Why not make the Renegade drive IN water if it’s so low to the ground?

Give it purpose other than technology and futuristic looks. That’s the thing about Jeep...they are utilitarian and served a wide array of purposes.

[Shadly1]

I'm still up in the air about the whole thing. I'll have to see one actually function in the wild. Personally, I'd love to try an electric Jeep but I don't want to own a "green Jeep".

[Kodiak Spirit]

Face it Dude, the whole jeep thing is gonna tank real soon here. It's all about the electronics. The YJ is the last jeep that didn't have airbags and sensors galore, and the TJ's are starting to feel their age because of all the electronics in them, that and all the vaccume lines for the A/C systems... I am not saying that the TJ's are over the top, but they are right there... the new JK's, c'mon, they have electronic everything! A Wrangler with traction control? really... it's bad enough that they put ABS in some of the TJ's what are you s'posed to do on the rocks with ABS? it's sad that we have to disable half of the electronic crap before we can wheel them. JP magazine sometimes has nice lil articles on how you can disable some of the electronic stuff...

:2:

[blackZZR]

Face it Dude, the whole jeep thing is gonna tank real soon here. It's all about the electronics. The YJ is the last jeep that didn't have airbags and sensors galore, and the TJ's are starting to feel their age because of all the electronics in them, that and all the vaccume lines for the A/C systems... I am not saying that the TJ's are over the top, but they are right there... the new JK's, c'mon, they have electronic everything! A Wrangler with traction control? really... it's bad enough that they put ABS in some of the TJ's what are you s'posed to do on the rocks with ABS? it's sad that we have to disable half of the electronic crap before we can wheel them. JP magazine sometimes has nice lil articles on how you can disable some of the electronic stuff...

:2:

I tend to agree
I loved my CJ 5, it was a eco disaster of a vehicle, and was not enchanced with electronics more than basic meters for the dash and stuff
A fearless vehicle
My o4 TJ, I am having vacuum trouble now and need to get behind the gas tank to cure them, wow.
The JK of my wifes is a Rubicon, out of the box it is a beast of a wheeler, traction control, lockers, decent clearance, electronic traction control, disconnect etc, it makes life easy. And allows a lot of people to buy a 4x4 and wheel it off the lot
the pressure is on the trails, our only savior is age, these things will need maintenance.
Now I am as eco friendly as the rest and do not want to leave a polluted world to anyone. But lets face it the easier you make it to do, the more who will do it. and if that means the miles to the gallon are up then it is more cost efficient. So the list goes.
I think our future is in fuel efficiency, and eco friendly but putting a ready to go box on every door step is not good for the whole picture.