About Me

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
My passion is also my business, as I am with the Toronto based Hav-A-Kar Auto Group. I sell or lease any make of car, van or truck available in Canada. My interest in all things "car" has helped me with my many clients in Ontario over the past 25+ years. Please give me the opportunity to assist you.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

April 2: Jeep Cherokee?

Be careful with an icon. Porsche has managed to nurture their original design and so has VW to a certain extent. The Jeep Wrangler has also stayed true to the original WW II design, while getting better (it wouldn't have taken much). But Jeep has another iconic design in their portfolio, which seems to have lost its way. Let's look back to the original smaller suv.......


This simple little station wagon was practical, but it was a Jeep and that implied a certain toughness and it sure looked the part. Even if driven by a female......


Of course, she must be Wonder Woman to be able to park in that tight a space, but that is a whole other story about ads from the '50's. This Jeep was an iconic design.

Flash forward to the 1980's and the introduction of the original Cherokee, which slotted into the Jeep line up below the Wagoneer. This was a design which strongly showed its Willys heritage.......


........a simple, boxy design that sure looked like an updated knock off of the original. And that, of course was the point. Although you could make it fancy, it was Jeep tough and could handle the roughest off road trails. This design ran for years and firmly established the Cherokee name. So why change it? That is a very good question.


But change it they did to Liberty and while doing so, gave it a softer design, that although squarish, seemed a touch wimpy. So why drop an established name? Other companies have done so and faired rather badly (think Acura). Even Jeep must have had their doubts, since the Cherokee name has continued to be used in overseas markets.

Time for a redesign.......


And a very good job, with a blocky look that went right back to the original. But there was still that Liberty name.

Jeep sales have been very strong over the past few years and I believe there was even talk of doing separate Jeep dealerships. Time for another redesign, but this time it was re-christened "Cherokee", as it should have been all along. The design? Well see for yourself........

2014 Jeep Cherokee
Introduced last week at the New York Auto Show, it is now showing a real change. Interesting(?) front end interpretation of the classic up right Jeep grille, but in a softer context along with rather flowing body lines. Does it matter? Maybe not. The traditionalists are up in arms, but can it capture more sales with new buyers than it will lose with the oldies? As always time will tell (profound statement). Apparently as capable an off roader as ever.

Iconic designs. Tough to have them age and obviously Jeep doesn't feel it is an issue. Good for them, let's cross our fingers.

Until next time........


7 comments:

  1. bookmarked!!, I
    like your blog!

    My web-site: cheap insurance online quote

    ReplyDelete
  2. Saved as a favorite, I love your site!

    Here is my page Compare Health Insurance

    ReplyDelete
  3. I needed to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely enjoyed every little bit of it.
    I've got you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post

    Also visit my page irs offer compromise

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it's time to be happy.
    I've read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions.
    Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article.
    I want to read even more things about it!

    my webpage home mortgage rate florida

    ReplyDelete
  5. It is the best time to make a few plans for the long run and it is time to be
    happy. I have read this publish and
    if I may I wish to recommend you few fascinating things or tips.

    Perhaps you can write next articles relating to this article.


    I wish to read more things about it!

    Feel free to surf to my web page ... online motorcycle insurance

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey very interesting blog!

    My webpage :: garage rubber flooring

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It
    is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web
    owners and bloggers made good content as
    you did, the net will be a lot more
    useful than ever before.

    Feel free to surf to my web site: elisabeth hasselbeck

    ReplyDelete