Jeep brand history. See what "Jeep" is in other dictionaries

13.08.2019

Origin of the word "jeep"

The origin of the word "jeep" is much debated. According to the most common version, it arose from the abbreviation GPW (an abbreviation of the Ford Motor company, stood for: G - state order, P - a car with a wheelbase of up to 80 inches, W - Willys type, since the car was produced by Ford Motor according to Willys technical documentation according to the mobilization contract with the US government dated January 10, 1941).

According to another version, the name comes from a comic book character (Eugene the Jeep) from Fleischer Studios:

In 1936, Eugene Jeep appeared, a comic book character, something like our Cheburashka. And away we go! The funny animal seemed to breathe new life into the half-forgotten word. His name became popular, they began to say about a person with a great eye: “The real Jeep”. And only the lazy did not call the technique “Jeep”.

Also in 1936, the Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company named the civilian FWD all-terrain vehicle Jeep. Jeep was emblazoned on both sides. And a year later, in 1937, the YB17 bomber was called the Jeep. In the early 40s, American newspapers published a picture of the MM NTX tractor. The headline read: Jeep Helps Save Heroes' Lives. They called jeeps and Dodges of 1939, and of course, army vehicles created in 1940 according to the aforementioned government assignment: Bantams, Willys and Fords. The latter were officially called Quad and Pygmy. But military drivers, saddled with unpretentious jumping all-terrain vehicles, dubbed them ... of course, "jeeps" - only in honor of Eugene.

Story

The creator of the first Jeep car is the American engineer Karl Probst, who designed in July 1940 at American Bantam, as part of an American army tender, a Bantam BRC all-wheel drive vehicle with a quarter-ton payload with an open body of the Runebaut type. This design was then, at the insistence of the army, finalized by the larger firms Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Co. , as a result, and received the main contracts for the supply of Jeep Willys MB and Ford GPW to the armies of the United States and its allies. Until the end of World War II, 361.4 and 277.9 thousand units were produced, respectively. Significant deliveries of these same-type models were carried out as part of the Lend-Lease program and in the USSR, where over 51 thousand Willys were sent in assembled and disassembled form.

The informal nickname Jeep was (it is believed that the brand received this name from the Ford GPW car, in particular due to the phonetic combination of the first letters of the abbreviation of the name JP) launched into wide circulation by the American journalist Katharina Hillier in the spring of 1941 after testing the Bantam car. It became a trademark of Willys-Overland in 1945.

After the end of the war, Willys Overland decided to adapt her offspring to perform some civilian functions. A batch of cars was prepared. They simply called them - (an abbreviation for Civilian Jeep - “civilian jeep”). These prototypes formed the basis for the production model, which went on sale in August 1945.

Outwardly, all "citizenship" consisted in the presence of a folding tailgate, wipers and a gas tank cap on the rear wing.

The hood, tailgate and glass frame were supposed to have the Jeep logo. However, in the early years of production, when the company was still litigating with American Bantam Car for the right to use the Jeep name, cars had to be made with the Willys logo. But already in 1950, the company secured this name for itself, and on June 13, 1950, Jeep was registered as a trademark.

Further development of the theme occurred in the Station Wagon model, a multi-seat Jeep produced from 1951 to 1963. Its basis and already external features served as a prototype for the first Wagoneer.

Back in 1949, the name Universal (“universal”) was assigned to the series of “civilian jeeps” - CJ - The 2/4-door Wagoneer with a 2.79-meter wheelbase was the first utility vehicle with automatic transmission, the design and comfort of a passenger car in which complemented off-road performance. The combination of all-wheel drive with "automatic" was used in the industry for the first time. In addition to this, the Wagoneer's "Tornado" engine was America's only overhead cam powertrain.

The following year saw the birth of a new name, the Cherokee. The newcomer joined the J-series as a 2-door model. For the 200th anniversary of America in 1976, Jeep released the seventh generation of the "civilian jeep" - CJ7. By 1977, the company also prepared a 4-door version, accompanied by a standard V6. And although the Jeep Cherokee at birth looked like a more luxurious Wagoneer, in the future it turned out to be the most popular car in the history of Jeep Motors.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Jeep brand, Chrysler Corporation has released a new version of the Cherokee with a 190-horsepower 4-liter PowerTechSix engine. The car was called - Grand Cherokee.

The official presentation of the car was on January 7, 1992 at the Detroit Auto Show. For the 1996 model year, the Grand Cherokee received significant engine, chassis, electronics, and interior upgrades. Inside the cabin, the most significant changes have been made to the dashboard. All switches and buttons are located in close proximity to the driver, interior ergonomics have improved.

Having successfully completed the Grand Cherokee, the Jeep design team took on the Wrangler, a descendant of the Willys, from which the history of the company began. The second generation Jeep Wrangler was put into production in 1996 .

Jeep is one of the most famous car brands in the world. In some languages, such as, for example, in Russian, the name of the brand has become a household name when designating off-road vehicles. And in English it was originally a common noun.

Owners and management

1944-1953: Willys-Overland Motors
1953-1963: Kaiser-Frazer Corporation
1963-1970: Kaiser Jeep Corporation
1970-1982: AMC (American Motors Corporation)
1982-1986: AMC-Renault
1986-1998: Chrysler Corporation
1998-2007: DaimlerChrysler AG
2007-2009: Chrysler LLC
2009-present in.: Chrysler Group LLC

Activity

Jeep in Russia

car sales

Sales of new cars through a network of official dealerships in Russia:

Cherokee	Commander	Compass	Grand Cherokee	Liberty	Wrangler	Total	Dynamics
321	129	270	805	-	-	1569	▲ 77%
230	222	547	546	209	136	1890	▲ 20%
365	248	479	906	669	234	2901	▲ 53%
73	94	40	140	25	44	416	▼ 86%
147	71	13	365	130	83	809	▲ 94%
181	-	237	1381	155	139	2093	▲ 159%

Jeep in the USA

car sales

Sales of new cars through a network of official dealerships in the United States:

Year	Commander	Compass	Grand Cherokee		Patriot (in Russia - Liberty)	Wrangler	Total	Dynamics
2006	88 497	18 579	139 148	133 557	-	80 271	460 052	-
2007	63 027	39 491	120 937	92 105	40 434	119 243	475 237	▲ 3%
2008	27 694	25 349	73 678	66 911	55 654	84 615	333 901	▼ 48%
2009	12 655	11 739	50 328	43 503	31 432	82 044	231 701	▼ 31%
2010	8115	15 894	84 635	49 564	38 620	94 310	291 138	▲ 26%
2011	105	47 709	127 744	66 684	54 647	122 460	419 349	▲ 44%

Production

Factories where Jeep cars are produced:

Factory	Location	Model
Belvidere Assembly Plant	USA: Belvidere (Illinois)	Compass, Patriot (in Russia - Liberty)
Jefferson North Assembly	USA: Detroit (Michigan)	Grand Cherokee
Toledo North	USA: Toledo (Ohio)	Liberty (in Russia - Cherokee)
Toledo Supplier Park	USA: Toledo (Ohio)	Wrangler

Jeep sales geography

Countries where Jeep cars are officially sold:

The lineup

Jeep Compass
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Liberty (in Russia - Cherokee)
Jeep Patriot (in Russia - Liberty)
Jeep Wrangler

concept cars

Notes

Jeep, Encyclopedia of Military Vehicles article
Russian automotive market statistics in 2006, autoreview.ru
An all-time record for sales of foreign cars and light commercial vehicles in 2006 - more than 1 million units sold. AutoBusinessInfo, January 12, 2007
Statistics: The car market in Russia - the results of 2007, autoreview.ru
The volume of sales of foreign cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia in 2007 amounted to more than 1.6 million units. AutoBusinessInfo, January 14, 2008
Russian car market: inertia, autoreview.ru
Sales of foreign brands in 2008 increased by 26%, AutoBusinessInfo, January 14, 2009
Sobering up, autoreview.ru
Russian car market halved in 2009, drive.ru, January 25, 2010
Sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia showed a fall in 2009, AutoBusinessInfo, January 14, 2010
Rehabilitation, autoreview.ru
In 2010, the market for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia showed growth for nine months out of twelve, AutoBusinessInfo, January 13, 2011
Newspaper "Autoreview" No. 3 2012
In 2012, the Russian automotive market expects steady growth, AutoBusinessInfo, January 13, 2012
Total Chrysler LLC December 2007 Sales Up 1 Percent on the Strength of Retail; Demand for Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan Continues to Grow, official press release at The Auto Channel, January 3, 2008 (English)
, official press release on The Auto Channel, January 5, 2009 (English)
Chrysler LLC Reports December 2008 U.S. Sales, official press release on media.chrysler.com, January 5, 2009 (English)

Jeep was created by American engineer Karl Probst, who designed in July 1940 at American Bantam, as part of a US Army tender, a Bantam BRC four-wheel drive vehicle with a quarter-ton payload with an open body of the Runebaut type. This design was then finalized at the insistence of the army.

JEEP - produced by Ford Motor Company according to the technical documentation of the Willys company in accordance with the mobilization contract with the US government dated January 10, 1941.

The origin of the word "jeep" is much debated. According to the most common version, it arose from the abbreviation GPW (an abbreviation of Ford Motor Company, stands for: G - state order, P - car with a wheelbase up to 80 inches, W - Willys type.).

Another version is as follows: according to the classification adopted by the US Army, "Willys MB" fell into the category of "General Purpose" cars - in English "General Purpose" - "general perpos" (abbreviated as ji-pi - gp). The informal nickname Jeep was launched into wide circulation by American journalist Katharina Hillier in the spring of 1941 after testing the Bantam car. It became a trademark of Willys-Overland in 1945. This abbreviation inexplicably transformed into JP (jp). And so the word "jeep" appeared.

History of Jeep

JEEP - produced by Ford Motor Company according to the technical documentation of the Willys company in accordance with the mobilization contract with the US government dated January 10, 1941. Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Co., in 1941, received contracts to supply the Jeep Willys MB and Ford GPW to the armies of the United States and its allies. Until the end of World War II, 361.4 and 277.9 thousand units were produced, respectively. Significant deliveries of these similar models were carried out as part of the Lend-Lease program and to the USSR, where more than 51 thousand Willys were sent in assembled and disassembled form.

After the end of the war, Willys Overland decided to adapt her offspring to perform some civilian functions. A batch of cars was prepared. They simply called them CJ (an abbreviation for Civilian Jeep - “civilian jeep”). These prototypes formed the basis for the production model, which went on sale in August 1945.

Outwardly, all "citizenship" consisted in the presence of a folding tailgate, wipers and a gas tank cap on the rear wing. The hood, tailgate and glass frame were supposed to have the Jeep logo. However, in the early years of production, when the company was still litigating with American Bantam Car for the right to use the Jeep name, cars had to be made with the Willys logo. But already in 1950, the company secured this name for itself, and on June 13, 1950, Jeep was registered as a trademark.

In 1946, Willys became the first in the auto industry to offer a kind of minibus for civilian use. The car had rear-wheel drive and could accommodate up to seven people. Speed indicators, however, did not shine - 100 km / h. But the all-wheel drive version introduced in 1949 was, in fact, the “grandfather” of the modern Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Willys was bought by Kaiser-Fraizer in 1953 and renamed Kaiser Jeep in 1963. Since 1969, the Jeep brand has been part of the AMC (American Motors Co.) concern, which in turn came under the full control of the Chrysler concern in 1987. Since 1998, the Jeep division, specializing in the production of off-road vehicles, has been part of the transnational concern DaimlerChrysler Corp.

The 1960s were arguably the most important years in Jeep's history, as the off-highway vehicle (SUV) market was taking shape. Back in the mid-1950s, the company began active research and development of new projects for machines with a 4 × 4 wheel arrangement. The program gave its first fruits in the fall of 1962, when a completely new Jeep Wagoneer (station wagon) appeared, which was fundamentally different from those produced earlier. The model belonged to the J series and was equipped with both full and partial drive.

In 1954, the fifth version of the "civilian jeep" - CJ5 - was born. This all-wheel drive car turned out to be so successful that it stayed on the assembly line, changing, however, engines, suspension and transmission, until 1983.

A series of "civilian jeeps" - CJ - back in 1949 was assigned the name Universal ("universal") 2/4-door Wagoneer with a 2.79-meter wheelbase was the first utility vehicle with automatic transmission, the design and comfort of a passenger car in which complemented off-road performance. The combination of all-wheel drive with "automatic" was used in the industry for the first time. In addition to this, the Wagoneer's "Tornado" engine was America's only overhead cam powertrain.

In 1963, the Wagoneer received a new 250 hp "Vigiliante" V6 engine.

In December 1965, Jeep dealers exhibited the Super Wagoneer in their showrooms. Two years later, the Hydromatic automatic transmission began to be installed on this Jeep series.

In the late 1960s, the company's engineers created another engine of the Dontles series, now with 8 cylinders. They decided to put it on the J series, to which the Wagoneer and Super Wagoneer belonged.

The entry into the new "ten-year period" was marked for Jeep by another change of ownership. On February 5, 1970, American Motor Corporation (AMC) acquired Kaiser Jeep Corporation for $70 million. For the Jeep Wagoneer, AMC offered the largest single-camshaft V6 engine in the history of a four-wheel drive station wagon. Optional were, also for the first time in world practice, V8 of their own production.

In 1973, the Wagoneer underwent some technical improvements. His new "Quadro Track" transmission was the first fully automatic permanent system for a four-wheel drive car (with limited slip differential).

By 1977, the company also prepared a 4-door version, accompanied by a standard V6. And although the Jeep Cherokee at birth looked like a more luxurious Wagoneer, in the future it turned out to be the most popular car in the history of Jeep Motors.

In 1978, a limited edition Wagoneer was launched - a Limited modification (with a leather interior, radio and a lot of chrome).

Due to the energy crisis that began in 1979, the production of large Gladiator pickups and Wagoneer station wagons fell sharply. But sales of civilian Jeep CJ series increased.

Legendary Jeep JEEP CHEROKEE

In 1984, the company launched new variants of the 2/4-door Cherokee, as well as the 4-door Wagoneer, which was 53.3 cm shorter, 15 cm narrower, 10 cm lower and 453 kg lighter than its predecessor, first introduced in 1963. The Cherokee was the only car in the compact class to have four doors and two all-wheel drive systems - CommandTrac and SelectTrac.

In the spring of 1986, the Wrangler was born. The mechanics of the Wrangler were more similar to the Cherokee than the CJ7.

On August 5, 1987, American Motor Corporation filed for bankruptcy. All property was sold. Jeep was acquired by Chrysler Corporation.

On March 22, 1990, the one millionth SUV of the "XJ" series was released - a bright red Cherokee Limited. For seven years of production, Cherokee has become the most popular model of Chrysler Corporation in Europe.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Jeep brand, Chrysler Corporation has released a new version of the Cherokee with a 190-horsepower 4-liter PowerTechSix engine. The car was called - Grand Cherokee.

Owners and management

1944-1953: Willys-Overland Motors
1953-1963: Kaiser-Frazer Corporation
1963-1970: Kaiser Jeep Corporation
1970-1982: AMC (American Motors Corporation)
1982-1986: AMC-Renault
1986-1998: Chrysler Corporation
1998-2007: DaimlerChrysler AG
2007-2009: Chrysler LLC
2009-2014: Chrysler Group LLC
Since 2014: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)

Jeep Wrangler- off-road vehicle manufactured by the American company Chrysler (Jeep division). It is the successor to the Jeep CJ family. Produced since 1987. During the production, several generations of Wrangler have changed.

Jeep Wrangler YJ (1987-1996)

Jeep Wrangler YJ with "short" roll cage (until 1992)
Jeep Wrangler YJ with "long" roll cage (since 1992)
1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade

In 1987, the Jeep YJ, named Wrangler, replaced the much-loved Jeep CJ on the assembly line. It was produced at the Brampton (Ontario, Canada) plant until the plant closed on April 23, 1992. Production was moved to Toledo, Ohio, USA. The Jeep YJ received a new design with a longer wheelbase that slightly reduced ground clearance but added more comfort. The Jeep YJ also used longitudinal springs in the wheel suspension, as in the CJ series jeeps. Despite the new design, the body was very similar to the Jeep CJ7 and was also interchangeable with some minor changes. The Jeep YJ has become easily recognizable thanks to the rectangular headlights and the position of the windscreen wiper blades on the windshield. These two changes were later canceled with the introduction of the TJ series in 1996. Before the appearance of this series, 632,231 Jeep YJs were built, but for some time the old and new models were produced in parallel, and until mid-1996 the total number of Jeep YJs produced was 685,071 units.

Jeep YJ until 1991 used in-line gasoline engines AMC 150 2.5 L (4 cylinders) and AMC 258 4.2 L (6 cylinders). In 1991, the AMC 258 was replaced by the more powerful AMC 242 4.0 L (6 cylinders, 180 hp (134 kW)) fuel injected engine.

In 1992, the roll cage was lengthened to allow the rear passengers to install seat belts with a diagonal branch (as opposed to the lap belts installed earlier), in the following year, 1993, an anti-lock braking system was added as an option. In 1994, for the first time, an automatic transmission was offered for the 4-cylinder Jeep YJ. 1995 was the only year that a fully galvanized body and frame was used. In the transitional 1996, the YJ was produced as a 1995 model, but with some improvements: reinforced tailgate hinges, rear bumpers from TJ.

In addition to the basic version, several option packages were produced:

Laredo- chrome grille and bumpers, hardtop, tinted windows, artificial leather trim
Islander- offered from 1988 to 1992 Package features: graphics on the lower body and hood, logos on the front fenders and spare wheel, larger fuel tank, alloy wheels, carpeting, center console with cup holder
Sport- coloring in the style of "sport"
Sahara- special seat upholstery, extra storage pockets, inner door panels with pockets, fog lights and plastic tips installed on the front bumper
Renegade- offered from 1991 to 1994. At first, all Renegades were painted white, black or red, but blue was added in 1992, and bronze in 1993. The package was priced at $4266 and included special 8" wide rims, 29x9.5R15 LT OWL Wrangler A/T tires, a full size spare tire, fog lights (integrated into the front fenders), interior carpeting, plastic front and rear bumpers, center console with coasters and other extras. While the base inline-six Wrangler retailed for $12,356, the Renegade package went up to $18,588, which limited sales and is considered a rarity today. Price and "ridiculous plastic fenders" have limited off-road capability, so the Jeep Renegade is typically used as a "beach cruiser".
Rio Grande- new paint colors (golden, mango, moss green)

Jeep Wrangler TJ (1997-2006)

Jeep Wrangler TJ Rubicon was released in the spring of 1996 (conditionally 1997 model year). This facelifted Wrangler features coil springs (inspired by the Jeep Grand Cherokee) for improved ride and handling, and reverts to classic Jeep CJ-inspired round headlights.

The base engine is the AMC 242 4.0 L, also used in the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The AMC 150 2.5 L engine was installed in entry-level models until 2003. It was replaced in 2003 by the Chrysler Neon 2.4 L DOHC 4-cylinder engine.

There was a right-hand drive version of the Jeep TJ for export markets, as well as mail carriers in rural areas of the United States (this version was only available with an automatic transmission).

In 1999, the fuel tank of the standard version was increased to 72 liters. From 1997 to 2002, the side mirrors on the doors were with black metal frames, and from 2003 to 2006, the mirror frames were plastic. In 2003, the 3-speed automatic transmission was replaced by a 4-speed with overdrive.

Jeep is an SUV brand owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobile Corporation. The headquarters is located in the city of Toledo.

The history of the brand begins in the early 1940s, when it became obvious that the United States would take part in World War II. The military has invited 135 automotive companies to develop a prototype all-wheel drive reconnaissance vehicle. The conditions were tough: the car must be developed within 49 days. American Bantam, Willys-Overland and Ford responded.

American Bantam was in financial trouble and unable to support its engineering staff. So she turned to a talented freelance designer from Detroit, Carl Probst. He began work on July 17, 1940. In just two days, Probst produced a prototype drawing known as the BRC, or Bantam Reconnaissance Car. The engineer relied on the fact that all elements of the car could be assembled from ready-made parts. The car was assembled by hand and taken to Camp Holabird in Maryland for testing by the military. The prototype met all the requirements, except for the engine torque.

The military approved the submitted prototype, but felt that Bantam was too small to produce as many pieces of equipment as necessary. The drawings for the Bantam were sent to Willys and Ford, who could make modifications to the car as they saw fit. The Ford Pygmy and Willys Quad were very similar cars to the BRC. For all three manufacturers, Spicer supplied the same four-wheel drive components.

One and a half thousand of each of the three models (Bantam BRC-40, Ford GP and Willys MA) were produced. Then all these cars were tested in the field. They needed to be reworked to optimize the weight, and that job was done by Willys. Thus, she received the primary right to manufacture off-road vehicles for the army.

Since the military needed to release a large number of vehicles in a short period of time, Willys was granted a non-exclusive license. Ford Motor became the second supplier. Until the end of World War II, 361,400 and 277,900 units were produced, respectively. As part of the Lend-Lease program, deliveries were also made to the USSR, where more than 51,000 copies of Willys were shipped.

With the filing of the American journalist Katharina Hillier in the spring of 1941, the cars were given the nickname Jeep, which in 1945 became a trademark owned by Willys-Overland.

When the war ended, Willys Overland decided to produce Jeep for civilians under the acronym CJ (Civilian Jeep). The first prototypes were released in a small batch. They differed from the military versions by the presence of a folding tailgate, spare wheel, large headlights, gas cap on the rear fender, wipers and an improved transmission.

At first, the company could not use the Jeep emblem, as litigation was ongoing with American Bantam. In 1950, she managed to defend her right to the brand and officially register it.

In 1946, the first car appeared with a station wagon made entirely of steel. This model accommodated seven passengers and reached a maximum speed of 105 km / h. Initially, it was equipped with two-wheel drive, then all four.

Jeep CJ-2A (1945-1949)

In 1949, the Willys Jeepster appears - an open sports car with curtains instead of side windows. Since the model was conceived for recreation, four-wheel drive was not installed in it. It is still highly prized by collectors.

In the same year, the first pickup truck produced under the Jeep brand went on sale. He was a universal assistant in a wide variety of areas, but farmers especially liked him.

In 1953, Kaiser-Fraizer buys the Willys company, in 1963 it receives a new name - Kaiser Jeep. Since 1969, the brand has been part of the American Motors Co. concern, which in 1987 became the property of Chrysler.

In 1953, the CJ-3B model appears. It stood out in that the body for the first time had no resemblance to military modifications. In addition, the car received a large grille and a four-cylinder Hurricane F-Head engine. It did not differ from the original Go Devil power unit in terms of volume, but was more comfortable to drive. The model was produced until 1968, for all the time 155,494 units were manufactured. This car was assembled under license in Japan (Mitsubishi Motors) and India (Mahindra). Mitsubishi Jeep J55 ceased to be manufactured only in 1998.

In 1954, the Jeep CJ-5 debuted, which was already being created by a new owner, Kaiser. Despite the fact that its release was supposed to mark the end of the assembly of the CJ-3B, both of these models were produced in parallel for some time. CJ-5 differed from its predecessor in a more relaxed design and rounded lines. The distance between the axles was increased, the overall length and width of the car decreased. The CJ-5 was considered ideal for difficult terrain.

Jeep CJ-5 (1954-1983)

The 60s saw the formation of the SUV market, so this era was especially important for Jeep. Released in 1962, the Wagoneer remains one of the most revolutionary cars ever. All modern sports universal cars are built on its basis. In addition, it was the first mass-produced car to be equipped with a six-cylinder engine and an overhead cam. Other innovations include the first automatic transmission on an all-wheel drive vehicle with independent front-wheel suspension. In 1963, the model received a new 250-horsepower V6 "Vigiliante" power unit. In 1965, they began to produce Super Wagoneer.

In the late 60s, a new Dontles engine with eight cylinders was being developed. They completed the J series, which included the Wagoneer and Super Wagoneer.

In the early 70s, a new owner, American Motor Corporation, offered a huge V6 engine with a single camshaft for the Jeep Wagoneer. V8 powertrains were optionally available.

In 1973, a new Quadro Track transmission was proposed for the Wagoneer, with an automatic permanent drive system and a self-locking differential.

In 1974, the legendary Cherokee with two doors appears. In 1977, a four-door version joined the lineup. This car has a stylish sporty appearance. It was he who later became the most popular worldwide representative of the brand.

Jeep Cherokee (1974-1983)

In 1976, the United States celebrated its 200th anniversary, and the Jeep brand celebrated its 35th. This year marks the release of the seventh generation of the CJ. CJ-7 received a plastic roof and steel doors. The wheelbase was 2.37 meters.

In 1978, the limited edition Wagoneer Limited was introduced, which received a leather interior, radio and chrome trim elements.

In 1984, the all-wheel drive cars Jeep Cherokee XJ and Wagoneer Sport Wagon entered the market. They were compact and powerful machines with two or four doors and a one-piece body instead of traditional frame and chassis designs. These cars became very popular and were awarded the "Car of the Year" award.

In 1984, the Wrangler appeared, which became the successor to the CJ family. It featured a new design with a longer wheelbase, making it more comfortable. The model was equipped with in-line AMC gasoline engines: four-cylinder 150 2.5 L and six-cylinder 242 4.0 L.

In the same year, the CJ-8 debuts a small pickup truck based on the CJ chassis. Thanks to the long rear overhang, the loading platform of the car was unusually large.

In 1988, sales of the Comanche pickup, similar to the traditional Gladiator and Honcho, start. It received the legendary Jeep all-wheel drive and modifications of the Comanche Sport Truck with a small cargo platform, as well as the Comanche Chief with a large platform.

In 1992, the Grand Cherokee, the legendary car that conquered the whole world, was presented at the Detroit Auto Show. A new high-tech plant was built to assemble it. The car received an all-new Quadra-Trac all-wheel drive system, a five-speed manual transmission, power windows, anti-lock braking system on all four wheels, central locking, cruise control and a leather steering wheel.

Jeep Grand Cherokee (1992)

1998 saw the release of the premium Grand Cherokee Limited, "the world's fastest SUV," according to the automaker. It was equipped with a 5.9-liter V8 engine with 245 hp, and also received a unique radiator grille.

In 2006, the Jeep Commander appeared, the first seven-seat SUV built on the Grand Cherokee platform. He received a new Quadra-Drive II transmission, which allows you to transfer up to 100% of torque to any wheel. In the same year, Compass debuted - the first car of the brand with a front-wheel drive platform, as well as independent front and rear suspension. Out comes the Grand Cherokee SRT8, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 (2006-2010)

The official appearance of the brand in Russia took place in 2007, when the Chrysler RUS CJSC company was formed. Jeep immediately won the sympathy of Russians due to its practicality and reliability. Every year, brand sales have grown, and the Grand Cherokee remains the most popular model.

Jeep now has four automakers in the US and is sold on every continent. The brand today, as at the very beginning of its journey, remains popular thanks to the innovative approach of developers, as well as time-tested reliability.

Jeep is one of the most legendary brands in the history of the automotive industry, covered with the glory of military victories and a long successful presence in markets around the world. Until now, disputes have not subsided, who should be considered the ancestor of the jeep - the Willys-Overland company or the American Bantam Car Co.? We will not take any side, but guided by the facts, we will trace the path of the famous Jeep brand from the landmark 1940 military order for the development of a multi-purpose vehicle.

Since then, the brand has changed four owners and continues to thrive. Until the early 40s, only trucks existed with all-wheel drive, as well as a few and not quite viable modifications of ordinary cars. The military needed something special. The outbreak of World War II raised the question of the need for a light and unpretentious all-wheel drive multi-purpose transporter. Bantam and Willys-Overland, aware of the needs of the military, independently began working on such machines as early as 1939.

Founded in 1902, Overland was taken over by Willys in 1907. Thus was formed the company Willys Overland, which in the 20s was one of the five largest American automakers. The small company Bantam appeared in 1930 and, as they say, there were not enough stars from the sky.

For a decade, production volumes remained more than modest. In September 1939, Bantam provided three prototype light patrol vehicles for army testing. But their design was clearly unsuitable for the military.

By the end of 1939, a package of documentation for an army vehicle from Willys Overland was presented to the military authorities for consideration. And in March 1940, the running model was also ready. And this machine did not suit the military, and the project was sent for revision.

Thus, having not received the desired result on the move, the Pentagon was forced in June 1940 to announce an open competition for the best design of a multi-purpose army vehicle. Initially, 135 firms expressed their desire to participate in the competition. However, extremely tough conditions, both in terms of timing and technical data, forced most firms to abandon the idea.

Not only did the technical documentation have to be submitted to the commission after 49 days, and after another 75 days - seventy prototypes for testing, but also the technical conditions were simply draconian: an all-wheel drive light truck with a curb weight of 590 kg, a load capacity of 250 kg plus an additional 272 kg (three people and equipment), speed - 88 km/h, low steady speed - 5 km/h, engine power not less than 45 hp, fording depth - 457 mm, slope to be overcome - 45 degrees, lateral stability on slope - 35 degrees. In addition, the car had to be able to pull a light cannon behind it.

For developers, the main "stumbling block" was the mass. It seemed impossible to make any reliable and durable off-road car, the mass of which would be the required 590 kg. However, Bantam, Willys Overland and Ford got to work.

At the appointed time on July 22, 1940, only two firms, Bantam and Willys, were able to submit technical documentation. After detailed consideration, the military leadership gave preference to the technical documentation prepared by Bantam.

But it was too early to draw any conclusions, it was necessary to test the prototypes of all applicants. Only then could a final decision be made. Carl Probst led the Bantam company and Delmar Bernie Rus carried out the project at Willys. Work was in full swing, sometimes designers, engineers and workers did not leave their places around the clock.

The Bantam BRC 40 prototype was ready on September 23rd. The three-week tests of the car went well, but the military authorities decided to wait for the prototypes from Willys and Ford. On November 11, the commissions presented the Willys Quad and only on November 24 the Ford GP Pygmy. All prototypes turned out to be surprisingly similar. Bantam was slightly inferior in power to rivals, Ford turned out to be the lightest, but lost in cross-country ability and strength, and Willys turned out to be the most powerful and reliable.

After extensive testing, identifying and eliminating weaknesses in the design, it was decided to unify the machines as much as possible and set up their production at all three plants. Just a year after the announcement of the competition, in June 1941, cars began to roll off the assembly line. The most unified Willys MA, Bantam BRC and Ford GP immediately entered the troops, including the USSR and England under Lend-Lease.

In total, during the Second World War, 639245 such machines were produced. Of these, Ford accounted for 232 thousand, and Bantam produced even less - only 2675 cars. Modest production capabilities did not allow Bantam to increase the production of much-needed army vehicles and, in the end, the company was forced to curtail production altogether, abandoning the order in favor of Willys.

In October 1941, Willys launched a modernized version of the machine, which received the MB index. It was this model that rolled off the assembly line at the Toledo plant until 1945.

During the war years, 50,500 copies of Willys MB and Ford GP were delivered to the USSR. Willys MB is a small open frame all-wheel drive car without doors with a gross weight of 1270 kg. Its dimensions; length / width / height (along the awning) - 3305/1498/1752 mm, base - 2036 mm, ground clearance - 222 mm. Engine - 4-cylinder 2.2 liter capacity of 60 hp. Transmission - mechanical 3-speed with demultiplier. The maximum speed is 104 km/h.

Wheel suspension - spring, simple and durable. Front and rear continuous beam bridges. 16" steel rims with Goodyear tires. (By the way, over the years, some of the true technical details of the car are becoming more difficult to establish.

Different sources operate with a wide variety of data. Often there are discrepancies. The author of these lines has repeatedly come across descriptions of a car that differ from each other, for example, in dimensions, weight, etc. Here we use the data of the American catalog of four-wheel drive vehicles).

A light, maneuverable and fairly dynamic vehicle often directly took part in hostilities. A machine gun was mounted on some cars, it turned out a kind of cart. The crew of such a vehicle, usually consisting of three people, was able to perform the most difficult combat missions.

The machine was equipped with: a shovel, an ax, an additional mounted fuel tank, a special searchlight, giving a narrow beam of light, almost imperceptible from the air. Already at that time there were legends about jeeps. The exciting stories of front-line soldiers about cars that literally saved their lives, taking them out of the most hopeless situations, were popular.

Indeed, the creators of the machine "hit the mark." The car turned out to be the best suited for military conditions. It was difficult to bring the reliable and unpretentious Willys to such a technical condition in which he would refuse to move, and a stuck car, due to its low mass, in most cases, could be pulled out of the mud without much difficulty. Jeep

By the way, in the USSR in 1943 they also began production of the GAZ-67 all-wheel drive command vehicle, created in the image and likeness of Willys and Bantam, but with domestic units and components. With similar dimensions, the car turned out to be heavier than its American counterparts, and the engine, with a volume of 3.3 liters, produced only 54 hp. Therefore, the dynamics were more modest than those of the "Americans" - 90 km / h.

Although, in general, the car turned out to be quite strong and reliable and could compete with the Jeeps. But during the war years, the GAZ-67 was produced only in an amount of just over 5 thousand copies. Not surprisingly, it was the Willys that remained in memory as the most common passenger car used in the army during World War II.

We called American cars simply and without fanfare - "jeeps". At home, at first they were called GP (General Purpose - general purpose vehicle). Then GP was transformed into the word "jeep" (Jeep).

Subsequently, the Willys company officially secured this word as a trademark. The name has become a household name and since then "jeeps" have been called not only cars of this brand, but also all off-road vehicles, although this is not entirely correct. But habit is habit. For 60 years now, Jeep has continued its victorious march around the planet.

Now this is a truly international car. Almost all the armies of the world have or were armed with these unpretentious machines. Today, in conversations about the automotive industry, the term “world car” is often used. This refers to a mass car produced in various parts of the world and adapted to the needs of consumers in most countries. So, the Jeep can rightfully be considered the very first world car. Perhaps, until now, more than one car has not blocked a record number of countries where Jeeps were produced and assembled at different times.

Some models of the Jeep brand, except for the USA, were also produced under license in the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Russia (assembled from car kits supplied in boxes), South Korea , Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Mexico, Venezuela, Austria, France, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, India, China. Everyone knows the Jeep: a tanned Latin American, a “new Russian”, and a poor peasant from some Nigeria.

Hollywood played a significant role in popularizing the brand. Largely thanks to the cinema, Jeep has become a cult car, both in the US and in many other countries. No film about military conflicts is complete without a Jeep, no matter where the events unfold: in Asia, Africa or America. And how many exciting action films, adventure films, where one of the roles is played by a light metal wagon called Jeep. Romance, the spirit of adventure invariably accompanies the open, simple-looking Jeep.

Years passed, models succeeded each other, retaining the features of the very first Willys. But Jeep is still the most popular automotive movie character. As for, in fact, the Jeep brand, it passed from company to company, quite successfully surviving to this day.

In 1953, the Jeep brand was taken over by the newly formed Kaiser-Jeep Corp. And Willys Overland ceased to exist. In 1970, the Jeep division was acquired by another company, American Motors Corp., sending Kaiser into oblivion. And in 1986, the third largest American auto concern Chrysler absorbed the American Motors company, retaining only the Jeep brand.

After the merger of Chrysler and Daimler-Benz in 1998, the Jeep brand is part of the newly formed auto giant DaimlerChrysler. Jeep looks to the future with confidence, no automaker will ever abandon such a famous and well-deserved brand.

And the designers of the division are developing more and more modern and technically very advanced off-road vehicles. Now the debut of a new compact model is being prepared. But that is another story.

It is difficult to find a sane person in the world who could not talk about the Jeep. It's not just a car. This is an entire era. The brand has been fluttering for more than one decade, and the manufacturer regularly replenishes the model range with new samples that never cease to please their owners.

About company

So, "Jeep" is a company that is considered a branch of one of the largest automakers in America - Chrysler. Its main direction is the production of SUVs. The main assembly shops are located in Michigan, and to be more precise, in Detroit.

As for the history of this company, it goes back to the distant 40s of the last century. It all started with the fact that John Willis founded a company called the Overland Automotive Division. However, over time, the name was changed to Willys-Overland Motor Company.

Initially, the company produced military off-road vehicles capable of overcoming all sorts of obstacles on the roads and off-road. The first car was created in 1939. After some time, the army vehicle of this sample began to bear the name "Jeep". It was a masterpiece in the automotive industry of that time.

After the war, the company's engineers created a cross-country vehicle for civilians based on an already existing army SUV. Already in 1970, the company became part of the American Motors auto concern, and after another 17 years, it became part of Chrysler.

The lineup

Through trial and error, Jeep has created many SUVs. In general, there are such series as:

As you can see, Jeep is a company that is constantly developing, replenishing its lineup with new, improved, powerful cars. To better understand what a Jeep is, it is worth considering in detail the lineup.

Jeep Cherokee

The updated model of this line debuted in early 2018. This significant event took place at the Detroit International Auto Show. It's not just an SUV. This is the first restyling of the 5th generation, which was planned. Intrafactory model index - KL.

What has changed? The company's engineers focused on improving the technical stuffing. At the same time, the options were significantly expanded, as well as the design was improved. This modification of the Jeep car received the usual and calmer layout of the headlights, presented in the form of several narrow blocks, slightly elongated and equipped with lensed optics and LED daytime running lights, reminiscent of the original cilia.

But the radiator grille was made in the classic version. It is a set of rectangular vertical cutouts, framed by a chrome trim. As for the front bumper, it has simple shapes. At the bottom of this element is a trapezoidal air collector, prudently covered with a plastic grille.

It's hard not to notice the black body kit on the arches and bumper sills. It is also made of plastic. But thanks to this element, the Jeep Cherokee slightly increased visually in volume, which only strengthened the impression of contemplating such an SUV.

Dimensions Jeep Cherokee

Length - 4.624 m.
Width - 1,858 m.
Height - 1.683 m.
Wheelbase - 2.705 m.
Clearance - 0.222 m.
Trunk volume (with raised seats) - 412 liters.
The capacity of the trunk with the seats folded down is 1267 liters.

Specifications

After the modernization, the Jeep Cherokee was equipped with three completely different powertrains, a 9-speed gearbox, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. Thanks to this combination, Jeep Cherokee cars can be classified as universal. They are able to satisfy the needs of many motorists.

Basic versions are equipped with a 4-cylinder engine with a volume of 2360 cm 3. It puts out 180 hp. With. at 6400 rpm and 234 Nm of torque. After it comes a 2-liter 4-cylinder unit equipped with a pressurization system. It produces 270 hp. With. at 5250 rpm and 400 Nm of torque.

And the latest version is a V-shaped 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 3239 cm 3. The motor is capable of delivering 271 hp. With. at 6500 rpm and 316 Nm of torque.

An updated version of this representative of the Jeep brand appeared before the public in 2017 in New York. According to experts, this is one of the most powerful and extreme modifications. However, there were no major changes in appearance. It's hard not to notice the sport-style brake calipers. They have been enlarged and painted in acidic bright colors. In general, the appearance of the car turned out to be aggressive and dynamic, as well as the technical stuffing.

Dimensions Jeep Grand Cherokee

Length - 4.822 m.
Width - 1.943 m.
Height - 1,724 m.
Wheelbase - 2.914 m.
Clearance - 0.205 m.
Trunk volume with raised seats - 457 liters.

Machine Specifications

This representative of the Jeep dealership is equipped with an 8-cylinder V-engine with a volume of 6166 cm 3. The car is capable of delivering 717 hp. with., thanks to the IHI screw compressor, at 6000 rpm. and 875 Nm of torque. All torque is taken over by an 8-speed automatic transmission. This is an all-wheel drive model, which, with a weight of 2.5 tons, can accelerate to 100 km / h in just 3.7 seconds.

This American Jeep debuted in 2016 in Los Angeles. This is an SUV that can be attributed to the second generation. At one time, it was located in the same line with the Cherokee and Renegade. Distinguishing Compass from other models is not difficult. It is distinguished by stylish elongated elements of head lighting, elegant running lights. As for the radiator grille, it is made in the classic Jeep style - it consists of rectangular slots covered with a mesh. The nature of the modification is emphasized by the linings installed on the thresholds, bumper and wheel arches.

Dimensions Jeep Compass

Length - 4.394 m.
Width - 1,874 m.
Height - 1,641 m.
Wheelbase - 2.636 m.
Clearance - from 0.198 to 0.208 m.
The volume of the trunk with the seat backs up is 770 liters.
The capacity of the trunk with the seats folded down is 1693 liters.

Technical stuffing Jeep Compass

Jeep Compass can be equipped with a manual or automatic transmission, all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. As for the engine, it is always the same. This is a gasoline 4-cylinder power unit, the volume of which is 2360 cm 3. Such a motor allows you to squeeze 180 hp out of an SUV. With. at 6400 rpm and 237 Nm of torque.

Despite the power of the vehicle, you should not expect much savings. Such an engine consumes a large amount of fuel. Approximately 10.7 liters of gasoline are consumed per 100 km in city conditions with frequent braking and acceleration.

Jeep Wrangler

The country of origin of the "Jeep" of this line is America. The new SUV was presented to the general public in Los Angeles in the fall of 2017. This model belongs to the fourth generation. This is not a planned restyling. Jeep Wrangler differs significantly from its predecessors. Immediately striking is its neoclassical style, which has all the prerequisites of the very first army SUV "Willis".

These are round headlights equipped with lens optics, and elegant LED running lights, and a radiator grille made in the form of a large number of slots. Under the grille, you can see a power bumper with round fog lights located in special recesses. In a word, the appearance of the model has many visual changes. However, similarities with other Jeep SUVs are still captured.

Dimensions Jeep Wrangler

Length - 4.237 m.
Width - 1.875 m.
Height - 1,868 m.
Wheelbase - 2.46 or 3.008 m.
Clearance - 0.246 or 0.274 m.
The volume of the trunk with the seat backs up is 897 liters.

Technical equipment Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Wrangler can be equipped with one of two types of powertrains, manual or automatic transmission, but only all-wheel drive. Thanks to this combination, the vehicle of this model can be considered a universal option that can conquer many motorists.

The basic configuration of the Jeep Wrangler is represented by a gasoline turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the volume of which is 1995 cm 3. Thanks to the turbocharger, 270 hp can be squeezed out of an SUV of this line. With. at 5250 rpm and 400 Nm of torque. It is worth noting that such an engine is perfectly combined with an automatic 8-speed gearbox.

As for the top version of the Jeep Wrangler, it is equipped with an atmospheric gasoline V-shaped 6-cylinder engine with a volume of 3604 cm 3. Thanks to the displacement, as well as a modern fuel supply system, 285 liters can be squeezed out of an SUV. With. at 6400 rpm and 353 Nm of torque. Fuel consumption in this case is quite high. At 100 km, the Jeep Wrangler consumes 13.8 liters in urban conditions with frequent braking and acceleration. With a measured trip on the highway outside the city limits, this figure is 10.2 liters.

In 2014, the Jeep Renegade was presented to the public at the Geneva Motor Show. It was his debut. Its difference lies in the fact that it was built on the basis of the Fiat-500X. In addition, models of power units were borrowed from the model. For this reason, the first production of the Jeep Renegade was launched outside the United States.

It is worth noting that this novelty has received a modern and stylish look. The front of the car is made in a classic style: two round headlights, an impressive radiator grille with slots located vertically, round fog lights located in peculiar recesses.

Dimensions Jeep Renegade

Length - 4.236 m.
Width - 1.805 m.
Height - 1,667 m.
Wheelbase - 2,570 m.
Clearance - from 0.175 to 0.21 m.
Trunk volume with raised seatbacks - 351 liters.

Specifications Jeep Renegade

The basic equipment of the SUV is an atmospheric gasoline 4-cylinder engine, the volume of which is 1598 cm 3. From such a power unit, you can squeeze up to 110 liters. With. at 5500 rpm and 152 Nm of torque. Up to 100 km / h, such an SUV can accelerate in 11.8 seconds. As for fuel consumption, for 100 km in the city with frequent braking and acceleration, the car spends up to 7.8 liters of fuel, and with measured movement on a suburban highway, it will take about 5.9 liters. Such an engine works in combination with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The top modification is equipped with a gasoline atmospheric 4-cylinder power unit, the volume of which is 2360 cm 3. Such a car is capable of delivering 184 hp. With. at 6400 rpm and 232 Nm of torque. Up to 100 km / h, the SUV can accelerate in 9.8 seconds. As for fuel consumption, this figure is higher than that of the basic modification. For 100 km in the city, up to 10.7 liters are wasted, and with measured movement along the highway outside the city - 7.6 liters.