Jeep is a brand american cars, which is a division of FCA US LLC (formerly Chrysler Group, LLC), a subsidiary of the Italian-American corporation Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Jeep was part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand along with other assets from American Motor Corporation(AMC).
Jeep - this name has long become a household name in the designation of cars off-road. At the same time, not everyone knows that Jeep is also the name of a brand of a company that has been producing SUVs for over 60 years.
The creator of the first Jeep car is the American engineer Karl Probst, who designed in July 1940 at American Bantam as part of a tender american army four-wheel drive vehicle Bantam BRC with a payload capacity of "a quarter of a ton" with open body runebout type.
Bantam BRC40
This design was then, at the insistence of the army, finalized by the larger firms Willys-Overland and Ford Motor Co., As a result, they received the main contracts for the supply of 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.
The informal nickname Jeep was (it is believed that the brand received this name from ford car GPW, in particular, due to the phonetic combination of the first letters of the abbreviation of the name JP) was 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 CJ (an abbreviation for Civilian Jeep - “civilian jeep”). These prototypes served as the basis for the creation 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 in litigation with American Bantam Car for the right to use the name Jeep 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, in fact, was the "grandfather" of the modern Jeep. Grand Cherokee.
Further development The theme occurred in the Station Wagon, a multi-seat Jeep produced from 1951 to 1963. Its basis and already external features served as a prototype for the first Wagoneer.
In 1953, Willys was bought by Kaiser-Fraizer and renamed Kaiser Jeep in 1963. Since 1969, the Jeep brand has been part of the AMC concern (American Motors Co.), under the full control of Chrysler. 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 formula. 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") 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 power unit with overhead camshaft.
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 all-wheel drive station wagons. 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 all-wheel drive car(with self-locking differential).
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 Jeep Cherokee at birth, it looked like a more luxurious Wagoneer, in the future it was he who 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 leather interior, radio and mass of chromium).
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.
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. Cherokee was the only car in a compact class with 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. In seven years of production, Cherokee has become the most popular model Chrysler Corporation in Europe.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Jeep brand, Chrysler Corporation released new version Cherokee with 190bhp 4.0L PowerTechSix engine. The car was named Grand Cherokee.
The official presentation of the car was on January 7, 1992 at the Detroit Auto Show. In 1996 model year the Grand Cherokee has been significantly modified: engine, chassis, electronic systems and interior. Inside the cabin, the most significant changes occurred with 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. 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.
Jeep is an American automobile brand and subsidiary Fiat company Chrysler. Chrysler Corporation acquired the Jeep brand in 1987. The current Jeep product range consists exclusively of SUVs, and the name "Jeep" itself has become a household name in everyday life, denoting all quality SUVs. The entire range of Jeep.
background
The first Willys MB Jeeps were produced in 1941, making this the oldest off-road vehicle ever produced. The first civilian models were produced in 1945. The original Jeep became the primary light, four-wheel-drive vehicle of the United States and Allied Army during and after World War II.
The car served as a model for the development of such military and civil vehicles in other countries. When it became clear that the United States would eventually take part in the war raging in Europe, the Department of Defense approached a number of private companies with a request to produce a four-wheel drive army vehicle. Two of them responded to the request, these are Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland.
More than suitable engine, because the company won the tender for the supply. In order to increase the number of cars produced, in addition to Willys, production was also launched at Ford plants. Production of the civilian version began in 1945 with the CJ-2A model, followed by a transition to the CJ-3B model in 1953.
Brand
Outlived by owners such as Willys and Chrysler, the Jeep brand licenses cars around the world, including Mahindra in India, EBRO in Spain and a few in South America. And Mitsubishi produced over 30 different Jeep models in Japan from 1953 to 1998.
1946 - Willys comes up with the idea of creating a kind of minibus for civilian use, with a capacity of 7 people and a speed of 100 km per hour. The all-wheel drive version of this model appeared a little later.
1954 - CJ5 is released, the fifth and most successful option civil all-wheel drive jeep with some design changes, which was produced until 1983.
Birth of a legend
The name “universal”, which has been attached to the entire series of civilian CJ jeeps since 1949, has fully justified itself: Wagoneer 2 and 4-door, with automatic transmission, combined the qualities of a passenger car and the characteristic features of an SUV.
In 1974, a new model appeared, which later became no less famous than the Jeep brand itself - the Cherokee (Cherokee).
1976 - On the occasion of the bicentenary of America, Jeep produced the CJ7 - the 7th generation of the civilian Jeep series. The following year, the company has already presented a four-door version with a standard V6 engine. Despite the outward resemblance of the Jeep Cherokee to the Wagoner, it has become the most popular car in the history of the brand.
1984 - Jeep replenishes the car market latest options Cherokee - two- and four-door, and four-door Wagoner. Introduced two years later, the Wrangler is structurally larger than the Cherokee than the CJ7. August 1987 - in connection with the bankruptcy of American Motor Corporation and the sale of property, the brand passes to a new owner - Chrysler Corporation.
March 1990 - The millionth car of the XJ series - Cherokee Limited is produced. The work of the designers on the Grand Cherokee was more than successful, so the solutions found were applied to the Wrangler, created on the basis of Willys, the company's first brainchild. Production of the II generation Jeep Wrangler was launched in 1996.
Modern models
Renegade
Wrangler
Brute Double Cab
The Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV was introduced in 1992 at the Detroit auto show. Soon, at the plant, all in the same Detroit, the car began to be mass-produced, and later the assembly of cars for the European market in Austrian Graz also started. An Italian VM Motori 2.5 diesel engine with a capacity of 114 hp was installed on the Grand Cherokee. s., a four-liter gasoline inline six (170-184 hp) and a 5.2-liter Magnum V8 engine (185-223 hp). And in 1997-1998, a version with V8 5.9 engine developing 245 hp. With.
The base version for the American market was rear-wheel drive, while the all-wheel drive transmission had several transfer case options. From 1995 to 1998, buyers were offered cars in a more "off-road" Orvis configuration with increased ground clearance, three steel shields under the body and tow hooks front and rear.
2nd generation (WJ), 1999–2004
In 1999, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee replaced the first generation cars. The car became larger, lost versions with a manual transmission, and the place of gasoline engines was taken by new "Chrysler" PowerTech series engines: in-line six-cylinder engine with a capacity of 195 liters. With. and V8 4.7 (235 or 265 hp). Export versions of the SUV were equipped with diesel power units of 2.7 and 3.1 liters, developing 163 and 138 hp. With. respectively.
The car got a complex Quadra-Drive transmission with a two-stage transfer case: under normal conditions, the automatic clutch for connecting the front wheels worked, but when the downshift was turned on, the clutch was blocked, making the drive permanently full.
The production of this model ceased in 2004, and in 2006 the Chinese company Beijing Jeep Corporation, which bought the assembly line, resumed the production of SUVs.
3rd generation (WK), 2005–2010
The third generation Jeep Grand Cherokee was produced at the Detroit and Graz plants from 2005 to 2010. The car, created using "Mercedes" components and assemblies, received the latest electronic systems. Traditionally, the choice of transmission types has been wide: rear-wheel drive for the American market, Quadra-Trac I with a single-speed “transfer case”, Quadra-Trac II with a two-speed transfer case with electronic control and Quadra-Drive II with a two-stage transfer case and three self-locking differentials. But instead of hard front axle"Grand Cherokee" got independent suspension.
The brand's birthday is considered to be July 23, 1941 - on this day the US military department signed a contract with Willys-Overland to start production. army vehicles increased permeability. But contrary to popular belief, the modern Jeep owes its appearance to the little-known company Bantam.
Unrecognized ancestor
The history of the creation of Jeep cars dates back to the very first Jeeps. It all started in May 1940, when the US Armed Forces Technical Committee announced a tender for the creation and production of an experimental series of light military off-road vehicles. The terms of the contract were tough: after the issuance of the terms of reference, the delivery of prototypes was to take place within 49 days, and over the next month it was necessary to provide another 70 machines for in-depth testing. Even in modern conditions those times are incredible! The requirements for the car itself seem no less difficult: an SUV with all-wheel drive and a reduction gear must have a carrying capacity of at least 270 kg, be no higher than 92 cm, wheelbase and width no more than 2.062 m and 1.194 m, and its curb weight should not exceed 590 kg! Not surprisingly, out of 135 companies, only two showed interest: American Bantam and Willys-Overland.
Having received the terms of the tender, the president of Bantam, Francis Fenn, decided to turn to one of the best automotive engineers - Karl Probst. Aware of the disastrous state of the company, Probst wanted to refuse, but Francis Fenn somehow managed to persuade him. While Willys outlined only the terms of execution and the amount of the contract, Bantam has already prepared everything Required documents, and the prototype SUV was ready right on schedule.
The test results revealed more than 20 defects, but, nevertheless, the command liked the SUV. The company took into account the wishes and has already prepared for the production of 70 production cars. But the military command decided to play it safe: doubting the capabilities of a small company, they handed over all the technical documentation of the Bantam BRC model to Willis, who had not yet prepared his prototype, as well as Ford, who was involved from outside. Naturally, Karl Probst was against it: the car created with such difficulty was literally donated to competitors. Long legal proceedings did not help either: after signing the contract, the intellectual property rights to the prototype were transferred to the military. And here it is difficult to blame someone: "in war as in war."
handover
The Bantam drawings made the contestants' task much easier: a month and a half later, Willys, and then Ford, presented their own Quad and Pygmy models. All-terrain vehicles, although they repeated the Bantam design, were still different. The tests of all three models ended in victory for Willys, whose main advantage was a powerful engine (60 hp versus 45 for the Bantam BRC-60). For final decision each of the companies received an order for the production of 1500 all-terrain vehicles, which did not affect the fate of Bantam. Having released a total of just under 2,700 all-terrain vehicles and received a tiny order from the Ministry of Defense for the production of trailers, the company disappeared, barely holding out until the end of the war. The other two Jeeps were more successful: Willys produced 335,551 MB models during the war, while the Ford GPW sold 277,896 units.
As you have already noticed, there was no talk of the Jeep trademark at that time. Where did this name come from? Willys and Ford all-terrain vehicles began to be called Jeeps long before the registration of the Jeep brand. You can read about the history of this glorious name, about which there are many legends, in a separate article “Jeep. Name history.
40-50s. The birth of "civilian jeeps"
At the end of the war, it became clear that such all-terrain vehicles would be in demand not only in the army, but also in civil society. Therefore, Willys Overland already in 1944 began to create civilian versions of the SUV, creating a prototype CJ1A (CJ means "Civilian Jeep" - a civilian jeep). The prototype was based on Military Willys MB was not very different from it: a folding tailgate, bumpers and a civilian-style awning. Here, perhaps, are all the differences. The production model CJ-2A with minor changes was released already in 1945. Later in 1946, Station Wagon was produced on the same base, which lasted on the assembly line until 1965. It was the first car in the history of the brand to receive an all-metal station wagon body. Wagon can be considered one of the first SUV class cars, combining practicality, good cross-country ability and a decent level of comfort.
It is curious that in the post-war years, cars were still produced with the Willys logo: the company was still suing American Bantam Car over the use of the Jeep name. Not having much chance of winning, Bantam had to give up, and did not realize the idea of mass production of SUVs. Officially trademark Jeep was registered on June 30, 1950 by Willys-Overland, which was renamed Willys Motors three years later. In the same year, 1953, Willys was bought by Kaiser-Fraizer, and then renamed Kaiser Jeep.
After the arrival of new leadership in 1954, a civil version military Jeep M38A1 - CJ5, and the M170 model received the CJ6 index, positioned as affordable pickup. Due to the increased size, the SUV became much more stable and comfortable, and soon gained popularity all over the world - other brands often took it as a starting point when creating their own SUVs. With periodic upgrades, he lasted on the assembly line until 1983. However, in 1961, this "jeep" had a dangerous competitor: the International Scout was more spacious, more powerful and more comfortable. As a matter of urgency, Kaiser Jeep set about creating an entirely new class of SUV.
60s. Other priorities
The new Wagoneer sets new standards in its class, combining hitherto incompatible qualities: the comfort and power of a business-class sedan, the off-road capability of an SUV and the practicality of a station wagon. It was one of the first all-wheel drive vehicles equipped with automatic transmission gear and air conditioning: congenial range rover appeared only after 7 years. This decade is also characterized by the appearance of more powerful engines: Wagoneer received new V8s: "Vigiliante" (250 hp, 5.4 l) and Buick Dauntless (230 hp, 5.7 l). But a more solid engine on the CJ5 / CJ6 appeared only in 1966 - the Buick V6 with a displacement of 3.7 liters (160 hp). The same year to compete Ford Bronco and International Harvester, based on the CJ series, they released the Jeepster Commando, which included a full range of bodies (pickup, convertible and station wagon). In 1970, the model became simply called "Commando" and was produced until 1973.
Also produced during these years was the little-known Jeep Gladiator pickup, which, unlike the Commando, was built on the larger Wagoneer platform. Military versions were designated M715 and M725.
70s. Change of leadership
In 1970, Jeep Corporation was acquired by AMC (American Motor Corporation Kaiser). Jeep Wagoneer received a fully automatic transmission with a self-locking center differential. V8 AMC engines (5.9 liters and 6.6 liters) began to be installed on the SUV.
in 1976, Jeep released the CJ7, the seventh generation of the "civilian jeep", which received an increased wheelbase, removable hardtop and steel doors. The CJ7 began to be equipped with the new Quadra-Trac all-wheel drive system, which was aggregated with an automatic transmission.
80s. The birth of new legends. Again bankruptcy...
In connection with the energy crisis that began in 1979, the entire American auto industry, with its characteristic megalomania, began to rapidly fade away. Demand for Jeep cars also fell: Gladiator pickups and Wagoneer station wagons due to high flow fuels began to sell worse. The concern urgently needed more compact cars. Help came from Renault: during a short collaboration with AMC (1982-1986), the French concern developed one of the most popular SUVs of the 20th century, the Jeep Cherokee XJ. Rolling off the assembly line in 1984, this model had nothing to do with the 3-door Wagoneer Cherokee. Jeep received a frame-in-body load-bearing body (frame spars are welded to body panels), which made it possible to lower the center of gravity and reduce weight: the newcomer weighed less than one and a half tons. The bridges were taken from the classic CJ jeep, but the suspension was made more comfortable. In this body, the model existed until 2001. The “Big” Wagoneer SJ was updated in the same year and, having changed its name to Grand Wagoneer, was produced until 1991.
In 1986, instead of the popular and unpretentious CJ7, the charismatic Wrangler with the YJ index was born. No less reliable and passable car became more comfortable, although the design remained the same: frame body, dependent spring suspension of all wheels, rigid axles.
In 1987, American Motor Corporation filed for bankruptcy, and Jeep was taken over by Chrysler Corporation. Changes did not have to wait long: first of all, the line of power units was revised in favor of more powerful engines. Instead of Renault turbo diesel J8S (2.4 l, 85 hp) began to be installed by the Italian VM motori (2.5 l, 113 hp), and gasoline engines were now only injection: AMC-150 (2.5 l, 105 l .s.) began to develop 123 hp, and the GM-173 V6 engine (2.8 l, 115 hp) was replaced by the AMC 242 created back in 1964 (4 l, 177 hp). This inline 6-cylinder engine is for a long time mounted on jeeps. Updated and transfer boxes– cars were mainly equipped with “razdatki” NP 231 Part Time and NP 242 Full Time.
90s. Another rise and the emergence of a new flagship
The threat to the local market imperceptibly crept up from Japan: quickly reacting to the increased demand for "urban" SUVs, the Japanese offered cars that were superior in many respects (including comfort). The Yankees did not remain in debt: in 1992, the legendary Grand Cherokee ZJ appeared in the Jeep lineup. And although the ZJ was 350 kg heavier than the Cherokee and 32 cm longer, by American standards it was relatively small. However, the Grand Cherokee was able to gain popularity not only among Americans: in the period from 1992 to 1998, the car was sold around the world in the amount of 1.5 million copies. It was appreciated for its timeless and elegant design, comfortable interior and excellent dynamic qualities for its class and excellent cross-country ability. Having survived the modernization in 1996, the SUV was produced until 1998.
The second generation Jeep Wrangler TJ was launched in 1996. In addition to changes in design, the most important changes affected the chassis: the link-spring suspension had a positive effect on comfort and handling, without damaging the almost best-in-class flotation.
In 1998, the Jeep branch became part of the transnational concern DaimlerChrysler Corp. In the same year, the next generation Grand Cherokee with the WJ index was introduced. To the delight of brand fans, WJ used time-tested solutions: dependent front and rear suspension, reliable engines and an honest all-wheel drive transmission with locks and a demultiplier.
2000s Jeep moves to the asphalt
Following the rapid spread of all kinds of crossovers, which appeared in almost every automaker, brand Jeep a more modern Cherokee was needed. This is how the new Cherokee / Liberty KJ appeared: with a "toy" appearance, it became more like a Wrangler. The design of the SUV, as in the case of the Grand Cherokee WK, was radically revised: the body became much stiffer, the front suspension became independent, and rear axle was hung on the two lower trailing arms and upper articulated trapezoid. And we must pay tribute to the developers: and although the Cherokee has finally acquired passenger habits and has become more adapted to urban use, it has not ceased to be a good SUV. He retained the all-wheel drive system with forced blocking center differential and excellent geometric cross. You can only complain about the reduced suspension travel.
Wanting to give light handling to the next generation of Grands, the new WK, which debuted in 2005, was equipped with independent front suspension, and the rear axle was now fixed on 4 trailing arms and Panhard rod. The reduced transmission range became available only in the optional Quadra-Drive II all-wheel drive system, where electronics were responsible for blocking 3 differentials. But with the advent of the KJ and WK models, Jeep cars were no longer in demand. "Jeeps" were no longer so "off-road", and they lost to their competitors in terms of equipment and did not really shine in the "asphalt" disciplines.
Bantam BRC-40 Prototyp (1940). First Jeep it is more correct to consider the Bantam all-terrain vehicle, the design of which was laid down by Willys and Ford
Modernized Bantam BRC-40 (1941)
Ford GPW (1942–45). Ford had to abandon the Pygmy model and produced after the GP. The successor was the Ford GPW - almost an exact copy of Willys
Willys Quad (1940) won the final test due to a more powerful motor
The evolution of Willys: the first prototype of Willys Quad (1940), serial MV (1942-1945), post-war M-38 (1950) and M-38 A1 (1955)
The Jeep CJ-2A (1945-49) was a success with 214,202 built.
Jeep CJ5 (1954-83) one of the most massive "civilian jeeps" of that time
With the luxury Wagoneer (1963-91), Jeep brought comfort to new level
The 1978 model of the year is one of the next Jeep Wagoneer upgrades.
Jeep Gladiator from 1962 to 1988 was produced both with all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive
Designed by Renault, in the early years of the Jeep Cherokee XJ (1984-2001) was the most popular model of Chrysler Corporation in Europe
The Jeep Cherokee underwent a major upgrade only in 1997: due to insufficient rigidity, the body was strengthened and its corrosion resistance increased.
Simultaneously with the Jeep Cherokee, the new Wagoneer (1984-90) was released on the same base.
The mechanics of the new Wrangler YJ (1987-95) were borrowed from the Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ (1993-98) was faithful to the brand's traditions, remaining a full-fledged SUV: technically it was close to the simpler Cherokee
Jeep Wrangler TJ (1996-2006) design is friendlier and suspension is more comfortable
Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ (1999-2004) retained dependent suspension with solid axles
Adapted to public roads, the new Jeep Cherokee/Liberty KJ (2001-2007) was not as popular as its predecessor
The new Grand WK (2005-10) has become more “passenger” due to the new running gear
The Jeep Wrangler JK (2007-2013) is one of the last Jeeps to retain true off-road values. With the advent of the 5-door version of the Unlimited, the Rengler finally got a spacious interior
Grand Cherokee WK2 (2010-2013), built on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class platform, was able to worthy competition class leaders
The Rubicon Trail is one of the toughest off-road trails in the US. In honor of this track, a frequent visitor to these places Jeep Wrangler received a Rubicon modification
Jeep Compass (2006-2013). After a Grand Cherokee WK2-style makeover in 2010, the Compass has been given a facelift.
Jeep Cherokee KK (2007-2013) has not changed much structurally compared to the KJ generation
The design of the new Jeep Cherokee KL (2013) caused a lot of controversy among fans of the brand
Jeep Patriot/Liberty (2007-2013) built on the same platform as the Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber
Official website: www.jeep.com
Headquarters: USA
"Jeep" (Jeep), a division of the American concern Chrysler, specializing in the production of off-road vehicles of the brand "Jeep". The headquarters is located in Detroit (Michigan).
The American engineer and industrialist Arthur Herrington is considered to be the creator of the jeep type car.
After the First World War, he worked in France, where he dealt with the problem of creating off-road vehicles. Conducted experiments on four- and six-wheeled trucks in collaboration with the Marmon Motor Company of Indianapolis, Indiana. The car he created was named "jeep" (a phonetic translation of the English abbreviation GP - jeep, which means general purpose - general purpose).
1940 - the American company Willys gave real glory to the jeep. It is the wartime model - the army jeep - that allows Willys to be ranked among the great automobile companies. Among other 135 American firms, the company participated in the competition to create a reconnaissance all-terrain vehicle for the American army. The choice fell on Willys and Ford all-terrain vehicle options. Each of the firms received an order for 1,500 vehicles, deliveries of which began in early 1941.
1941 - the US government decided to keep only the model in service Willys car MA, but it was upgraded taking into account the test results and the need for unification between different firms.
1942 - started mass production Willys MB and Ford GPW vehicles. The cars of the two firms were almost indistinguishable from each other. On them stood standard motor from Willys 77 and a three-speed gearbox. The all-terrain vehicle accommodated four people, weighed just over a ton and developed a speed of up to 105 km / h. In total, in those years, Willys produced more than 360 thousand jeeps, most of which entered service with the Red Army. Ford made a little less - about 270 thousand cars.
After the end of the war, Willis-Overland decided to adapt its 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 served as the basis for the creation of a serial model, which went on sale as early as August 1945.
True, 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 suing American Bantam Car for the right to use the Jeep name, cars had to be made with the Jeep 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 machine was driven by rear wheels and could accommodate up to seven people. Speed indicators, however, did not shine - 100 km / h, but this is not the main thing. The main thing is patency! But the all-wheel drive version introduced in 1949, in fact, was the “grandfather” of the modern Jeep Grand Cherokee. And this is a dynasty.
The theme was further developed in the Station Wagon, a multi-seat jeep produced from 1951 to 1963. Its basis and already external features served as a prototype of the first "Vagonir", and he, in turn, laid the foundation for our hero.
In 1953, the company received a new name - "Willis Motors". Fortunately, the Jeep division remained with the new company. Only the production of passenger cars went to Willis.
The 60s were perhaps the most important in the history of the Jeep: it was at this time that the off-road vehicle (SUV) market was formed. Back in the mid-50s, 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-Wagoner" (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. By the way, back in 1949, the name "Universal" ("universal") was assigned to a series of "civilian jeeps" - "CJ".
The 2/4-door "Wagoner" with a 2.79-meter wheelbase was the first utility vehicle with an automatic transmission, in which the design and comfort of a passenger car 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 Wagonier's engine, the Tornado, was the only overhead camshaft power unit in America.
Six months after the launch of the new J-series of the Willys-Overland company, the end came. But not in the literal sense. Just in March 1963, Willis Motors was renamed the Kaiser Jeep Corporation. Change, fortunately, has not slowed down the pace of expansion model range. In turn, "Wagonier" in the same year received additional "horses" in the form of a 250-horsepower V6 "Vigilante".
In December 1965, Jeep dealers exhibited in their showrooms a car that had attracted the attention of the public at nine American showrooms for 11 months, the Super Wagoner. It represented a new, unique approach to the station wagon market... cars designed for a customer who increasingly understands the benefits of all-wheel drive. While elegant in appearance, the car offered traditional J-family all-terrain characteristics. Two years later, the Hydromatic automatic transmission was installed on this series of Jeeps.
In the late 60s, 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 Wagonir and Super Wagonir belonged.
The entry into the new "ten-year period" was marked for "Jeep" by another change of ownership. On February 5, 1970, American Motors Corporation (AMC) acquired Kaiser Jeep Corporation for $70 million. And again, the change of owners not only improved the already good position in the market. For the Jeep Wagonier, 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, Wagonir underwent some technical improvements. His new Quad Truck transmission was the first fully automatic permanent system for a four-wheel drive vehicle (with a self-locking differential).
The following year saw the birth of a new name, 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 "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 Wagoner, in the future it was he who turned out to be the most popular car in the history of Jeep Motors.
In 1978, a limited series of "Wagonir" was launched - a modification of the "Limited" (with a leather interior, radio and a lot of chrome).
In connection with the energy crisis that began in 1979, the production of large Gladiator pickups and Wagoner station wagons fell sharply. But civilian jeeps of the CJ series went like hot cakes.
In 1984, the company launched new versions of the 2/4-door Cherokee, as well as the 4-door Wagoner, 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. It took six years for competitors to “get” a Jeep in this segment. The success of the Jeep, and the Cherokee in particular, was not fleeting. The car was named the best SUV in 1984.
Buyers of the growing off-road segment now, in addition to the characteristic features of a 4 × 4 car - cross-country ability, reliability, durability - also needed the comfort and functionality previously associated with passenger cars. Jeep's response to market requests followed. Already in the spring of 1986, the Wrangler was born. The mechanical filling of the Wrangler was more similar to the Cherokee than the CJ7. Along with features such as comfort and good looks, the Wrangler offered the traditional virtues of the Jeep family—endurance and unsurpassed off-road ability.
On August 5, 1987, the American Motors Corporation, which had steadfastly withstood the blows of fate for decades, finally surrendered to the mercy of the government: it declared bankruptcy. All properties were sold. Jeep was acquired by the Chrysler Corporation.
"Jeep" entered the 90s fully armed. On March 22, 1990, the millionth SUV of the XJ series was produced - a bright red Cherokee Limited. In its seven years of production, the Cherokee not only became the epitome of exemplary off-road vehicle, but also the most popular model of the Chrysler Corporation in Europe.
To commemorate Jeep's 50th anniversary, Chrysler released a new version of the Cherokee with a 190-horsepower, 4-liter PowerTechSix engine that would be the new SUV ideal. The real name of this car, the company decided, would be the Grand Cherokee, and wealthy people whose associations about high level security, comfort, and prestige had previously been limited to respectable vehicles imported from abroad. In other words, Jeep decided to bring a touch of luxury to the strict and, in general, simple world of SUVs in order to attract not only farmers of the Wild West, but also wealthy people to their products.
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 upgrades in terms of engine, chassis, electronic systems and interior. 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 dealt with the Grand Cherokee, the Jeep design team took up the Wrangler, a descendant of the glorious Jeeps, from which the history of the company began. Engineers needed to create the second generation of the Jeep Wrangler.
By that time, the Wrangler had been going without significant changes for almost nine years and occupied 50% of the market. compact SUVs. Despite such an impressive position of the car and the fact that 1994 was a record year for the number of Wranglers sold, the company had something to think about. Rivals understood the full potential of the market and attacked it with new and varied models.
The goal for the successor to the Wrangler was the same as for the new Grand Cherokee - to set new standards in the off-road world. However, the circumstances and conditions for the creation of the "Jeep" were different. The Wrangler was a direct descendant of the original World War II Jeep and was regarded around the world as something of an "American icon". The car on the market was unique and was the quintessence of the company's traditions (jeepness - "jeepness", as the Americans called it). The successor had to not only keep his "jeep", not only to remain an icon of the American "off-road" industry, but also to raise the tradition to a qualitatively new level. But one thing had to remain unchanged - the name "Wrangler". "Wrangler" is a synonym for "cowboy".
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.
Jeep currently sells its vehicles in over a hundred countries. In Europe, for example, Jeep currently sells three of its models, the Wrangler, Cherokee, and Grand Cherokee. The latter two account for 18% of the European off-road vehicle market.
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