Interview with head of Jeep design

[haven]

Truck Trend has an interview with Mark Allen, head of Jeep design. The interview includes the following quote

"I don't know if I'd consider body on frame as that big a part of the Jeep identity...I wouldn't say body on frame is a driving factor in how we build the next Wrangler."

Interesting read.

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/c...ign/index.html

[forsakenfuture]

hmmmm.....I dont know that I agree with that statement.

[JIMBO]

Thanx for the report--However

I can't imagine a Wrangler, 2dr/4dr, without a frame to support the front/rear axles/xfer case/tranny as rigidity/torsional strength for the acrobatics the jeep CAN DO--

We gonna have to wait-and-see !

JIMBO

[Plannerman]

hmmmm.....I dont know that I agree with that statement.

X2


Sent via fat thumb

[Utah KJ]

The Italians are in charge now, Jeep is going Euro.

[richjeeps]

Truck Trend has an interview with Mark Allen, head of Jeep design. The interview includes the following quote

"I don't know if I'd consider body on frame as that big a part of the Jeep identity...I wouldn't say body on frame is a driving factor in how we build the next Wrangler."

Interesting read.

I KNOW I don't agree! It sounds to me that he's out of touch with the "real" Jeepers of the world and wants to appeal to corpporate tends/pressure to market to mall-crawlers. I also believe he is trying to stir-up contrversy. 1 - To get more publicity and 2 to encourage people to run out and buy a new on now before they make changes.

[haven]

In fairness, Allen is quoted as saying, "I consider tractive capability more the core of what Jeep is. It really doesn't matter if it's body on frame or not, it's all about the capability."

If a future Wrangler had Rubicon-like capability, but was a unibody chassis like the Grand Cherokee, would the Jeep faithful still buy it?

[grecy]

I think the whole quote explains it better:

I don't know if I'd consider body-on-frame as that big a part of the Jeep identity. I consider tractive capability more of the core of what Jeep is. It really doesn't matter if it's body-on-frame or not, it's all about the capability.

I agree with that 100%. I'll bet ditching body-on-frame would result in a stiffer vehicle, lighter vehicle and better mileage.
If it's still as capable or more capable off road, I say go for it!

-Dan

[JIMBO]

I'm afraid that if they decide to goto "unibody", then they'll
do away with the front axle--goto AWD and offer IFS--I'm not gonna go for that-

JIMBO

[grecy]

I'm afraid that if they decide to goto "unibody", then they'll
do away with the front axle--goto AWD and offer IFS--I'm not gonna go for that-

JIMBO

If you read the whole article you can see Mark is happy & proud the Rubicon Wrangler is the most capable off-road vehicle you can buy.
From everything else he says, I think it's extremely unlikely they are going to do anything to compromise on that, like going wimpy AWD.

-Dan