 Jeep Brand Gets New Design Head |
Business Week has a nice article summarizing some recent internal changes made at the new Chrysler. In addition to new design heads at Chrysler and Dodge, Mark Allen was named the new design big-cheese for the Jeep Brand:
Mark Allen, 46, was promoted to head of Jeep design from his previous position of chief of Dodge and Jeep truck design.
Jeep has the most going for it in terms of design, analysts say. Allen's prime directive will be to preserve and evolve the iconic Jeep look that makes the Wrangler a continued sales success relative to other models in the line-up. "Don't try to make Jeep what it's not," Hossack says. "Don't be selling these little crossover SUVs that won't go over anything other than wet grass. Make a Jeep a Jeep."
Allen is very familiar with Jeep's design heritage, having worked on the 2007 Liberty and 2006 Wrangler. And he certainly has experience with trucks that can tackle more than a damp lawn, after helping craft the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty, 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and 2008 Dodge Dakota.
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| JPFreek1 | Posted: 2009/8/11 16:11 Updated: 2009/8/11 16:11 |
Just popping in   Joined: 2006/12/8 From: Houston, Texas Posts: 14 |
 Re: Jeep Brand Gets New Design HeadWe actually featured an industry insider interview with Mark Allen, Jeep's new chief designer, in the current issue of JPFreek. If you'd like to see what the interview was like, check it out at the following URL:
www.jpfreek.com/current/current.html :) |
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| 01TJ | Posted: 2009/7/31 11:53 Updated: 2009/7/31 11:53 |
Just can't stay away  Joined: 2006/8/25 From: Posts: 109 |
Re: Jeep Brand Gets New Design Head If they want to give Jeep back it's edge they need to re-introduce the solid axle to the Grand Cherokee, Commander (or whatever it will be named in the future) let's say their 7 seater.
Offer the IFS on 4x2 and 4x4 models but also offer a Willis edition with a solid front axle. This is done today with pickup trucks IFS for 4x2 and solid axle for 4x4 so it is possible. If they have to go to a body on frame for the Grand to make it more feasible so be it. I think this would really make Jeep stand out from the competition. You cannot get a solid axle in a Land Rover, Range Rover or any other "SUV" these days. |
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| hanser | Posted: 2009/7/24 23:34 Updated: 2009/7/24 23:37 |
Just popping in Joined: 2006/6/16 From: North of Detroit Posts: 14 |
Re: Jeep Brand Gets New Design Head This is great news! Mark Allen is also the head of Chrysler's Mopar Underground Team, the group responsible for the "Lower Forty" concept JK, you know, the red one with a Hemi under the hood & rolling on 40" Baja Claws! Check out this article from JP Magazine:
http://www.jpmagazine.com/featuredvehicles/154_0908_2008_jeep_wrangler_jk_lower_forty/index.html They produced a couple of JK-based pickups as well. Maybe we will finally see some badass Wrangler variants instead of front wheel drive cars and IFS suv's with Jeep grilles. Real Jeeps have solid axles. |
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| tommcg | Posted: 2009/7/23 10:36 Updated: 2009/7/23 10:36 |
Just popping in Joined: 2005/10/6 From: Posts: 10 |
Re: Jeep Brand Gets New Design Head i guess they mean he worked on the 2008 liberty (which arrived in 2007) and 2007 wrangler (which arrived in 2006), right? otherwise he worked on two jeeps that got absolutely no design changes from their prior years.
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| myhotwheels22981 | Posted: 2009/7/23 2:48 Updated: 2009/7/23 2:48 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2002/3/22 From: Posts: 247 |
Re: Jeep Brand Gets New Design Head Mabye they will finally, finally, FINALLY get the Willys concept, hopefully as a PiHV...Jeeps should be convertible, we already have the Liberty and the GC, why did we need 2 more hardtop, car-based GirlUV's in the first place?
If Jeep needs a high mileage car, make it the Willys, with 32x9 tires on 18 inch rims. Even with a turbo 1.5L and 6 speed it would still get 32 m.p.g. highway if it had a mild hybrid drivetrain. But it would shine as a PiHV, 40 miles EV city range...High ground clearance...2 speed transfer case...simple interior...Ipod entertainment system. |
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| tmedlock | Posted: 2009/7/22 11:02 Updated: 2009/7/22 12:15 |
Just can't stay away Joined: 2007/1/11 From: New Hampshire Posts: 83 |
 Re: Jeep Brand Gets New Design HeadSo maybe there is hope then. Perhaps if they start work now they can offer an optional 300hp motor in the Wrangler by 2015 when it is time for me to upgrade again.
 I just want to be able to run the AC and pass on the highway at the same time. Leave everything else alone. The rest of the car (correction: Utility Vehicle) is perfect. Is that to much to ask? |
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However, I definitely DON'T think of a Wrangler as an SUV (which is why I didn't initially say Utility Vehicle). I think the original spec called the jeep (mb) a "1/4-ton 4x4 Truck". But, I am not sure about that. What is the technical difference between a Utility Vehicle and a Truck? Is there one?
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