AutoWeek Names Jeep® Wrangler as One of its Coolest Summer Cars

Jeep® Wrangler sales continue to gain momentum for fifth month in a row
Jeep Wrangler captures 33 percent share of Compact SUV segment
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited four-door accounts for 60 percent of Wrangler sales




Auburn Hills, Mich., Jun 4, 2009 - With summer just around the corner, AutoWeek magazine named the 2009 Jeep Wrangler as one of its top 10 Coolest Summer Cars for 2009.
"It doesn't get any more all-American than a Jeep Wrangler,” said Dutch Mandel – Editor and Associate Publisher, AutoWeek. “And with its removable top and off-roading ability, you can drive it anywhere and have a ball doing it."

Jeep Wrangler continued its strong upward sales trend for the fifth month in a row, with May 2009 sales of 9,294 units. Year-to-date, 44,080 Jeep Wranglers have been sold, up 11 percent from last year. Jeep Wrangler has a 33 percent share of the Compact SUV segment.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited four-door also continues to be a hit, comprising 60 percent of all 4X4 Wrangler sales for 2009.

“More than 68 years ago, Jeep created the SUV category with the introduction of the Wrangler,” said Mike Accavitti – Director Brand Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “Today, our Jeep Wrangler remains an icon, set apart by its purpose-built design and ultimate capability.”

About Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited
The two-door Jeep Wrangler remains true to its heritage as the original, extreme fun-and-freedom machine and is the only 4x4 with multiple open-air options.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the only four-door open-air SUV on the market with room for five adult passengers and is extremely popular with customers who want a Jeep Wrangler, but need additional space and versatility.

Standard on both models is the innovative Sunrider® soft top, which includes a sun roof in addition to the full top-down option. Wrangler’s available Freedom Top,® a three-piece modular hard top, features three panels – left and right front-passenger panels and a rear panel – providing more options for open-air driving. Either top may be completely removed for a complete open-air experience.

The powerplant for all 2009 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited models is a 3.8-liter V-6 engine producing 202 horsepower (151 kW) and 237 lb.-ft. (321 N•m) of torque, backed by a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an available four-speed automatic transmission.

About the Jeep Brand
The Jeep brand is purpose-built for adventurous lifestyles. With more than 68 years of legendary 4x4 capability, the Jeep brand continues to fulfill promises of adventure, liberation and independence for those who truly embrace life, whether traveling on- or off-road. The ruggedness and responsiveness of Jeep vehicles provide owners with a sense of security to handle any situation with confidence.

The Jeep product line includes the brand icon, the Jeep Wrangler; the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited; the popular mid-size Jeep Liberty (Cherokee outside North America); the venerable Jeep Grand Cherokee; the seven-passenger Jeep Commander; and the Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass with all-new redesigned interiors and fuel economy of 28 mpg.

About AutoWeek
AutoWeek magazine is an automotive-enthusiast publication based in Detroit, and is one of more than 30 titles published by Crain Communications Inc.