- Wrangler Rubicon wins 4-Wheel & Off-Road’s 2007 4x4 of the Year
competition
- Four Wheeler names Wrangler Rubicon 2007 Four Wheeler of the Year
- Wrangler Unlimited recognised by Popular Science as a 19th Annual “Best of
What’s New”
- All-new Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited to be launched in Australia March
2007
Melbourne- The all-new 2007 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon and Wrangler Unlimited,
due for Australian launch in March 2007, have notched a trio of prestigious
awards in the United States within two weeks, the latest recognition in Jeep
Wrangler’s 65-year storied history.
“The Jeep Wrangler is the undisputed global icon in four-wheel driving,” said
Gerry Jenkins, managing director, Chrysler Group Australia.
“And the all-new 2007 Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited take rugged capability
and refinement to new levels as these awards testify.
“We’re very proud to have been recognised with not one, but three of the most
prestigious US awards in the automotive business ahead of the new model’s local
launch in March next year,” said Jenkins.
On October 31, 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine announced that the Jeep
Wrangler Rubicon ranked highest among eight competitors for 4x4 of the Year,
using a 1,000-mile (1,609 kilometres) test of each vehicle’s suspension, engine,
transmission and transfer case. Consideration was also given to style and
creature comforts. 2007 marked the magazine’s 25th annual evaluation for 4x4 of
the Year. This was the 11th time that a Jeep vehicle has won the award.
On November 1, Four Wheeler magazine named the Wrangler Rubicon winner of the
Four Wheeler of the Year award for 2007, besting a field of seven new
sport-utility vehicles. The week-long competition incorporated a 1,000-mile
(1,609 kilometres) test drive on city streets, gravel roads, desert dunes and
rocky trails at elevations ranging from sea level to 7,000 feet (2,134 metres).
Test criteria measured on- and off-road performance, interior refinements,
safety features and exterior fit and finish. The magazine’s Four Wheeler of the
Year competition has been held annually since 1974.
This week, Popular Science magazine named the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the
four-door version of the Wrangler, as one of only 10 automotive winners in the
“Best of What’s New” for 2007. Every year, Popular Science reviews thousands of
new products and technologies, narrowing its focus to the 100 most impressive
advancements in 10 categories, including gadgets, computing, engineering,
recreation and automotive.
Jeep Wrangler in Australia
The Jeep Wrangler has been extremely popular in Australia since its 1996
launch. Whilst the vehicle has advanced mechanically and equipment levels have
improved, the styling has proved consistently popular with customers seeking a
legendary and rugged product from Jeep.
In 2005 the current model Wrangler had its best ever year with 1,597 sales
topping even the model’s first full year on sale in 1997 (1,458 sales). Last
month’s Wrangler sales (October 2007) of 160 were its best of the year and the
fourth month of 100-plus deliveries.
“It’s no surprise that the current model Wrangler continues to sell so
strongly. With prices starting from just $29,990 it represents unbeatable
value,” said Jenkins.
Jeep Brand
Jeep, one of the most recognised brands in the world, is celebrating its 65th
anniversary in 2006. In 1941, the Willys-Overland company delivered to the U.S.
Army 1,500 light reconnaissance vehicles called the Willys Quad. Improved
vehicles were called the MA and MB, but eventually, those vehicles came to be
known simply as the Jeep. More than 368,000 were built for use during World War
II.
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