Due to upgraded emissions standards, DaimlerChrysler is ceasing production of the Liberty CRD. This is definitely a step backwards in terms of building vehicles that don’t need to run on gasoline. Hopefully, Daimler will rethink this decision in the future. This also does not appear to be a positive sign for a Wrangler CRD within the borders of the United States any time soon.
Hopefully the diesel version of the Grand Cherokee will be a successful vehicle for Daimler, so that it will be apparent what a good business decision creating alternative fuel capabilities is.
While DaimlerChrysler’s Jeep brand is touting its plan to build a Grand Cherokee with a fuel-efficient diesel engine, the automaker quietly ended production of a successful diesel version of its Jeep Liberty SUV for the U.S. market.
The reason? The engine for the compact SUV doesn’t meet tougher federal emissions standards that go into effect next year, and Chrysler said it wasn’t cost-effective to the replace the engine with a more modern version.
“The emission standards are becoming very stringent, and we weren’t able to make a credible business case for a limited production vehicle,” Chrysler spokeswoman Dianna Gutierrez told The Detroit News.
Technorati Tags: Jeep CRD, Jeep Wrangler, Liberty CRD, Wrangler CRD
One thing you are not seeing is that the Liberty is redesigned for the 2008/09 models. D/C is retooling liberty plants staring some time this year and will only have one plant making the Liberty/KJ in the US for the next year. There is a very good chance you will see the new non KJ Liberty with Diesel in 09/10.
As for the Wrangler Diesel I hope to see it by 2010 and I think it will happen from what I have seen.