Jeep kills diesel Liberty in U.S.

[Analog]

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.

Chrysler's move to stop selling the Liberty in the United States comes despite its success. Liberty sales more than doubled expectations of 5,000 units last year.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060605/AUTO01/606050348/1148

 

[PricklyPete]

Sighh. I really want Diesel engines to catch on here...but I also don't want it at the expense of poor emmissions. Here's to hoping that Daimler-Chrysler start using some of the new technology they've been developing for cleaner diesels in cars other than top end Mercedes. I'd love to see a diesel in a Chyrsler 300 or something like that.

 

[imported_Pablo]

That's some crap. I'm a big proponent of biodiesel, but I can't afford to buy a $35k+ truck to run it in. That's about all that's going to be available if regulations continue the way that they are. There is some SERIOUS money being put into hydrogen fuel cell technology in Washington, but it seems that there is a VERY slim chance of anything happening in the next 5-10 years.

I just bought a suburban.

 

[Triumph]

Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

No kidding. People bitch about gas prices, politicians preach about our energy independence then the one thing that could give us a relief from both they regulate out of existence. DAMNIT I hate politicians and tree hugging hippies.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Fun fact:
UPS is going to diesel trucks.
They use them in Oregon for 6 months before sending them into California
Why? Because California charges a $500/vehicle environmental impact fee (which beats the hell out of $80 bi annual smog checks if you own your car for a long time). After 6 months, it's no longer a new vehicle.

I bet there's some UPS guy wondering why he gets a new truck every year.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'd rather have a diesel Grand Cherokee anyway.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

No kidding. People bitch about gas prices, politicians preach about our energy independence then the one thing that could give us a relief from both they regulate out of existence. DAMNIT I hate politicians and tree hugging hippies.

The MTBE problem was caused by tree hugging hippies. They clamored to have it put in, and then later clamored to have it removed when they found out that it caused WATER pollution.

 

[Eltano1]

I just came back from Europe (Germany, Austria and Italy), where I rented a VW (Phaeton), and I did not realized that it was Diesel until I need to refuel it. Great mpg and better performance, I put the car up to 200 km/h (about 120 MPH) without any problem. I wish we have more of those engines here.

Eltano

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Eltano1
I just came back from Europe (Germany, Austria and Italy), where I rented a VW (Phaeton), and I did not realized that it was Diesel until I need to refuel it. Great mpg and better performance, I put the car up to 200 km/h (about 120 MPH) without any problem. I wish we have more of those engines here.

Eltano

VW is trying, but the tightening of emissions laws is making things tough for them. The electronics & mechanical parts required to keep the diesels compliant is not cost effective compared to other options. In fact, VW is looking to pull their diesel options all together after the 2006 Jetta TDI's are all sold here in the US.

The alternative they are looking into is putting both a supercharger and a turbocharger on a small displacement gasoline engine. The emissions are much easier to hit on the gasoline based engines and the combination of boost devices yield good power throughout all RPM's. Fuel economy is quite good and so is accelleration. They are expensive to put together, but not really any more expensive than the very high tech parts they are having to put into the diesel engines.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: Eltano1
I just came back from Europe (Germany, Austria and Italy), where I rented a VW (Phaeton), and I did not realized that it was Diesel until I need to refuel it. Great mpg and better performance, I put the car up to 200 km/h (about 120 MPH) without any problem. I wish we have more of those engines here.

Eltano

VW's TDI engines are great. I don't think they sell the diesel Phaeton here in the states (if they sell it at all), but the TDI in the Jetta is an awesome combination. 50mpg with the manual transmission. I know a guy who has one, he estimates his max range at 700miles per tank of fuel.

That engine won't pass the emissions standards next year though, so there will be no TDI Jetta in 2007. They should have a new one ready for 2008.

 

[Armitage]

My uncle has one of these and ran into big problems when he got a batch of diesel with some water in it. It froze and did about $5K of damage to the engine - out of warranty as well.

 

[KB]

Damn those hippies for wanting clean air and less child-hood asthma. Damn them. Unfortunately these are growing pains and smart engineers will very shortly find ways to meet the regulations in an economical sense.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: KB
Damn those hippies for wanting clean air and less child-hood asthma. Damn them. Unfortunately these are growing pains and smart engineers will very shortly find ways to meet the regulations in an economical sense.

Can they do it before new regulations are put in? Back in 1995, an average of $6000 of a car's price went into emmissions equipment.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

The diesel in the Liberty was a piece of crap. It got mediocre mileage and as we see couldn't meet emissions regulations.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Fun fact:
UPS is going to diesel trucks.
They use them in Oregon for 6 months before sending them into California
Why? Because California charges a $500/vehicle environmental impact fee (which beats the hell out of $80 bi annual smog checks if you own your car for a long time). After 6 months, it's no longer a new vehicle.

I bet there's some UPS guy wondering why he gets a new truck every year.

Wtf?? They use gas trucks? No wonder their shipping rates are so high.

 

[LTC8K6]

Liberty sales more than doubled expectations of 5,000 units last year.

That should read "Diesel Liberty sales more than doubled expectations of 5,000 units last year."

The Liberty sold many times that number of units, actually.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

The diesel in the Liberty was a piece of crap. It got mediocre mileage and as we see couldn't meet emissions regulations.

True, it wasn't the greatest diesel, but at least it was offered. MORE small trucks and light to medium duty vehicles need diesels. A Colorado/Tacoma/Ranger/Dakota with a 4 cylinder that gets 25 mpg and has 200+ lb-ft of torque at idle? Where do I sign up?

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: KB
Damn those hippies for wanting clean air and less child-hood asthma. Damn them. Unfortunately these are growing pains and smart engineers will very shortly find ways to meet the regulations in an economical sense.

Can they do it before new regulations are put in? Back in 1995, an average of $6000 of a car's price went into emmissions equipment.

There's no incentive to do it without the regulations.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

The diesel in the Liberty was a piece of crap. It got mediocre mileage and as we see couldn't meet emissions regulations.

True, it wasn't the greatest diesel, but at least it was offered. MORE small trucks and light to medium duty vehicles need diesels. A Colorado/Tacoma/Ranger/Dakota with a 4 cylinder that gets 25 mpg and has 200+ lb-ft of torque at idle? Where do I sign up?

Nowhere, because Americans are stupid enough that they'd rather have a high horsepower gas engine, even in a truck. Even on the Jeeps Unlimited forum, people are always talking about getting more power, not getting better range, fuel economy, and low end torque.

I'd love a freaking Diesel. My WJ is getting an avg of about 18.5mpg after the PCM/TCM reflash for a 5th gear, with the mid 20s on level highway at 65... with a diesel I'd be getting in the 30s probably.

 

[OutHouse]

I saw the diesel liberty doing a road test here in colorado. I live just off I-76 and i see test cars with michigan plates doing road test all the time. Last weekend i saw a pack of 5 of them. they had the nose and tail covered i guess to stop spy shots.

anyway reason i remember the diesel liberty is because while i was passing them they all had a big yellow sticker with red writing under the gas cap that said "DIESEL" and i knew there were no diesel liberties or Cherokees. and yes there was a cherokee in the pack.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: Citrix
i knew there were no diesel liberties or Cherokees.

Diesel libertys have been on sale in the US for several years.

 

[drnickriviera]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

The diesel in the Liberty was a piece of crap. It got mediocre mileage and as we see couldn't meet emissions regulations.

True, it wasn't the greatest diesel, but at least it was offered. MORE small trucks and light to medium duty vehicles need diesels. A Colorado/Tacoma/Ranger/Dakota with a 4 cylinder that gets 25 mpg and has 200+ lb-ft of torque at idle? Where do I sign up?

I've been waiting for a small diesel for a looooong time. Ford was rumored to be working on one when I was shopping for a truck in 01', but that never came to life. I ended up with a Ram 2500 diesel.

I was talking with my neighbor who has a toyo truck. He's only getting 22mpg with a I-4. I thought that was pathetic considering i'm getting 18+-.


The last issue of TDR had an article on the new ultra low sulfer diesels. Right now we are running 500ppm. The new standard will be 15ppm. It says Euro standard is 50ppm.

Looks like there may be some issues with fuel lubricity and seal compatability.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: drnickriviera

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Triumph
Thank you, California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and a few others, for shooting yourselves in the foot and putting air pollution concerns higher than all others. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us.

The diesel in the Liberty was a piece of crap. It got mediocre mileage and as we see couldn't meet emissions regulations.

True, it wasn't the greatest diesel, but at least it was offered. MORE small trucks and light to medium duty vehicles need diesels. A Colorado/Tacoma/Ranger/Dakota with a 4 cylinder that gets 25 mpg and has 200+ lb-ft of torque at idle? Where do I sign up?

I've been waiting for a small diesel for a looooong time. Ford was rumored to be working on one when I was shopping for a truck in 01', but that never came to life. I ended up with a Ram 2500 diesel.

I was talking with my neighbor who has a toyo truck. He's only getting 22mpg with a I-4. I thought that was pathetic considering i'm getting 18+-.


The last issue of TDR had an article on the new ultra low sulfer diesels. Right now we are running 500ppm. The new standard will be 15ppm. It says Euro standard is 50ppm.

Looks like there may be some issues with fuel lubricity and seal compatability.

Why would their be issues? It's possible that the sulphur acts as a lubricant, but what would affect seals?

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: Pablo

Originally posted by: Citrix
i knew there were no diesel liberties or Cherokees.

Diesel libertys have been on sale in the US for several years.

It was a new option in 2005, which means it was available 2 years (05 and 06).

Besides the motor was complete trash. It got 25 mpg (rated at 21/27) as opposed to the 6 cylinder which got around 20 (rated at 18/23 or so) And as someone else said, the vehicle as a whole was trash.