All-New 2002 Jeep Liberty Delivers Brand's Hallmark Off-Highway Capability and Superior On-road Ride and Handling
7 January 2001
DETROIT - With the introduction of the 2002 Liberty, Jeep will hope to move to the forefront of engineering by delivering a unique combination of ruggedness, capability and superior on-road refinement that sets this all-new vehicle apart from the pack in true Jeep tradition. The Liberty joins the already formidable Jeep lineup as the newest member of the legendary brand that defined sport-utility vehicles during its 60-year history. The all-new Jeep Liberty was created to expand the breadth of the Jeep lineup and broaden the brand's global appeal. Not only for traditional Jeep buyers, this vehicle is also for a new generation of SUV buyers who value on-road refinement and ruggedness. Building on themes illustrated by the Dakar and Jeepster concept vehicles, Liberty features short front and rear overhangs and a very upright profile to deliver efficient space utilization, command of the road seating and excellent road presence. The Jeep Liberty stands apart from the new generation of less capable compact SUVs. "The all-new Jeep Liberty stands alone in the world market because it combines legendary Jeep capability that our customers have come to expect with superior on-road refinement to broaden our buyer base even further," said Rich Schaum, Executive Vice President - Product Development and Quality & General Manager Passenger Car Operations, DaimlerChrysler Corporation. The 2002 Jeep Liberty was engineered with a wide array of new features that make it as capable off-highway as it is competent on any interstate. Major features include: All-new 3.7-liter PowerTech V-6 The 3.7-liter V-6 engine is designed with similar architecture to the highly acclaimed 4.7-liter V-8 engine which powers the Grand Cherokee. This engine features a 90-degree even-firing V-6, a cast iron block and bedplate, aluminum cylinder heads and a balance shaft. Output is 210 hp @ 5200 rpm (157 kW @ 5200 rpm) and 225-ft. lbs. @ 4000 rpm (305 kW @ 4000 rpm). This all-new V-6 shares many technology features with the 4.7-liter V-8 including: * Chain-driven single overhead cams for superior performance and long- term durability * Fabricated tubular camshaft with powder metal lobes for reduced engine weight * Zero-leaks engine sealing system proven successful on the 4.7-liter engine * Direct mount accessories with a single belt drive for reduced vibration, harshness and weight Features unique to the 3.7-liter: * Gear driven balance shaft to minimize engine vibration * Composite intake manifold with individual tuned runners on each cylinder to improve overall performance * Active knock sensor system to improve engine performance and reliability The 3.7-liter equipped with a multi-speed automatic transmission provides 5,000 pound towing capability that can't be beat. Both this engine and the 2.4-liter PowerTech I-4 are available with a 5-speed manual transmission. New 2.5-liter Direct Injection 4-cylinder Turbodiesel (for international markets) The new 2.5-liter direct injection turbodiesel engine features a cast-iron cylinder block and a one-piece aluminum cylinder head with 16-valves. It provides 140 hp @ 4000 rpm (105 kW @ 4000 rpm) and 253-ft. lbs. @ 1800 rpm (343 kW @ 1800 rpm). For improved performance and fuel efficiency this engine features belt driven overhead cams, state-of-the-art direct fuel injection and counter rotating balance shafts. Vehicles equipped with this engine also have a viscous heater system to supplement passenger compartment heat. All-new Jeep Independent Front Suspension An all-new Jeep-engineered coil sprung independent front suspension combines excellent overall ride and handling and precise steering control with Rubicon-tested capabilities. The generous eight-inch suspension travel ensures hallmark Jeep off-highway performance. Sturdy, cast iron lower and forged steel upper control arms coupled to a cast iron steering knuckle with permanently lubricated ball joints provide a stable base for the front suspension. This design not only gives consumers confidence about the vehicle's robustness and durability, but improves rough road ride by reducing the vehicle's unsprung weight. Link-Coil Rear Suspension from Grand Cherokee A link-coil rear suspension, similar to that on the Grand Cherokee, provides a smooth, comfortable ride. This system provides a more comfortable ride than leaf springs because coil springs have less static and dynamic friction. This configuration also provides a roll center closer to the vehicle's center of gravity to reduce body lean during cornering. The trailing A-shaped upper arm's sturdy, box section construction, tuned to provide extremely high stiffness, helps isolate axle and road noise. Box section lower control arms provide exceptional durability. Progressive rate springs in the standard suspension system provide a consistently comfortable ride and help maintain controlled handling under varying load conditions. All-new Rack and Pinion Steering Engineered to maintain Jeep off-highway ruggedness, a precise rack and pinion steering system provides on-road steering control. Effort, feel and response are tuned to give the driver accurate control and positive feedback. Steering response is precise and consistent with steering wheel input, while retaining the fun-to-drive quality Jeep owners have come to expect. Innovative Swing Gate / Flipper Glass Design For quick and easy access to the cargo area, Liberty features a patented single-action swing gate / flipper glass system. The swing gate opens from the curb-side of the vehicle for safe, convenient loading. A unique pull-type latch mechanism makes the opening of the flipper glass window and swing gate an intuitive, one-motion operation versus competitive multiple step operation. Pulling the release handle performs both operations, as the latch includes a detent to separate the functions. Pressing the cargo door button on the keyless entry transmitter or turning the key in the swing gate lock also opens the flipper glass window. Sixty Years Experience in Building Capable Off-highway Vehicles The Liberty, like each of today's Jeep vehicles, is a direct descendant of the first Jeep model and offers unrivaled capability and toughness. When the first Jeep vehicle was created there was no such thing as a sport-utility market. The main customers were the Allied Forces seeking to restore peace during the Second World War. It was conceived as a replacement for the trusty motorbike used to carry messages between US Army units. Some 60 years later, Jeep engineers still know the formula for creating truly capable off-highway vehicles. Key features include: * Standard Command Trac(R) and optional Selec Trac(R) transfer cases including low range mode to provide traction on four-wheel drive vehicles * Jeep-designed independent front suspension / link coil rear / progressive rate springs * Jeep-engineered Uniframe construction that is both stiffer and lighter than body on frame construction used by truck based competitors * Generous suspension travel, approach and departure angles * Unique engine and ABS calibrations and clutch interlock defeat in low range * Water fording capabilities for off-highway trails and flooded underpasses * Available off-road group including Trac-Lok, all-terrain tires and skid plates * Jeep ruggedness ensured by durability testing derived from the original test used to qualify Jeep vehicles for military use, including 15,000 off- highway miles, and validation on challenging off-highway trails including the famed Rubicon Trail -- a benefit to consumers who use their vehicles mostly on-road as well Liberty Delivers Refined Safety Jeep also has a long tradition of integrating safety into every vehicle -- and Liberty represents the next chapter in that history. "We know that safety is a major concern for buyers in the SUV market," said Craig Love, Vice President Jeep Platform Engineering, DaimlerChrysler. "The 2002 Jeep Liberty builds on the rock-solid safety reputation that Jeep already owns. The result is a vehicle that, from top to bottom, offers as much safety and security as it does performance." Whether the all-new Jeep Liberty is carrying people to the mall or to the mountains, safety is always an integral part. Important active and passive safety features provide protection and peace of mind customers expect from the sport-utility pioneer: * Sturdy construction with high-strength alloy steel for a network of steel beams, rails and pillars, creating a "safety cage" that surrounds and protects occupants * Standard multi-stage driver and passenger front air bags designed to deploy at different levels depending on the severity of the crash and whether the occupant is buckled in * Available side curtain air bags for additional head protection for both front and rear outboard occupants * Seat belt pretensioner in the driver's position and constant force retractors for both the driver and the front passenger * A lap-and-shoulder seatbelt in the center rear seating position * Larger, thicker, full-cast brake rotors with greater heat capacity and larger, stiffer calipers in front combined with an available new, integrated anti-lock brake system that includes electronic brake distribution for optimal braking performance * Available theft deterrent system and keyless entry fob which can program owner preferences, such as unlocking the driver's door only, for added security DaimlerChrysler's Toledo North Assembly Plant Represents Worldwide Best Practices DaimlerChrysler's newest assembly plant, the Toledo North Assembly Plant, represents the culmination of best practices from the company's worldwide operations for lean, flexible, high-quality production. Slated to begin customer production of the all-new Jeep Liberty in the Spring of 2001, the facility is currently producing pre-production prototype vehicles to validate quality, train employees and refine manufacturing processes. "As our newest assembly plant, the Toledo North Assembly Plant is the culmination of the latest manufacturing best practices from our operations worldwide, and like all our plants, is a learning field of innovative processes," said Gary Henson, Executive Vice President Manufacturing, DaimlerChrysler. "We designed the facility to be flexible and lean, and we have 'error-proofed' our processes to ensure top quality. It's also a great example of incorporating new technology from our colleagues at Mercedes-Benz." These best practices include: * Manufacturing processes to ensure top quality * Synergies with Mercedes-Benz to yield manufacturing best practices * Flexible manufacturing to enable facility to add new products and changeover quickly * Virtual manufacturing to enable company to build plant for only $54 per square foot -- an industry benchmark