Jeep stars in newest Tomb Raider Legend game

Lara Croft gets a new set of wheels in her newest Tomb Raider adventure, dubbed “Legend”. While playing the game you get a chance to drive Jeep’s new Commander and Rubicon models in numerous scenes

For more information and to download the game demo trailer, follow this link: http://www.jeep.com/games/tombraider.html

PRESS RELEASE: GAME FEATURES

· Lara Croft evolved! - The dual-pistol wielding heroine is presented like never before with new graphic and animation sets, presenting Lara in the finest fidelity to date.

· Return to the tombs! - Discover and explore living breathing, lost ancient realms that hold clues to the secrets of Lara's past. Physics, Water and Fire systems bring the perilous environments of Lara's world alive, and challenge the player to improvise solutions to obstacles.

· Lara and her foes employ realistically modeled Jeep vehicles in numerous action sequences and cinematics that take place in regions all over the globe. Jeep vehicles and Lara Croft go hand in hand. The rugged determination and go-anywhere-handle-anything qualities shared by both Jeep vehicles and Lara Croft make an unforgettable partnership between the two.

· The Intuitive and Fluid Control System movement allows you to keep Lara in continuous motion; seamlessly handle any obstacle and interact dynamically with any surface.

· Experience the new legend of the Tomb Raider series! - the future of the adrenaline-fueled adventure meets the promise of the next generation gaming systems.

· Utilize strength and intelligence on your quest! - use the grappling hook, an arsenal of new weapons, communications devices, and other tools to achieve your goals.

· Travel the globe to the world's most exotic locales! - explore ancient tombs, treacherous jungles, snowy mountain ranges, and much more...

Technorati Tags: auto+news, Jeep, Commander, Rubicon, games, adventure, action, Tomb+Raider, Lara+Croft, images, pictures, press+release

Random thoughts: The Frankenstein car age

Random thoughts: The Frankenstein car age

BY the mid 90’s, MPV’s and SUV’s had taken the world by surprise, forcing even moderate companies such as Mercedes and Porsche to succumb in the temptation of presenting a proposal to meet their car lusting consumers needs.

So what if an MPV owner used his car’s seven seats less frequent than a pig takes a bath. Who cares if the most difficult obstacle that a 21’’ rim SUV will pass is the pavement of its owner’s front yard. All that matters is the feeling of uniqueness that these vehicles give to their owners. However, fashion brings sales and sales, saturation.

So now, people think: “Is it worth giving up good road manners and mild consumption for, limited or even worse, zero, exploitation of my SUV’s or MPV’s capabilities? From the moment that sales eliminated the image factor, the answer is NO.

The automobile world has taken the message and its getting ready for the future with a new bread of models. Following the example of geneticists, car industries found the answer in mixing various car-DNA characteristics in order to create myriads of subcategories that promise to satisfy consumers most boldest dreams with the least possible compromises.

The latest example of this category-mixing up philosophy is the European Ford S-MAX with DNA from MPV and hot hatchbacks. Ooh and don’t forget the American Jeep Patriot and Compass models that supplement the Cherokee in Jeep’s triad (!) of compact SUV’s. One is more stylish, one is more capable off road and the other is … well, I believe even they don’t know what the heck it is.

As this is just the dawn of the Frankenstein car age, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I saw BMW for example, bringing its Z18 concept to life, adding a pint of MPV versatility and a electric folding metal roof top, thus creating the worlds first coupe-cabrio -MPV –SUV called the ZXM 4…But wait, didn’t Chevrolet sort of beat them to that with the "highly succesful" SSR...?

Don’t know about you, but seems to me that car manufactures are trying to make something like a horseradish flavoured, pink coloured, square watermelon…

2007 Jeep Patriot Official Release

Based on the concept first introduced at the 2005 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, the 2007 Patriot is Jeep’s second attempt at the compact SUV category, after the Compass.

The Patriot is a more traditional 4-door Jeep wagon, while the Compass is intended as a sporty "hot hatch" crossover like the Toyota Matrix. The Dodge Caliber on the other hand is a combination of these two segments.

The Patriot will use a four-cylinder 2.4 litre gasoline engine and a 2.0 litre Volkswagen-designed turbo diesel engine for the European market. The car will also feature an electronically-controlled all wheel drive system with variable torque between speeds of 25 and 65 mph for optimal handling Jeep Patriot will compete in the compact SUV segment, which is expected to almost triple in the next 10 years, giving the Jeep brand the opportunity to grow with it

Official Press Release: Most Capable Vehicle in its Class

Jeep Patriot is available in three drivetrain configurations. In addition to the standard front-wheel-drive system, Jeep Patriot also is available with Freedom Drive I and the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package.

Freedom Drive I is an available full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with Lock mode designed to give drivers year-round assurance, as well as the ability to handle rough weather and low-traction conditions. This active four-wheel-drive system is recommended for daily use, including driving in snow and rain. Freedom Drive I features a lockable center coupling, giving drivers the ability to put the Jeep Patriot in four-wheel-drive Lock mode to handle deeper snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces.

The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is an available four-wheel-drive system that makes the Jeep Patriot a Trail Rated 4x4, creating the most capable vehicle in the crowded compact SUV class. The Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package includes a second-generation continuously variable transaxle with a low range (CVT2L) that engages when the off-road mode is activated, 17-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, air-filtration system, skid plates, tow hooks, fog lamps and seat height adjuster. The available Freedom Drive II Off-Road Package is recommended for true off-road situations that include steep grades, wheel lift and rock or log climbing.

Jeep Utility From the Inside and Out

Jeep Patriot’s flexible interior gives buyers the capability to do more in terms of seating friends and storing gear. A command-of-the-road seating position gives drivers an added feeling of control. Jeep Patriot has 39.6 inches of rear seat leg room, 54.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded flat and 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the front passenger seat back and rear seats folded flat, giving plenty of room for an 8-foot ladder, skis or two-by-fours from the lumber yard.

World-class Engineering

Patriot features a standard 2.4-liter World Engine that produces 172-horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque. This 2.4-liter World Engine has dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts, which helps optimize the torque curve at all speeds and produces more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without dual VVT.

Jeep Patriot also features a standard five-speed manual transaxle and an available CVT. The Patriot’s CVT2 is a second-generation CVT that Chrysler Group engineers calibrated for pleasing engine response and precise ratio control.

A 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, paired with a six-speed manual transaxle, will be available for Jeep Patriot in key diesel markets outside North America.

2007 Jeep Patriot Production

Production of the 2007 Jeep Patriot begins in the third quarter of 2006 at the newly refurbished Belvidere Assembly Plant. The new 172-horsepower 2.4-liter World Engine that powers the Patriot is built in the state-of-the-art Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance Assembly (GEMA) assembly plant in Dundee, Mich.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee Startech V6 3.0 CRD

262 HP FOR THE GRAND CHEROKEE 3.0 V6 CRD

PRESS RELEASE: The third generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has arrived and STARTECH presents an exclusive refinement program for the SUV. The extensive product lineup is characterized not only by its professional engineering and innovative design: All components also offer exceptional quality. For the 3.0 CRD model with common-rail turbodiesel engine STARTECH offers the new SD6 performance kit and a particulate filter.

Equipped with the new STARTECH SD6 tuning kit the V6 diesel produces a maximum power output of 262 hp / 193 kW compared to 218 hp / 160 kW for the non-tuned version. At the same time peak torque grows from 510 Nm to 580 Nm between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm. The added 44 hp / 33 kW are available for 1,590 Euros.

The STARTECH SD6 performance kit consists of an auxiliary computer control unit that can be installed in less than 30 minutes by authorized Chrysler dealer, thanks to the included wire harness and installation instructions.

With STARTECH SD6 tuning performance of the SUV improves noticeably: The sprint to 100 km/h is shortened from 9.2 seconds for the production car to 8.5 seconds for the STARTECH-tuned version. Top speed increases to 210 km/h.

To make the new Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD even more environmentally friendly STARTECH offers a diesel particulate filter for vehicles with or without STARTECH engine tuning. The OEM-quality filter for the common-rail turbodiesel V6 is designed to be easily installed by any authorized Chrysler dealer. No modifications to the engine electronics are required. Both engine performance and fuel consumption remain at low production-car levels.

The STARTECH Monostar IV 9Jx20 light-alloy wheels are immediate eye catchers. The striking five-spoke wheels lend the Grand Cherokee an even more exclusive appearance. But that's not all: Shod with Pirelli tires in size 265/45 ZR 20 all-around they also give the SUV even more agile handling with further increased safety reserves.

The STARTECH suspension kit is specially calibrated to the use with sporty low-profile tires. It lowers the ride height by some 30 millimeters and further improves cornering ability due to the lowered center of gravity.

The exclusive looks of the American 4x4 is not only characterized by the large STARTECH 20-inch wheels: The STARTECH designer also created exterior components that are as attractive as they are functional.

The front of the new Grand Cherokee is customized with the strikingly styled STARTECH front apron. Its counterpart in the rear is a custom-shaped apron that features cutouts for the two characteristic oval chrome tailpipes of the STARTECH sport exhaust. The fully stainless-steel exhaust system is available for all engine variants of the Grand Cherokee. It produces not only a more sonorous exhaust note nut also optimizes power yield.

The sides of the five-door are upgraded with STARTECH side sills with integrated LED entrance lights. The lights are activated either with the standard keyless-entry remote or by pulling on a door handle. This STARTECH development makes entering and exiting the vehicle at night safer.

Exclusive interior design is yet another STARTECH specialty, which is also available for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The STARTECH accessories range from an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel covered in the finest leather to polished stainless-steel sill plates with illuminated STARTECH logo.