World Auto News & Reviews

Jeep has disclosed plans to increase European sales from 25,000 units this year to 125,000 units by 2014. Europe will play a key role in Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne’s plans to double the brand’s global sales from 420,000 units last year to 800,000 units in 2014.

“Our plans for Europe are ambitious but doable. Europe for Jeep is an incredibly important market. We have been here for 30 years and half of our international sales historically were in Europe,” Jeep CEO Mike Manley told Autonews Europe.

The tuners over at Project Kahn have released photos and details on their latest offering based on the Jeep Wrangler. The restrained tuning programme is limited to a cosmetic touch up of the popular 4×4 model. On the outside, Project Kahn’s team added a set of new 20-inch RS alloy wheels wrapped around beefy 275/55 tires. Upon request, the Wrangler can be finished in either black or silver with matching alloy wheels.

Jeep is hoping to increase sales outside of North America by over 20 percent next year. The brand hopes to have the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2011 Jeep Compass to help increase sales.

“I am looking for our international business to grow significantly, in excess of 20 percent,” Jeep CEO Mike Manley said. “Initial orders from the U.S. and our international markets indicate that the demand will be significantly higher than the previous Compass.”

Chrysler has announced the recall of 16,229 Jeep Liberty models due to potentially faulty windshield wiper motors. The recall covers some Jeep Liberty models from the 2008 model year.

According to Chrysler, it has received a high number of complaints of windshield wiper motors failing in early 2008 Jeep Liberty models. If the wiper motors fail, visibility could be compromised, potentially leading to a crash.

In the announcement on Chrysler’s third-quarter sales results, the company’s CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that next year’s 2012MY Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited will both get a new 3.6-liter V6 “Pentastar” engine. Mr. Marchionne also spoke of a new Dodge sedan as well, which is currently being developed on the underpinnings of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback.

The Pentastar V6 first debuted on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and is gradually making its way on other models, including the 2011 Dodge Charger and Grand Caravan.