Tesla Model X Acceleration vs Competing SUVs (+ More Spy Pics)

Two of the awesome facts that came out with the recent Model X design studio leak were acceleration times. Everyone expected them to be great, but they’re actually a bit better than I expected. The “regular” Tesla Model X P90D scoots its big behind to 60 mph in a wicked quick 3.8 seconds, while the Tesla Model X P90D with Ludicrous mode slides to 60 mph in a… well, ludicrous… 3.2 seconds.

That makes the Model X one of the quickest production vehicles in history. Period. It also easily makes the Model X the quickest SUV in history… by a few tenths of a second. Here’s a table initially put together by “tenstringer009” on the TMC forum but slightly modified to include the just-released Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk, which is a Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee, and to clarify a few things:

Model	0–60 Time (seconds)	Source
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8	4.6	Car & Driver
Range Rover Sport Supercharged	4.6	Car & Driver
Mercedes-Benz ML63S (aka GLE63S)	4.2	MBUSA
BMW X5 M	3.8	Car & Driver
Porsche Cayenne Turbo S	3.8	Porsche USA
Tesla Model X P90D	3.8	Tesla
Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk	3.5	Jeep
Tesla Model X P90D Ludicrous	3.2	Tesla

For some more perspective, the Tesla Model S P85D reportedly goes to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds or 3.2 seconds. At 3.2 seconds, the Model X is almost in the top 30 among all production vehicles ever built, and that list includes super expensive (>$1 million) cars, super impractical (i.e., no windows) cars, super rare (only two of the models have reportedly seen >1,000 sales — the Porsche 911 GT3 at 1,084 and the Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4), and only the Tesla Model S can seat up to 7 people.

This is not an incremental improvement, even if the simple acceleration stats make it look like that. This is industry-disrupting insanity. When you add in the fact that the Model X is far more efficient than a Toyota Prius and is super silent and smooth to drive, you can see we’re in a different world. The only real question I have is, how long until all new cars are electrics?

New Model X spy shots via “Tytanium“

Jeep Cherokee Diesel Coming To Europe

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee will make its European debut next month at the Geneva Auto Show, and it will bring with it two new diesel engine options. With diesel engines growing in popularity here at home though, I’m hopeful that the 2014 Jeep Cherokee diesel will come to America before long as well.

Over in Europe just about every car offers a diesel engine option, and including the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was the first Jeep to pack an EcoDiesel engine here in America. The smaller 2014 Jeep Cherokee is unlikely to get the 3.0 liter EcoDiesel V6 though, instead lining up a pair of 2.0 liter four-cylinder turbodiesels. These multiport turbodiesels will offer up to 170 horsepower and 258 ft-lbs of torque, though a cheaper 140 horsepower option will also be available.

The diesel engines will come paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, though a six-speed manual will be standard on the lower-power engine. Chrysler will also offer the Jeep Cherokee with two gasoline engines in Europe, using the same 2.4 liter Tigershark and 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 that we have here in America. Those wanting fuel economy will definitely opt for the diesel option though, as the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel proved with its 28 MPG highway rating. In the smaller and lighter Cherokee, I wouldn’t be surprised to see close to 40 MPG on the highway.

No mention of plans for an American version of the Jeep Cherokee diesel, though the hope remains strong. Rumor has it that a Jeep Wrangler diesel is also in the works, and Chrysler’s sure to spread the EcoDiesel love throughout the Jeep brand in lieu of hybrids or pure electric vehicles. Americans are warming up to these efficient and torquey oil burners, but is it fast enough for Chrysler execs to bring more diesel engine options on board?

Source: Jeep

All-New 2014 Jeep Cherokee Boasts 9-Speed Transmission, 31 MPG

The Jeep brand has been an American icon for decades now, ever since its service in Europe during the Second World War. But there are those who would say that the Jeep brand has lost some of its ruggedness, with vehicles like the Grand Cherokee and Compass focusing more on luxury and comfort than being a Trail Rated beast. So that begs the question, where does the all-new, 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee fall in the grand scheme of things?and c

The Jeep Cherokee name hasn’t been around since the 2001 model year, and the Fiat-Chrysler alliance has revived the name for nostalgic reasons. Make no mistake though, aside from the name and unibody design, there is very little linking the old Cherokee with the new. First and foremost, the boxy look of the original is gone, a much sleeker and swoopier design that is much more 21st century. While the headlamp design is sure to have its lovers and haters, personally, the look has grown on me.

Under the hood, a tranvesly-mounted 2.4 liter Tigershark 4-cylinder engine delivers 184 horsepower to either the front wheels or all-four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission, a first for this segment. Riding on the same (albeit highly modified) Alfa Romeo chassis as the Dodge Dart, the new Cherokee is sure to offer a comfortable ride, and an optional 3.2 liter V6 will offer up to 271 horsepower.

The 2014 Cherokee will also offer a rear-axle disconnect 4×4 system, as well as three options of 4×4 systems, depending on what kind of on-or-off-roading you tackle. For true off-road junkies, a new Trailhawk version with the most robust 4×4 system, including a locking rear differential, and the 3.2 liter V6 will be offered, though it’ll never be as rugged as the original 4.0 liter I6-powered Cherokee. It’ll get better gas mileage for sure though, as will the the smaller 4-cylinder engine. The 2014 Cherokee will deliver up to 31 mpg with the four-banger, about the same as the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the optional EcoDiesel engine, with a driving range of up to 500 miles. If consumers by and large dig the look, Jeep could have a winner.

Source: Gas2.0

2014 Jeep Cherokee: New, Greener 4x4 With Old Name

Here you are: These are the first photos of the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee.

Yep, that's right: Cherokee. No, not Grand Cherokee. Plain old Cherokee, the revival of a name that vanished (in the U.S.) a decade ago, although it's lived on in Europe.

The new 2014 Cherokee is Jeep's replacement for the old Jeep Liberty that was discontinued last year.

It revives a well-loved name dating back to 1984 on what was arguably the first sport-utility vehicle sold in high volumes, kicking off the entire SUV craze and changing the face of U.S. cars forever.

But the 2014 Jeep Cherokee is about as far from the old one as you can get.

It's a unit-construction all-wheel drive vehicle built on a car platform--meaning we'd call it a crossover now--and with its engine mounted transversely up front.

The Cherokee platform is adapted from the one underneath the front-wheel-drive Dodge Dart compact sedan, not a truck platform like the old Cherokee.

We won't get all the details on Jeep's new 4x4 until the New York Auto Show late next month, but now Chrysler-Fiat has released the photos you see above.

The new Cherokee will undoubtedly be greener than the old Liberty was, and will likely offer at least one four-cylinder version along with a more powerful model that features the Chrysler Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine.

Those engines could be mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Yes, you read that right: the first production nine-speed automatic in the world might be fitted to a Jeep.

The best gas mileage achieved by the old Liberty, which ran from 2002 through 2012 in two generations, was 18 mpg combined for the rear-wheel drive version.

2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport

Jeep says the new model will return up to 45 percent better ratings than that, which would mean a combined rating of roughly 26 mpg for the most fuel-efficient version.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee will also offer best-in-class capability for off-roading, including at least one Trail-Rated model.

For more details on the new 2014 Cherokee and all the rest of the launches and concept cars, be sure to bookmark our New York Auto Show news page.

Meanwhile, what do you think of the design and styling of the new Jeep Cherokee? Is it a real successor to the old Jeep Liberty?

Source: Green Car Reports

Ram 1500 Definitely Getting EcoDiesel V6 Engine

Chrysler is going full-steam ahead with its plans to bring its European diesel engines to the U.S. market. The Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel was just the opening salvo, but this next move shows how serious Chrysler is about clean diesel engines. Starting later this year, customers can now buy a Ram 1500 pickup with an EcoDiesel V6 engine, and it could to the first full-size pickup to break the 30 mpg barrier.

In the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the EcoDiesel V6 is rated at 240 horsepower, 420 ft-lbs of torque, and a 30 mpg highway rating. While pricing hasn’t been released, the diesel engine option is expected to carry a premium. Chrysler isn’t releasing power or mpg specs just yet, but when coupled with two-wheel drive and the 8-speed automatic transmission, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a 30 mpg highway rating.

That would be a 20% improvement over the current pickup mpg champ…also the Ram 1500, with a 25 mpg rating from the 3.6 liter Pentastar V6. Chrysler is no doubt looking to capitalize on America’s ever-rising gas prices, and their emphasis on efficiency could see them stealing sales from Ford and GM. The Ram 1500 will be the first half-ton pickup available with a small diesel engine, and other companies are almost sure to follow their example. There is even rumor that a hybrid-diesel Ram pickup could be in the works…but lets not get ahead of ourselves.

But is America’s tradesmen corp ready to embrace diesel en masse? While larger pickups like the Ram 3500 are already available with large-displacement V8 diesel engines and even CNG motors, these vehicles don’t need to be rated by the EPA. Even if they were, the fuel economy isn’t impressive.

But a smaller diesel engine in a smaller pickup could deliver big fuel economy gains, and Chrysler is positioning Ram as the brand to beat when it comes to fuel economy. Rumors swirl that the Wrangler may get the EcoDiesel engine as well, but going with a more broad-appealing vehicle like a pickup could lead to many more sales.

Source: Chrysler

NAIAS 2013: …And The Best Of The Rest

The North American International Auto Show is huge, and there were not enough hours in the day to see everything, talk to everyone, or to cover all the green cars that have come to dominate these shows. That said, we did manage to snap some pictures of some of the cooler  green concepts and cars scattered about the show. Consider this our “wrap-up” post, with a return to our regularly-scheduled news stories tomorrow.

The Chevy Spark EV:

This was our first up-close-and-personal look at the Chevy Spark EV, which GM says will cost less than $25,000 after Federal tax incentives. Coupled with 400 ft-lbs of torque and a 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds or less, and the Chevy Spark EV could prove popular for those seeking a budget EV.

But what is really going to matter is the as-yet-unreleased maximum range for the Spark EV. Early estimates put it in the 80+ mile range, but GM is remaining tight-lipped for now.

The Volkswagen CrossBlue Concept:

VW wants to one day rule the world with its cars, and it hopes the new CrossBlue Concept will go a long way towards making that goal attainable. While just a concept, the plug-in diesel-electric hybrid SUV offers perhaps the most-efficient drivetrain of any mid-size SUV, concept or otherwise.

A 2.0 liter TDI engine couples with two electric motors to offer an estimated 89 MPGe in a seven-passenger SUV that looks like something you might soon find on dealership lots. Just don’t hold your breath waiting for it.

The Smart ForStars EV:

Smart car haven’t been selling as well as parent company Daimler hoped, though that may all change if Smart begins to emphasize EVs over conventional cars. Or at least that’s the plan. While the Smart ForStars is merely a concept EV, Smart is in fact hoping to bring the cheapest EV to market with the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive.

The Smart ForTwo ED will reportedly retail for less than $19,000 after tax incentives, though we doubt it will get even half of the cool features or looks of the ForStars concept. Which is a shame, because the world could use an affordable and cool-looking EV right about now.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel:

This has to be one of the most-watched vehicles leading up to the NAIAS. With a new-for-America 3.0 liter turbodiesel engine making 240 horsepower and a stump-pulling 420 ft-lbs of torque, the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel is capable of 30 mpg highway and can still tow 7,400 pounds.

With automakers working to meet new fuel economy standards while maintaining the level of performance customers have come to expect, diesel engines are a natural solution. But can Chrysler price this diesel engine where the return-on-investment makes sense for the average buyer? That remains to be seen…but we’re optimistic that there will be lots of diesel Jeeps on the roads in the near future.

Source: Gas2.0

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers new 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 and 8-speed for 30 mpg highway

3.0L EcoDiesel. Click to enlarge.

Among the many features of the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee—introduced at the Detroit Auto Show—two in particular contribute to significantly improved fuel economy and driving performance: an optional new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain delivers 30 mpg (7.8 L/100km) highway for the SUV (4x2) and a range of more than 730 miles (1,175 km).

The new eight-speed transmission also is paired with Grand Cherokee’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine—now achieving up to 25 mpg highway and more than 600-miles driving range—and its 5.7-liter V-8, now achieving up to 21 mpg highway.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Click to enlarge.

Producing 240 hp (179 kW) and 420 lb-ft (569 N·m ) of torque, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel is capable of towing 7,400 pounds—more than any competitor’s gasoline V-8 equipped SUVs. With a 30% increase in fuel economy and a 56% increase in torque versus the Pentastar V-6 engine, the EcoDiesel achieves 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway in 4x2 models. Full-time 4x4 models have fuel economy figures of 20 city and 28 highway.

The engine meets emissions standards for all 50 states. MultiJet II common-rail injection and Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) help this new engine achieve these results.

The 24-valve, dual-overhead-cam engine features a block and bed plate crafted from strong compacted graphite iron (CGI), which contributes to stiffness without penalizing performance.

The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel’s 60-degree cylinder banks enable more efficient packaging, while effectively balancing the potent inertia generated by torque-rich diesels.

A 1-4-2-5-3-6 firing order helps manage rotation so neatly it needs no balance shaft to deliver the required level of refinement. Further contributing to quieter performance, as well as optimal fuel economy and emissions reduction, is the clean diesel’s 2,000 bar common-rail fuel-injection system. Swirl-control intake ports benefit from a variable-geometry turbocharger and intercooler.

The new engine’s turbo is water-cooled to handle searing heat, while low-voltage ceramic glow plugs accommodate quicker cold-weather starts. Other key features and benefits include:

• Finger-follower actuated valves with hydraulic adjusters
• Chain-driven camshafts
• Piston-cooling oil jets
• Water-cooled exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) for Tier II, Bin 5 and ULEV II compliance
• B5 biofuel compatibility

New 8-speed. The new eight-speed transmission features a wide ratio spread, high numerical first-gear ratio, quick shifting and aggressive torque-converter lockup.

Fully electronic, the eight-speed automatic features on-the-fly shift map changing, with manual shifting capability and Electronic Range Select using steering-wheel paddle controls. More than 40 individual shift maps for specific conditions optimize shift quality and shift points for fuel economy, performance and drivability. The intelligent software takes into account variables including engine torque gradients, kick-down events, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, grade changes, friction detection and downshift detection to determine the appropriate shift map. Additional parameters integrated into the control strategy include vehicle speed control, electronic stability control interaction and temperature.

The transmission efficiency and wide ratio spread improve fuel economy by operating at a lower engine rpm in both city and highway environments. The addition of more gear ratios also helps reduce the gaps normally associated with upshifting and downshifting.

Gear changes are nearly imperceptible due to the evenly spaced gear steps between each gear ratio. Internally, the transmission has four gear sets and five shift elements (multi-disc clutches and brakes). Only two shift elements are open at any time. With fewer open shift elements, drag losses due to multiple parts rotating relative to one another are reduced, improving fuel efficiency.

Eco Mode. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee also features a new Eco Mode that contributes to its improved fuel economy. Eco Mode optimizes the Grand Cherokee transmission’s shift schedule and—in V-8 models—Fuel Saver Technology with cylinder deactivation as well as throttle sensitivity to maximize fuel economy. The Eco Mode also manages interactive deceleration fuel shut-off (IDFSO), which cuts fuel delivery when the vehicle is coasting to reduce fuel consumption.

In addition, the Eco Mode activates the vehicle’s air suspension system (if so equipped), lowering the Jeep Grand Cherokee to “Aero Ride Height” earlier to improve fuel economy.

Eco Mode is automatically engaged upon vehicle startup. A button on the center stack allows driver’s to disengage Eco Mode if more spirited performance is desired.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Stylized For UK Market

Chrysler has already confirmed that next year, America will be getting a diesel version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Until then though, we have to look across the pond to the UK and European markets to see what is in store for us. After seeing this new S-Limited package for the Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel, I have to say, I like what I see.

While the S-Limited package doesn’t add any performance to the Grand Cherokee’s 3.0 liter turbodiesel engine, it does add a whole bunch of style. On the outside, the Jeep gets a black grille with a chrome insert, smoked headlights, a blacked-out taillight bar, black 20-inch wheels, and a little less chrome.

On the inside is a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 825-watt Harman-Kardon audio system with 19 speakers and 3 subwoofers, and ventilated Napa leather seats. Very swaggeriffic, and it had better be for the UK-price of over $71,000. That’s a lot of cash for this badass diesel Jeep, though it should only cost about half that here in its home country.

I for one welcome our new diesel overlords with open arms. The diesel Jeep Grand Cherokee is expected to deliver up to 33 mpg on the highway, which is awesome for a two-and-a-half ton SUV. Chrysler also trademarked the “EcoDiesel” name, so I’m gonna assume that’s what it will be called. And with this kind of styling available, Chrysler is making a good argument for diesel vehicles…at least over in Europe.

Hopefully they’ll bring some of that diesel style over to the U.S.

Source: Carscoop

AMP Converts Jeep Grand Cherokee to All Electric Status

Got enough money to buy a 2012 Tesla Model S, but want something a little more rugged?

If the answer is yes -- and you can’t wait another few years for the 2014 Tesla Model X Crossover SUV to debut -- you can now spend your hard-earned cash on an all-electric Jeep Grand Cherokee.

You won’t find the $57,400 SUV being sold by Chrysler however: This particular all-electric car is a commercially-designed conversion of a gasoline Jeep Grand Cherokee from Amp Electric Vehicles.

The Cincinnati firm has been around for the past few years, and specializes in converting gasoline SUVs into all-electric cars for private customers, businesses and local governments.

The battery pack and drivetrain found in the converted Jeep Grand Cherokee EV are the same ones used in Amp’s all-electric conversion of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML, since both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Mercedes-Benz ML share a common platform.

As a consequence, while Amp has never offered a Jeep Grand Cherokee before, the performance and range should be identical to the range of its German twin.

For those interested, that should equate to around 110 miles at highway speeds from the on-board 37.4 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

As we pointed out in December when the Amp Jeep Grand Cherokee EV was announced, we don’t expect that many private customers will shell out the same amount of money for a converted SUV when an identically-priced, purpose-built 2012 Tesla Model S offers higher specifications and a longer range. Then again, we might be wrong.

For fleet markets however, things might be different. With fleet customers more likely to find use with a large SUV than a luxury sedan, Amp could have found itself a niche market as-yet unoccupied by any other plug-in vehicle.

Amp has said that its first production Jeep Grand Cherokee EV will be available by the end of 2012 and is currently in the process of signing up dealerships to be official Amp vendors.

Source: Green Car Reports

It's official: Amp bringing all-electric Jeep Grand Cherokee to Detroit

Surprised at the headline? Neither are we. But still, here's the official word from Amp Electric Vehicles: all-electric conversions of the Jeep Grand Cherokee are coming. Amp will start taking orders for both two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions of the battery-powered Grand Cherokee at the Detroit Auto Show in early January.

The roots for the reason that Amp has decicded to convert the Grand Cherokee go back to the DaimlerChrysler days, when the two big auto companies decided to build SUVs – including the M-Class and the Grand Cherokee – on the same platform. Since Amp has already done the work to convert the ML SUV, it "didn't have to change a bolt" to fit the electric powertrain into the Jeep. The only thing that's different, Amp president Steve Burns told AutoblogGreen, is how the powertrain software communicates with the vehicle. Performance, therefore, is also similar, so expect around 100 miles of range on a full charge of the 37.6-kWh li-ion phosphate battery. Burns said the ML is a little slipperier and better on the highway, while the Grand Cherokee is wider and performs better in the city. For more on the technical details of the ML, read this.

When the Amp Jeep Grand Cherokee comes to market early next year, Burns said, it will compete (in a sense) with the Tesla Model S and Model X. Sure, it's hard to compare a Model S to a Jeep, but when you're the only two companies selling all-electric luxury SUVs, you "compete" with whoever's around. The electric Jeep will also compete with the Model S on price. While Burns won't announce specific numbers just yet (firm pricing information, delivery dates and names of the first dealerships will be coming in January), he did say that the electric Grand Cherokee will compete with the lowest-priced Model S. So, figure a price of under $60,000 before a potential $7,500 federal tax credit. Burns said this should be a good sticker price. "The luxury market has proven to be receptive to the higher prices that EVs command," he said. "Jeep is considered a luxury SUV but not as high as a Mercedes. Now, we've got two different price points [to sell]."

Burns and his team are still proud to be converting vehicles, rather than trying to make something brand new. "As we see some of our peers fall by the way side, which is discouraging, most of them tried to build cars from scratch," he said. With the Jeep, "we were able to get to a quality vehicle and a well-liked vehicle and a top-selling vehicle" and offer an electric version wihtout taking billions in government money. Burns said this is something the team is "really happy about."

If you'd like to get your hands on one of these electrics, pay Amp a visit during the Detroit show by heading downstairs to the ride and drive. If you can't make it to the Motor City, Amp's website will be revamped by the time the show starts and it will take online and telephone orders. In early 2012, at least five cities in the U.S. will have Amp vehicles for sale at already-existing dealerships. For a company that has made a business out of using infrastructure and products that are already out there, this simply makes sense.



Source: Autoblog Green