After making its initial debut at the 2009 New York Auto Show, the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will finally hit dealer showrooms by the second quarter of this year. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will mark the first significant new product from the Chrysler group in several years.
Speaking with Automotive News, Jeep CEO Michael Manley revealed that the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is on track for a second quarter market launch. Although no specific date was given, Manley says Chrysler is currently in final talks with dealers to determine exactly how the new Grand Cherokee should be packaged and priced.
While SUV demand has dropped off over that past few years, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee represents an important new product for Chrysler . The Michigan-based automaker is sorely lacking new products, as reflected by the company’s 36 percent sales decline in 2009.
The Jeep brand is also hurting with sales sliding 31 percent last year. The new Grand Cherokee could reverse that trend, though, thanks to Chrysler’s new 3.6L Phoenix V6 and a refined chassis borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz ML.
Manley failed to reveal when the production 2011 Grand Cherokee would make its public debut, but the upcoming New York Auto Show looks like a sure bet.
