Born in 2001 as a California smog-passing replacement for the Cherokee, the Jeep Liberty has soldiered on with two generations under its belt. Although nowhere near as captivating or capable as the boxy “XJ” it surpassed, the “KJ/KK” is still one of the most rugged SUVs on the market today. Despite its subdued Jeep-ness, the Liberty will soon be put to rest and replaced by something substantially more Italian.
According to Car and Driver Magazine, Chrysler LLC will stop Liberty production August 16 of this year. After that date, the Toledo, Ohio assembly plant currently responsible for the truck will begin getting ready for its replacement. The section devoted to the Liberty will shut down for several months while a 280,000-square-foot addition is constructed. The vehicle to follow should begin production early in 2013 so it can hit dealerships by May of next year. Based on the Chrysler/Fiat Compact U.S. Wide platform that underpins the 2013 Dodge Dart, the next “Liberty” will be front drive based with all wheel drive as an option. It may be able to achieve up to 31 mpg, but it more than likely won’t make the Jeep Cherokee or even the Liberty proud.
Source: Car & Driver
