2018 Jeep Wrangler Jk Unlimited Rubicon on 2040-cars

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NHTSA closes probes on Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey

The Detroit News reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has officially closed its investigations into 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2004-2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey models. The separate probes found no issues that pose safety concerns. NHTSA began investigating certain Grand Cherokee SUVs over complaints that power steering hoses could detach during operation, thereby increasing the risk of a vehicle fire. Of the 24 reports of failure, none alleged smoke or fire in the engine bay, and Chrysler has since modified the power steering cooler assembly to reduce the likelihood of the failure.
Meanwhile, certain Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey vehicles garnered a government probe after receiving complaints that the models were equipped with faulty scissor jacks. The agency had received six reports of the jacks failing or causing injuries, including one incident that resulted in a fatality. But NHTSA says the jack failure rate is similar to those found in other vehicles. In those six cases, the government agency found the jacks were being used for something other than changing a tire, and investigators could not determine whether the emergency brake was set or the rear tires were properly chocked.

Jeep rocks the Wrangler Red Rock concept in Vegas [w/video]

The SEMA show may have once been all about dropping rides to the floor, but these days it's at least as much about jacking them up on lifted suspensions. And few show cars – or trucks, we should say – managed to embody that spirit at this year's tuner exposition quite as well as the Jeep Wrangler Red Rock you see here. The concept started out life as a Wrangler Unlimited, but instead of four doors, it has none. Or any roof, for that matter. Just a roll cage and a windscreen. What it does have are 17-inch wheels wearing 35-inch BF Goodrich tires and fitted to a suspension lifted by two inches. It also has a reinforced tailgate, power winch, tow hooks... everything, in short, that you could want or need for off-roading, and little more. As you can see, it also looks the business, with a custom hood, body-color grille, matte-finish bumpers, and a brown leather interior. Handsome as it is, though, its rugged beauty runs more than skin deep: lift off the sheetmetal and you'd find electronic locking differentials, a transfer case, and solid axles fore and aft. A more extreme take on the existing Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock edition, the Red Rock show truck was done up to honor the organization behind the Easter Jeep Safari that's a favorite among the legions of the Jeep faithful. And while it remains a concept only for the time being, a production version is slated to follow in time to celebrate the event's 50th anniversary next year. Related Video:

Watch the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat blast off

It's all but official. Jeep will produce a Hellcat version of the Grand Cherokee with crazy horsepower. We mean crazy. Today, our spy shooters have captured video footage of this demonic creation. It's pretty short, but you can see a dark Grand Cherokee launch with vigor and then brake hard to a halt. We think we detect the whine of a supercharger amid the commotion. Jeep boss Mike Manley has said on video that the JGC Hellcat will arrive before the end of next year. Specs aren't known, but it seems likely that the Jeep Hellcat will share the blown 6.2-liter V8 used in the Charger and Challenger Hellcats. We've also heard rumors the Trackhawk name could be used for this vehicle. In those applications, the beastly Hemi pumps out 707 manic horsepower. Really, why wouldn't you do this? Jeep sales surged 22 percent around the world last year to 1.2 million, the brand's best year ever. Clearly, Jeep decided it was time to add an extreme performance vehicle. Jeep already sells an SRT model that pumps out 475 hp, so adding a top-end Hellcat seems logical. And a Hell of a lot of fun. Related Video: