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NHTSA still mulling crash tests for recalled Jeeps

Well, no one should ever accuse the government of not giving things plenty of thought. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still debating whether it will retest any of the 1.56 million 1992 to 1998 Grand Cherokees and 2002 to 2007 Libertys that were part of a recall regarding fires after rear-end collisions. And yes, this debate has been going on for over a month. In other news...
The recall dustup started in early June, when Chrysler took the unusual position of refusing a recall request from NHTSA regarding placement of the fuel tank on the effected vehicles. NHTSA said a collision could cause a fire, a position Chrysler took issue with. Extensive negotiations ensued, with Chrysler agreeing to fit certain Jeeps with trailer hitches, which it said would provide some protection to fuel tanks mounted behind the rear axle in the event of a collision.
Part of the issue rests with the amount of data that needs to be processed, according to The Detroit News. NHTSA administrator David Strickland said during a Washington Auto Press Association meeting, "There's a lot of data and Chrysler is being very cooperative in giving us more data." Until that information has been sorted, it looks like re-testing will still be up for debate.

Europe gets Jeep Wrangler Polar limited edition

Jeep will be bringing an all-new, limited-edition model to the European market called the Wrangler Polar. Based on the Wrangler Sahara and set to make its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Wrangler Polar sports new Hyrdro Blue paint, gloss black 18-inch wheels, a body-color hardtop, and the regular mix of Mopar styling accessories. Billet Silver Metallic and Bright White are available for those that don't dig the glossy blue, while a two-door variant will be available in addition to the four-door pictured above.
The Polar's interior features similar tweaks; Pearl White contrast stitching can be found on both the seats and steering wheel, while ceramic White bezels and other accents give a nice contrasting look to the cabin.
Underhood sits an engine that should make American Wrangler enthusiasts weep - a 2.8-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel. With 200 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque channeled through a five-speed automatic transmission, the Wrangler Polar should handle itself just fine on normal roads. British buyers will also be able to select the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. For rougher stuff, Dana axles can be found front and rear (Dana 30 up front and Dana 44 in back), while the Command-Trac four-wheel-drive system and its two-speed transfer case should be enough for when the roads disappear.

NHTSA investigating why Jeep recall fix is taking so long

Jeep's saga with the National Traffic Safety Administration and the voluntary campaign to repair 1.56 million vehicles for allegedly unsafe trailer hitches, is getting yet another chapter. The controversy appeared to finally be over in January when the automaker found a supplier for the replacement parts. Nothing is ever that easy, though, and the government regulator is now requesting documents from the company to clarify why the repairs are taking so long to begin.
Jeep parent company Chrysler has until July 16 to submit documents and answers to NHTSA explaining the situation. The regulator claims that despite its compromise to inspect and repair the models with improper hitches in June 2013, Chrysler didn't find a part supplier until December and didn't order the replacements until January. The government agency believes that the first components weren't manufactured until May of this year and vehicles may not actually be repaired until as late as August. According to the report, if the Chrysler doesn't supply what NHTSA is asking for, the agency could "take additional appropriate action as warranted."
Throughout this entire process, Chrysler has asserted that the vehicles met the applicable crash test standards of the time, and it has kept NHTSA abreast of the repair activity. In a recently released statement it said that the regulator analyzed eight rear impact reconstruction tests and found the replacement hitch to be safe. To keep up with the high demand for replacements, Chrysler is working with multiple suppliers, and they are running three shifts, six days a week to get the parts ready as soon as possible.