New diesel and petrol engines for Jeep

Jeep's Grand Cherokee for 2011 is scheduled to arrive in Oz the first quarter of 2011. The luxury SUV is one of a host of updated models on the horizon that have renewed the spirit at Jeep/Chrysler.

During the international launch of the new Grand Cherokee -- we'll have a full review soon -- Chrysler's CEO of Asia Pacific Operations, John Kett, told the Carsales Network that big things are planned for the Jeep and Chrysler brands in the next few years.

"Australia is a priority. It's our largest right-hand drive market," said Kett.

Once the petrol Grand Cherokee models are launched in Australia later in the year, a diesel model is expected to follow mid-way through 2011. And it won't be a Benz engine powering it either.

"I think definitely with WK Grand Cherokee we'll launch the diesel by VM Motori; we're still discussing pricing in Australia," added Kett.

And don't forget small capacity turbo petrol engines either.

Jeep/Chrysler has big plans for MultiAir technology, which has been pioneered by Fiat. The American car maker can dip into a large cache of powertrain technology owned by parent company Fiat, and Kett confirmed that Jeep and Chrysler models featuring MultiAir engines are in the pipeline.

"The MultiAir technology is something that the engineering community at Jeep/Chrysler has been looking at for all of our vehicles."

Kett added that the all-new 3.6-litre V6 that powers the Grand Cherokee can employ MultiAir technology, which he said could reduce consumption by up to 10 per cent.

The new 210kw/347Nm Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 makes its global debut in the new Grand Cherokee, and will be offered in Australia when it arrives, rating combined-cycle fuel economy of 11.4L/100km. With Fiat's MultiAir augmentation, the V6's fuel consumption could drop to around 10L/100km, which would be quite an achievement for a 2500kg 4WD.

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