[Dave Z]

Journey and Fiat 500 share a line.

Anyway, it's a bit absurd to assume that Wrangler is being held up so they can make Fiat-based cars. Fact is it's a different group of engineers and unless they want to build a brand new factory, since Wranglers can apparently only be built in Toledo now (never mind the AMC Jeeps in Canada), it will take a long time to boost production.

I wonder about the 3-liter FPT diesel used in ProMaster.

2018 is indeed a long distance away, where did that date come from? It shows up in the four year plan as 2016, assuming that the three new American made, American designed Jeeps include Wrangler.

 

[Dave Z]

If they were going to delay minivans, I might expect six months, but not two years.

 

[Dave Z]

I absolutely see the TigerShark 2.4 on Avenger as important.... though the current 2.4 is really okay in that car. Not so much in Compass. Wonder why?

 

[Dave Z]

Strat, I am currently testing the 2.4 in the Compass with the Hyundai six speed automatic. So it's not the CVT. I'm guessing it's the axle ratio but I haven't looked to compare axles yet. Or maybe the gear ratios. Or maybe 62TE is better than the Hyundai but I doubt that. Not that I don't have faith in Chrysler but the 62TE is older and has gotten, I suspect, much less investment.

Might partly be a matter of sound insulation. I suspect gearing because Compass is likely a little heavier, and has more aero drag, so they'd be working harder to keep it in high gears and raise that EPA figure. It seems awful slow off the line but it's OK otherwise. Oh, and it seems to need to downshift more at highway speeds. Again... gearing.

 

[Dave Z]

I don't think the problem is the transmission but the axle ratio, which could have been changed at the same time.