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Episode 49
In Episode 49 we interviewed Matt from Blue Ridge Overland Gear. We discussed the many Jeeps he has owned as well as his current Hemi powered Commander. We discussed the importance of organization in your trail or overland rig and some of the products Blue Ridge Overland offers to help keep your trail essentials organized when you are out exploring. Quick access to some equipment and tools is critical when you are miles from help. A few of the products we discussed were:
News:
Photo from Car and Driver
Fiat Chrysler is at it again! According to Car and Driver, Fiat Chrysler, Jeep’s parent company, is in testing stages of development of a compact crossover vehicle purported to carry the Jeepster moniker. http://feedly.com/k/1f5UCpc
For those who may not be familiar with Jeep history, the Jeepster was an all terrain passenger vehicle originally produced by the Willys Overland Company from 1948 to 1950. A crossover vehicle in its own right, the Jeepster was intended to bridge the gap between the utilitarian all terrain vehicle niche segment of post WWII America automotive market, and the more popular passenger car market.
Image from Wikipedia
So it stands to reason the Italian American Automobile Manufacturer would resurrect the Jeepster name to badge a vehicle that could help redefine the image of the Jeep brand. The new Jeepster is being developed in Italy and is based on the Fiat 500 platform. It will come standard as a front wheel drive vehicle, with an all wheel drive option available.
The US version will be powered by a 1.4 liter inline four cyclinder gasoline engine. The European version will also be available with an optional 1.3 liter turbo diesel. The Jeepster is scheduled to hit the market in late 2014 as a 2015 model. Could this be a sign of the future direction of the Jeep Brand?
2014 Cherokee
http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/19/2014-jeep-cherokee-review-first-drive/
Photo from Autoblog
As the pre-release reviews of the new 2014 Jeep Cherokee continue to show up in your favorite off-road magazine and/or websites, we are beginning to get a clearer picture (to the chagrin of many die-hard Cherokee fans) of what the capabilities of the vehicle, carrying resurrected Cherokee nameplate, will be.
Gone is the solid front axle found under the XJ bodied Cherokee. The new era of the Cherokee bids farewell to the simple, utilitarian features of the earlier Cherokee’s that we all know and love.
In its place is a very refined vehicle that seems to impress many of those who have driven it so far. According to the folks over at AutoBlog.com, the new Cherokee, at a minimum, will provide stiff competition for the other vehicles in its class. Still, in the eyes of the dedicated XJ owner, the new Cherokee will most likely never live up to the reputation of its predecessors.
Ford appears to have scored a home run with its F150 SVT Raptor. Since its introduction, the Raptor has beat the odds with record sales in an era where high fuel prices and a weak economy have stymied demand for models with less than stellar mpg ratings. According to AutoBlog.com, the SVT Raptor has seen record sales in eight of the past ten months. With a starting price of $44,000 the Raptor may be proof that Americans are still willing to pay the premium for a vehicle design where performance and capability supersedes fuel efficiency and practicality.
Utah, Will Not Drive 55
http://jalopnik.com/utah-raises-some-speed-limits-to-80-mph-because-its-sa-1343843178
The state of Utah has moved to raise the speed on some rural stretches of its roadways to 80mph. After preforming multi-year studies, The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) determined the higher speed limits would be safer by allowing more vehicles on the highway to travel at the same speed.
Offroad APPtitude
Groundspeak Inc. offers a smart phone application for geocachers. Some of the apps features include:
・ Spontaneously find nearby geocaches
・ Plan a geocaching adventure
・ Log your finds
・ Navigate to geocaches with a map or compass view
・ View geocache details, photos and hints
・ Use advanced geocache search features
・ Sign in with an existing Geocaching account or create a new Geocaching account
Read more about the app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.groundspeak.geocaching
