It’s still about a month away from taking to the stage at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, but the 2014 Jeep Cherokee broke cover today courtesy of its parent company, Chrysler. No official specs came with it, but the Auburn Hills-based automaker released four photos, which can be seen below.
What we do know, however, is that the Cherokee nameplate will be revived, after taking a 12 year hiatus. The original Jeep Cherokee entered production back in 1974 and ran through 1983 under the tutelage of AMC Motors. Production of the next-generation Jeep Cherokee began in 1984 and was produced by American Motors and later Chrysler until 2001. Now, the Cherokee name has returned, but it doesn’t look like much in Jeep’s stable. With the exception of the seven slot grille, not much else is reminiscent of anything currently available by the American manufacturer.
Only four images were released by Chrysler, and none give us a good look at the rear end, interior, or engine. Rumor has it though 
that Chrysler’s new 3.2-liter V-6 engine is slated to serve under the hood instead of the usual 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine. Like those before it, it’s also expected that the Cherokee will receive Jeep’s Trail Rated seal of approval, but judging by the pictures, it doesn’t look like there’s much ground clearance. It’s unknown if Chrysler Group’s air suspension system, the same one seen on the 2013 Ram 1 500, will be included on the latest new Jeep model. However, being that it’s a Jeep, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the system, or something like it, on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Automotive.com’s take: The 2014 Jeep Cherokee name has been missed from the off-road specialist’s line-up, and we’re glad to see it return. That front-end, though, is something nightmares are made of, and not in a Grand Cherokee SRT8 slap-you-around-kind-of-way. We expect the all-new Cherokee to be slotted below the full-size Grand Cherokee and start somewhere below $ 28,000.
What say you? Do you like it? Glad to see the Cherokee name again? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
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