New York, Mar 23, 2005
When Jeep? designers set out to create an all-new SUV - the first
Jeep vehicle with three rows of seats - they were not asked to think outside the
box. Instead, they were handed an even bigger challenge: create a
better box.
They looked to some classic Jeep vehicles for inspiration: the Willys
Station Wagons (1946 to1962), the Jeep Wagoneer (1963 to 1991), and
especially the Jeep Cherokee (1984 to 2001). Although different in
many ways, those vehicles also had important similarities: taut lines,
sharp angles and flat surfaces. Those elements survive today in the
Jeep Wrangler, which, as a direct descendent of the 4x4 military Jeep
of World War II, remains the icon of the Jeep brand.
From this incomparable Jeep heritage was conceived an SUV with
classic Jeep styling in an unmistakably modern package: the 2006 Jeep
Commander.
The Jeep Commander is a fresh expression of the essence of Jeep
design,? said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Group
Design. ?It springs from the archetypical Jeep vocabulary, executed
in a more architectural and mechanical manner. This vehicle is clearly
constructed primarily from the same aesthetic as two classic Jeep
icons: the Wrangler and Cherokee. As a result, Jeep Commander is the
modern, quintessential Jeep.?
Exterior Has Strong, Purpose-Built Appearance
The 2006
Jeep Commander looks not so much styled as constructed, as if it
were hewn from marble with a hammer and chisel. The result is a design
that is simple, strong and purpose-built, with no fussy details. The
vehicle has a military bearing: upright and rugged. About two inches
longer and nearly four inches taller than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the
Commander is imposing without being intimidating.
There are two models: Commander and Commander Limited. Standard on
both models is the signature Jeep seven-slot grille: body color on
Commander, and chrome on the Limited. The grille is anchored at both
ends by distinctive headlamp assemblies. The stacked headlamps are
circular and truncated flat across the bottom with detailed parabolas.
Simulated Allen head bolts in the headlamp module contribute to the
feeling of precise construction. The technical look is repeated in the
taillamps as well.
The Commander?s long, clamshell hood is flat, reminiscent of the
even flatter hood of the Jeep Wrangler. Constructed of aluminum, it
extends to the Commander?s upright windshield. Also upright are the
backlite and liftgate at the rear end of the vehicle.
Form follows function in the design of the stepped roof. Beginning
over the second row, the roof is raised 3.15 inches to provide more
headroom for occupants in the second and third rows. While clearly
evident from outside the front of the vehicle, the stepped roof is
most appreciated from inside the Commander. Viewed from either side,
the stepped effect is concealed by a newly designed roof rack rail,
standard on all models. The rack?s crossbar stanchions are similar
to a buttress-style bridge support, and each side rail has three
integrated tie-downs.
Exclusive to the Limited are D-pillar assist handles that extend
from the roof rail on down the back of the vehicle. The handles are
black with chrome inserts in the grip area. The assist handles work in
conjunction with the black molded-in-color step pad. The step pad has
a diamond plate texture that provides a rugged, non-skid surface for a
person stepping on the rear bumper to gain access to the roof of the
Commander.
Completing the Commander?s stance are its more vertical body
sides and upright side glass. The front and rear doors feature bright
chrome body side moldings incised with the word, ?COMMANDER.?
Three Rows of Seats Highlight the All-New Interior
Commander is the first Jeep vehicle with three rows of seats. Arranged
in stadium style, each row is higher than the one in front of it,
providing second- and third-row passengers with enhanced forward
visibility.
The seats are broad-shouldered, giving them an air of formality.
The Commander model features cloth, with optional leather available.
The standard seats on the Limited model are leather. All outboard
seats have head restraints. The seats are firm and designed to provide
optimal comfort during long highway miles and off-road adventures. The
second row splits 40-20-40 and the seat backs recline. The third row
splits 50-50. Both rows fold forward to provide a flat load floor for
maximum utility.
Additional utility is provided via the L-shaped storage bin located
in the load floor behind the third row seats. The top panel of the bin
is removable and reversible. One side of the panel is carpeted and
level with the third row of seats. The opposite side is molded-in
plastic with a diamond plate texture, designed to stand up to the
dirty gear an active lifestyle often generates. Under the bin are
provisions for storing the jack and tools.
Jeep Commander is the first Chrysler Group vehicle with
Command-View? skylights. Located in the roof above the second row,
these two fixed, tinted glass skylights are packaged with the
available power sun-roof that is positioned above the front
passengers. Each Command-View skylight has a roller shade that can be
pulled horizontally to block out light when desired. The skylights and
sun-roof work together to give the Commander a greater sense of
interior spaciousness and adventure. An optional DVD player is located
between the skylights.
The two-tone color scheme on Commander?s instrument panel and
interior trim exemplify the vehicle?s attention to interior detail.
The upper instrument panel is new, with 16 Allen head bolts
contributing to the mechanical, constructed look of the vehicle.
Circular elements prevail: The new gear shift knob of the gated
shifter is round, as are the eight air vents, the steering wheel pad,
the interior door handles, the grilles that conceal the door speakers
and the four gauges in the simple and purposeful instrument cluster. A
new JEEP medallion dominates the center of the steering wheel and
shift knob, with an Allen head bolt design - round, of course -
providing additional interest.
?By looking to the heritage of Jeep, we were able to
move forward with a design for the Jeep Commander that captures the
classic and timeless elements of the brand,? said Donald A. Renkert,
Senior Design Manager, Design Office Jeep Studio
.
