Cherokee returns as Jeep relaunches iconic model
Stellantis provided almost no technical information except to say it would feature hybrid power. The company released pictures showing the Cherokee has the brand's latest design cues, as seen on the new Compass, launched earlier this month.
Though Jeep said the Cherokee has been reimagined from the ground up, the newcomer has the brand's customary seven-slot grille and rugged shape.
'The all-new Jeep Cherokee headlines our efforts to deliver more product, innovation, choice and standard content to customers than ever before,' said Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf.
The Cherokee first appeared in 1974 as a variant of the Wagoneer and evolved from a full-size SUV to a compact SUV and finally into a crossover SUV.
For the moment Cherokee is only destined for the North American market, and Stellantis told BusinessLIVE it cannot confirm whether the vehicle will come to SA.
In SA, sales of the last-generation Cherokee ended in 2021. Jeep's local line-up comprises the Grand Cherokee large SUV, Wrangler 4x4 and Gladiator double-cab bakkie.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Tzaneen adventurer showcases Wolkberg trails
TZANEEN – Born and bred Tzaneen resident, Gerrit du Toit's life has always been closely tied to the rugged beauty of the Limpopo landscapes. With a family business in town, BDM Diesel Centre, a business that stood for 62 years, his deep love for adventure began in his teenage years. 'I started exploring when I was about 15 years old, first on a motorcycle, and later with a 4×4,' he said. 'To get to remote places, you need a 4×4. That's how I truly discovered the Wolkberg and its incredible scenery.' Over the years, Gerrit has covered thousands of kilometres across Southern Africa, travelling by motorcycle and 4×4 through Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. Along the way, he gained extensive knowledge of terrains and trails, which naturally grew into a passion for guiding others into these hidden worlds. Thirteen years ago, Gerrit and his wife, Alta du Toit, turned that passion into a business. Together, they founded Oppie Oewer Adventures, offering guided tours on adventure motorcycles and 4x4s in the Tzaneen area. Today, they run a wide variety of bike routes and three distinct 4×4 trails, all designed to showcase the breathtaking diversity of the Wolkberg mountains. Gerrit said that the trails are more than just dirt roads. They are about stories, challenges, and unforgettable memories. One that stands out is the time he had to tow a broken-down vehicle up a mountain, carefully manoeuvring it around tight switchback corners on a narrow Jeep track. 'An adventure is not an adventure if something doesn't get your heart pumping,' he says with a smile. 'But safety always comes first. We avoid any situation that could risk people or vehicles.' 'We cater to both seasoned adventurers and beginners,' Gerrit explains. 'As long as we know beforehand what level of experience you have, we'll make sure you get to the other side. Even with standard vehicles, which can be more challenging, we guide participants to minimise risk and damage.' Gerrit advises participants on what to bring, whether it's food, drinking water, tents, or bedding. Once out in the mountains, though, the focus shifts. 'Spending time here humbles you. It clears your mind of everyday problems and helps you go back home with a fresh perspective,' he said. Gerrit believes in showing people the beauty of nature so that they begin to appreciate and protect it. He recalls how local communities respond when groups pass through. 'The children wave and jump with joy when they see the motorcycles and 4x4s. It's always a highlight,' said Gerrit. 'After every trail, I'm reminded that I have a purpose to make a difference in someone else's life, even if only for a weekend.'
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Fast and cheap alternative? Jozi woman brags about R12 Uber Moto trip
A Johannesburg woman is raving about her experience using the new Uber Moto feature, which offers a motorcycle ride to your next destination. The concept was introduced to South Africa a few months ago as an affordable alternative to traditional e-hailing trips. It is currently being piloted in the Johannesburg area. TikTok user Mośebodi Mary Morotoba shared a clip of her experience using an Uber Moto this week. The Johannesburg woman revealed that she spent just R12,25 for an e-hailing trip to her destination. In the clip, Morotoba was seated behind the motorbike driver who whizzed his way through the city's traffic. 'I'm obsessed', she captioned the clip. When asked about her unique Uber experience, the woman responded to a follower: 'Very nice.' @ @Uber ♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧 According to Uber, the new Moto ride-sharing feature was recently introduced to meet the demand of e-hailing requests and offer quicker, affordable, and more 'comfortable' alternatives to public transport. The rides are for single passengers, also known as pillion drivers. While payment and safety features work similarly to those of a traditional mode of transport, the safety features of being a passenger on a motorbike are obviously different. Passengers are given a spare helmet by the driver, and advised to hold onto the handlebars at the back of the motorbike,. 'People are firstly uncertain about the modality of the transport itself. Is it safe? Will it get me to the place? But once they experience it, their perception is changed', Uber's GM for Sub-Saharan Africa Deepesh Thomas told Business Live. With over two million active e-hailing passengers in South Africa, the Moto service will be based on demand and supply. 'We also expect to have a national rollout in the future, but now [the] focus is to scale this up in Johannesburg, and let's do it responsibly and safely. And once it makes sense here, we'll look at other cities. And not just the core cities, maybe even in the smaller cities, if there's sufficient demand', he added. Meanwhile, road safety experts are raising concerns that Uber Moto is not only irresponsible but also dangerous. Motorcycle Safety Institute of South Africa's Hein Jonker told MyBroadBand: 'It's about making money; it is not about the life carried by an incompetent and underqualified rider in an unsafe environment on a most likely incapable motorcycle. 'There are just too many variables to address and too few laws or regulations to effectively manage such a programme' Jonker added that in order for motorbike drivers to carry passengers, they must possess a special PrDP and K53 licence, something that is glaringly omitted from the FAQ. managing director Rob Handfield-Jones added that being a motorbike passenger or pillion, required a special skill too, and was not something average commuters were accustomed to. Another concern was the lack of helmet sizing, given that drivers carry just one spare. Sharing the same helmet as other passengers could spread skin and hair infections. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
American brand Ram previews Hilux rival - here's how it could come to South Africa
The Ram Dakota Nightfall concept closely previews the brand's upcoming Hilux rival. Image: Stellantis Ram is one of the top producers of pick-up trucks in the US, or bakkies as we prefer to call them. The Ram 1500 is their big seller Stateside - Chuck Norris even drove one while attempting to intimidate us all as Walker, Texas Ranger in the 1990s - but due to its left-hand-drive configuration, this Ford F150 rival was never an option for South Africa. Today, Ram is owned by global auto giant Stellantis, and although there has been no indication that the American brand will be introduced to South Africa, a recent development appears to make it more plausible. Ram has just revealed its Dakota Nightfall Concept, which closely previews a new one-tonne bakkie for South American markets, which will rival the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. The Dakota appears to be based on the Peugeot Landtrek. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading But look closer, particularly at its bodyshell, and the new Ram appears to be based on the Peugeot Landtrek, which is derived from the Changan F70 from China. With Stellantis planning to build the Peugeot Landtrek in South Africa once its Coega plant in the Eastern Cape is up and running, is it really such a stretch to speculate that the Ram Dakota production model could also be built alongside it? This is assuming they're as closely related as they appear. No technical information on the Dakota has been released, but we do know that it will launch in 2026 in South American markets and will be built in Argentina. 'The new Ram Dakota will be the second product to emerge from our Stellantis pickup hub in Córdoba, Argentina. The brand is strategic for the company globally and in our region. It's a benchmark in the segment, capable of offering the most luxurious, powerful, and robust pickups on the market,' said Emanuele Cappellano, president of Stellantis South America. The Ram Dakota will likely adopt the new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that's being fitted to facelifted Landtrek models abroad, with outputs listed at 147kW and 450Nm. The current 1.9-litre turbodiesel could also be offered as an entry option. While any potential Ram introduction to South Africa is no more than speculation, Stellantis is forging ahead with its new plant in Coega, with the earthworks now completed. The company's managing director for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Mike Whitfield, recently revealed that Stellantis had scaled down its initial ambition to build 50,000 Landtreks per year locally for export into Africa. However, the bakkie will remain a core product for the plant, and two other products will be added, including a new energy vehicle. These additional product plans will be revealed at a later date, he said. IOL Motoring
