European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Car Corner Chrysler boosts Power to keep Cherokee competitive / the new four door jeep Cherokee sport with 4-liter, 190 he engine. By Jan a. Zverina United press International \7 Chrysler is on the defense for 1991, As it strives to keep to aging jeep Cherokee competitive with an onslaught of newcomers to the sport Utility vehicle Market. Some new firepower has been added to jeep s Arsenal to fend off this assault. Its 4-liter, inline six Cylinder engine has been beefed up to 190 horsepower at 4,750 rpm and 225 foot pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm compared to 177 he and 200 foot pounds in the previous Model. That gives the Cherokee the Jost powerful engine in its class which includes a growing spate of four door Quot passenger trucks Quot like the Ford explorer Oldsmobile bravado Mazda is Vajo Chevrolet Blazer Gumc Jimmy Nissan Pathfinder Toyota 4runner and Isuzu Rodeo and trooper ii. A More importantly Chrysler is targeting the enemy read that Ford explorer by cutting prices a another. Defense against Competition that has encircled the Cherokee new in its eighth Model  Skof insists that when rebates Are counted the Cherokee holds a Price advantage of nearly $1,500 underlie More modern explorer. That underscores How competitive this Market has become As Chrysler thins profits in what is among its most lucrative offerings. Also new for 1991 is the sport yet another Cherokee derivative intended to offer features this venerable line has become known for but at a More affordable Price. A four door Cherokee sport with four wheel drive 4wd a the most popular configuration a starts at $1.5,946 when equipped with a 5-Speed manual transmission. / a 4-Speed automatic with a Quot Power Quot Button that adjusts the shift Points for better acceleration is $677 More but also opted for by about 90 percent of buyers but the Cherokee sport reviewed Here Cost $19,222 As tested once a Gaggle of  were added air conditioning tape cassette tilt steering wheel and full instrumentation with a tachometer. That does not include several , like Antilock brakes $799skid plates for off Road Protection Quot $144full sized spare tire $219 and rear window defroster $161 i add those in and the Cherokee sticker can climb past $20,500. All gauges and controls Are conventional but sensible although the Center Horn Button and three Metal spokes. On the steering wheel Are a dated design. The front seats Are supportive and comfortable and provide a commanding View of the Road As in most sport Utility vehicles. But its second seat is snug for adults and its rear doors Are much smaller when compared with its four door Competition. Once the rear seat Cushion is folded Forward and the setback lowered a design needing improvement because it is hard to raise cargo space is doubled to 72 cubic feet. But that too is less than in Many competing vehicles. A the 3,057-Pound Cherokee sport has a smooth Highway ride despite its 101 4-Inch wheel Tyse among the shortest in its class. One stomp on the Gas pedal is proof enough of a hefty Power infusion although fuel Economy is Down 1 mile per gallon from before to 1 5 city/20 mpg Highway. Shifting Between 2wd and 4wd with the Cherokee s command trac system can be done at Normal speeds by giving the console lever a firm tug or push. Shifting into Quot Low Quot for off Road driving should Only be done at a crawl. Most other systems require the vehicle to be stopped or backed up. Off Road the test vehicle performed Well Over a variety of snowy and Slushy grades. Washboard surfaces however caused its rear Axle  into an Irish Jig careful scrutiny of the Cherokee shows just How dated1 this vehicle has become. There Are wide gaps Between its doors and body panels and its paint Job has an Quot Orange pee texture a signs of dated design and tooling worse the test vehicle was plagued with careless. Workmanship ill fitting Interior trim a recalcitrant Side Quot View Mirror adjustment and paint april cation so uneven in the engine compartment that Gray primer showed through. A. Also the Gas pressurized struts on the rear Hatch caused the door to lift faster than expected--creating1 a possible Hazard. The Hatch also was hard to close up front the cherokees heavy Hood must be supported by a prop Rod. But Access to routinely serviced items like the Oil Tiller is easy the Cherokee is covered by a seven-year/7 ,000-mile powertrain warranty with Basic overage limited to one year or 12,000 Miles. A Chrysler insists the Cherokee will l e offered alongside a new sport Utility vehicle code named Quot Zuj Quot and slated to go on Sale next year. While the Zuj will be aimed at a More affluent buyer one wonders How Well the Cherokee will Soldier Oil in the face of unprecedented Competition despite its gradual evolution. In a Market segment where sales Are Uji 4 percent Over 1969, Cherokee sales skidded 21 percent from 162 655 units in 1969 to 126,652 units last year a 1 -. A a Quot a a  a a for full details on the  Cherokee its1 special1-&Quot a military prices etc., prospective buyers May Contact Chrysler Eagle sales representatives at the aares new tar sales Points  various bases in Europe. Mercury to enter minivan Market by United press International. The Lincoln Mercury division of Ford motor co has revealed that it will enter the minivan Market in mid-1992 with an All new vehicle named the Mercury. The villager will be built at a Ford Plant in Avon Lake Ohio under a joint venture announced Between Ford and the Nissan motor co the Cleveland area Plant represents a total investment of More than $1 billion and will ultimately employ about 2,7 to workers Ford says. 1a. V a a. 1ford will assemble the villager As Well As a similar version to be sold through Nissan dealers production is scheduled to begin in Ajril 1992, with the minivans to go on Sale that summer As 199 i models Nissan is pm warily responsible for the design and eng Eerme of the front wheel drive minivans and will Supply v6 engines irom its Smyrna enn., Plant Nissan spokeswoman Kathy Jones said. Come act passenger vans have experienced the most rapid growth of any of the car or truck Market segments. In recent years Quot said Ross h. Roberts Ford vice a. President and Linc Oln Mere Ury division general manager we see continued potential  in the. Future and to want to be a Juart of  Ford expects the Avon l Ake Plant to. Product e Between 1 40,000 and 1 50,000 minivans a year with slightly More than half the out iut  the merc Ury. Version company spokesman John so indic h said. March 7, 1991 stripes Magazine