Contact: Dianna Gutierrez The New 2005 Jeep® Liberty - An Evolution of a Leader August 16, 2004, Auburn Hills, Mich. - Freshened Exterior and Refined Interior Across the Lineup Jeep® Liberty Renegade has a More Rugged Design, Classic Jeep Appearance First Mid-Size SUV to Offer Common Rail Turbo Diesel Engine Has Best-In-Class Towing, Torque and Range Since its introduction in 2002, the Jeep® Liberty has captured the attention of Jeep owners and attracted a new generation of sport-utility vehicle buyers who value the best combination of Jeep 4 x 4 capability and on-road refinement in the mid-size sport-utility segment. The vehicle has garnered nearly 75 percent new buyers to the Jeep brand, while still appealing to traditional Jeep 4 x 4 owners. For 2005, the Jeep Liberty unveils a new freshened exterior and interior design on the Sport and Limited models, and the Liberty Renegade takes on a more rugged design with its unique exterior. Also new to the lineup for 2005 are a six-speed manual transmission and the first turbo Common Rail Diesel (CRD) engine offering in a mid-size SUV for North American markets. "Jeep Liberty's refreshed interior and exterior help to solidify the vehicle's leadership position in the marketplace while staying true to its Jeep heritage," said Jeff Bell, Vice President - Jeep. "The 2005 Jeep Liberty offers the best combination of Jeep 4 x 4 capability and on-road refinement in a mid-size SUV." JEEP LIBERTY DIESEL For the first time in the U. S., the Jeep Liberty will be offered with a 2.8-liter CRD engine, giving its customers state-of- the-art technology that fits their lifestyle. The 2.8-liter CRD is equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission on the Jeep Liberty Sport and Limited models. Providing class-leading torque and towing, the diesel engine will attract yet another type of buyer to the Jeep Liberty. The 2.8-liter CRD engine is rated at an estimated 160 horsepower (120 kW) at 3800 rpm and with 295 lb.-ft. (400 Nom) of torque at 1,800 rpm for unmatched towing power (5,000 lbs.). Diesel engines offer another option for increased torque, towing and range, while improving fuel economy an average of 30 percent and reducing CO2 emissions by an average of 20 percent. The 2.8-liter CRD is an enhanced version of the four-cylinder diesel engine currently offered on this vehicle in Europe. VM Motori, which is owned in part by Detroit Diesel, a DaimlerChrysler company, is the manufacturer of the engine. VM has been supplying the Chrysler Group diesel engines since 1992 for minivans and Jeep products sold in Europe. "The new diesel engine delivers the torque of a V-8, the performance of a V-6 and the fuel economy of a four-cylinder engine," said Craig Love, Vice President, Rear Wheel Drive Product Team and Core Team Leader. "We always say Jeep is the go-anywhere, do-anything brand, and these features give our owners even more capability to do just that." JEEP LIBERTY RENEGADE Appealing to a slightly different type of buyer than the Sport and Limited models, the Jeep Liberty Renegade features a flatter hood that complements the traditional round Jeep headlamps for a distinctive appearance. A body color grille is also new for 2005. Large freestanding fog lamps with black bezels offer more visibility when off-roading and a new sill protects the body sides from road blast. Tow hooks and a Bright Silver Metallic appliqué across the new molded-in color front fascia are standard features. Bolted flares are also molded-in color for more durability and feature chrome- plated attachment details. A new luggage side rack with beefier molded-in color structural end pieces and a Brushed Silver Metallic tubular side rail enhances the Renegade's rugged appearance. The black off-road light bar is now an optional feature. Fender flares combined with available all-terrain tires, off-road light bar and taillamp guards give the Liberty Renegade a look that stands apart from the Sport and Limited models. JEEP LIBERTY LIMITED A chrome grille, chrome body-side molding - with the LIBERTY name molded in - and chrome side rails are new design cues for the 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited. Accenting the vehicle are painted body color front and rear fascias and bumpers. Fog lamps are standard on the Jeep Liberty Limited and tow hooks are available with the Skid Plate Group package. The Limited also features a new sill to protect the body sides from road blast. JEEP LIBERTY SPORT A new body color grille with a full Jeep shield includes provisions for optional fog lamps on the new Jeep Liberty Sport. The higher fog lamp and park/turn lamp locations on the vehicle offer more protection from road debris. The new front fascia remains molded-in color with a crisper, more horizontal shape to provide the Liberty Sport with a wider, more stable appearance. The Sport also features a new sill to protect the body sides from road blast. The front bumper runs across the bottom of the grille with a twin-tube appearance to create a custom accessory look. Interior refinements on the vehicle include relocated power window switches that are easier to access and operate. New instrument cluster graphics - white letters on gray background - provide greater visibility at twilight and dusk and give a more refined look. On-road refinement gets an assist from new seats that are improved through the use of dual density foam. In addition to being more comfortable, the seats have a more contemporary look with new contours; new styles and fabrics, including a new "diamond-plate inspired" seat fabric. Additionally, the rear seat fold angle of the vehicle is reduced, providing a flatter load floor for increased utility and improved cargo storage. A new six-speed manual transmission replaces the previous five-speed manual transmission. The new NSG370 six- speed transmission offers improved quality and Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) specifications. It is available on the 4 x 2 and 4 x 4 Sport and Renegade models. "The Jeep Liberty is uniquely positioned to deliver both the refinement required by this expanding market, while also offering the toughness of the legendary Jeep brand," said Bell. "The Jeep Liberty stands apart from the next generation of less capable mid-size sport-utility vehicle offerings." All Jeep Liberty four-wheel-drive models will wear the Jeep Trail Rated® badge. The Jeep Trail Rated badge shows that the vehicle has been designed to perform in a variety of challenging off-road conditions identified by five key consumer-oriented performance categories: Traction, Ground Clearance, Maneuverability, Articulation and Water Fording. Jeep Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology established by the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC) and Jeep Engineering to objectively measure and consistently predict off-road performance for all Jeep vehicles today and into the future. Through a combination of natural and controlled field tests, as well as computer simulated environments, Jeep Trail Rated provides a repeatable and consistent measurement of off-road performance for all Jeep vehicles. Only Jeep vehicles are Trail Rated. The Jeep Liberty is manufactured in Ohio at the Toledo North Assembly Plant. -###- Additional information and news from Stellantis are available at: https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com .