Jeep unveils Wrangler Unlimited Altitude

In March, Jeep showed off its blacked-out Altitude edition Compass, Grand Cherokee and Patriot. Now it's Wrangler's turn get the monochromatic package. The Wrangler Unlimited Altitude package includes everything the traditional Unlimited Sahara gets, including a body color hardtop and various interior gadgetry. But the Altitude exterior gets either all-black paint or all-black trim on Deep Cherry Red, Black, Bright White or Bright Silver Metallic paint. Unique 18-inch wheels with painted black spokes round out the exterior highlights. Inside, the seats get black leather with contrasting red stitching as well as black trim on the dashboard and black berber floor mats. Only 4,500 Wrangler Unlimited Altitude editions will be sold (which doesn't seem that unlimited to us) beginning in May with an MSRP of $33,740. That's more than the Patriot and Compass Altitudes and just shy of the $35,595 price tag on the Grand Cherokee Altitude.

Jeep recalls nearly 68,000 Wrangler models over... skid plate fires?

Chrysler is recalling 67,872 Jeep Wrangler models over a potential issue with the transmission skid plate. The recall deals solely with Wranglers from the 2010 model year, equipped with automatic transmissions. It's been found that debris can collect on the skid plate that protects the transmission, leading to the risk of a fire if the debris makes contact with the nearby catalytic converter. Chrysler will begin notifying owners this month, at which time they can take their Wranglers to be repaired free of charge at the dealer. Scroll down for the complete release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration.

Jeep to push for more sales in China

Jeep is one of the most famous brands in the world, and that recognition helps fuel sales and make the marque one of the shiniest gems in the Chrysler crown of brands. The world's most voracious car market, China, knows and loves Jeep vehicles well enough to fuel a sales boom that's got the company looking to add dealers and re-fire local production. Chinese buyers snap up Jeep branded merchandise wherever they can find it, but the actual Jeep dealer network in China is only 120 strong. Still, sales were up 63 percent last year, and Jeep CEO Mike Manley is sure that could rise even further with better availability. "Our brand awareness and consideration is running way ahead of where our actual volumes are," Manley said. Jeep was actually one of the first western automakers to make a foray into China when American Motors Corporation set up Beijing Jeep in the 1980s. Since that time, Jeep has gone through ownership and cashflow tumult, stopping Chinese production in 2006. Now, Chrysler is looking for a partner to work with so that more Jeeps can be available to buyers that are starving for the vehicles they perceive so fondly. If production within China isn't re-started, Jeep may become just a memory. Right now, the Jeep models that are available in China are imported, and carry hefty price tags because of duties. Popularity of SUVs is high in China, and other manufacturers may not have the same image as Jeep, but with local production and lower prices, not to mention more dealers, availability may trump the Jeep mys