If we were to look back through the annals of American automotive history, a few names would undoubtedly stand out: Model T. Bel Air. Corvette. GT40. Mustang. But few nameplates have a bigger place in world history than the iconic Jeep.
The Jeep began its life 75 years ago, just months before the United States officially entered World War II. America knew it was a matter of time before it was forced into the global conflict, so in anticipation, the government solicited domestic automobile manufacturers to build a light, four-wheel drive workhorse to replace the Army’s aging fleet. American Bantam Car Company initially received the bid and created a prototype, but it was a small, struggling company. Eventually, Ford and Willys-Overland Motors were awarded production contracts (and Bantam’s blueprints), and built the GPW and MB, respectively. Later on, the 4x4s became known as U.S. Army Jeeps, and the rest is history.
In honor of the vehicle’s birthday, Jeep has debuted a full lineup of 75th Anniversary models that extend over the automaker’s entire range. The unique Patriots, Renegades, Compasses, Wranglers, Cherokees, and Grand Cherokees benefit from a variety of exclusive green finishes (Sarge Green, Recon Green, or Jungle Green), as well as low gloss bronze wheels, bronze and orange exterior accents, unique interiors and upgraded seats. All models feature 75th Anniversary badging and will be available in the first quarter of 2016.
“Jeep vehicles have defined the authentic SUV and set the benchmark for off-road capability and freedom since they were first produced in 1941,” said Mike Manley, Head of the Jeep brand. “Today, Jeep SUVs continue to deliver 4×4 leadership, as well as fuel efficiency, world-class craftsmanship and premium on-road dynamics.
“In honor of the brand’s 75th anniversary,” he continued, “We have created eye-catching, special-edition models of each vehicle in our lineup that celebrate the unparalleled history of the legendary Jeep brand.”
For more information and a price breakdown of the 75th Anniversary models, click here.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.