Press Release
Quintessential Jeep???????????????????? Vehicles from the Past Served as Inspiration for the Design of the 2006 Jeep Commander
When Jeep???????????????????? designers set out to create an all-new SUV - the first Jeep vehicle
with three rows of seats - they were not asked to think outside the box. Instead,
they were handed an even bigger challenge: create a better box.
They looked to some classic Jeep vehicles for inspiration: the Willys Station
Wagons (1946 to1962), the Jeep Wagoneer (1963 to 1991), and especially the
Jeep Cherokee (1984 to 2001). Although different in many ways, those vehicles
also had important similarities: taut lines, sharp angles and flat surfaces.
Those elements survive today in the Jeep Wrangler, which, as a direct descendent
of the 4x4 military Jeep of World War II, remains the icon of the Jeep brand. From this incomparable Jeep heritage was conceived an SUV with classic Jeep
styling in an unmistakably modern package: the 2006 Jeep Commander. ???????????????????????????????????The Jeep Commander is a fresh expression of the essence of Jeep design,???????????????????????????????? said
Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President, Chrysler Group Design. ???????????????????????????????????It springs
from the archetypical Jeep vocabulary, executed in a more architectural and
mechanical manner. This vehicle is clearly constructed primarily from the same
aesthetic as two classic Jeep icons: the Wrangler and Cherokee. As a result,
Jeep Commander is the modern, quintessential Jeep.???????????????????????????????? Exterior Has Strong, Purpose-Built Appearance There are two models: Commander and Commander Limited. Standard on both models
is the signature Jeep seven-slot grille: body color on Commander, and chrome
on the Limited. The grille is anchored at both ends by distinctive headlamp
assemblies. The stacked headlamps are circular and truncated flat across the
bottom with detailed parabolas. Simulated Allen head bolts in the headlamp
module contribute to the feeling of precise construction. The technical look
is repeated in the taillamps as well. The Commander??????????????????????????????????????s long, clamshell hood is flat, reminiscent of the even
flatter hood of the Jeep Wrangler. Constructed of aluminum, it extends to the
Commander??????????????????????????????????????s upright windshield. Also upright are the backlite and liftgate
at the rear end of the vehicle. Form follows function in the design of the stepped roof. Beginning over the
second row, the roof is raised 3.15 inches to provide more headroom for occupants
in the second and third rows. While clearly evident from outside the front
of the vehicle, the stepped roof is most appreciated from inside the Commander.
Viewed from either side, the stepped effect is concealed by a newly designed
roof rack rail, standard on all models. The rack??????????????????????????????????????s crossbar stanchions
are similar to a buttress-style bridge support, and each side rail has three
integrated tie-downs. Exclusive to the Limited are D-pillar assist handles that extend from the
roof rail on down the back of the vehicle. The handles are black with chrome
inserts in the grip area. The assist handles work in conjunction with the black
molded-in-color step pad. The step pad has a diamond plate texture that provides
a rugged, non-skid surface for a person stepping on the rear bumper to gain
access to the roof of the Commander.
The 2006 Jeep Commander looks not so much styled as constructed, as if it were
hewn from marble with a hammer and chisel. The result is a design that is
simple, strong and purpose-built, with no fussy details. The vehicle has
a military bearing: upright and rugged. About two inches longer and nearly
four inches taller than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Commander is imposing
without being intimidating.
Completing the Commander??????????????????????????????????????s stance are its more vertical body sides and upright side glass. The front and rear doors feature bright chrome body side moldings incised with the word, ???????????????????????????????????COMMANDER.????????????????????????????????
Three Rows of Seats Highlight the All-New Interior
Commander is the first Jeep vehicle with three rows of seats. Arranged in stadium
style, each row is higher than the one in front of it, providing second-
and third-row passengers with enhanced forward visibility.
The seats are broad-shouldered, giving them an air of formality. The Commander model features cloth, with optional leather available. The standard seats on the Limited model are leather. All outboard seats have head restraints. The seats are firm and designed to provide optimal comfort during long highway miles and off-road adventures. The second row splits 40-20-40 and the seat backs recline. The third row splits 50-50. Both rows fold forward to provide a flat load floor for maximum utility.
Additional utility is provided via the L-shaped storage bin located in the load floor behind the third row seats. The top panel of the bin is removable and reversible. One side of the panel is carpeted and level with the third row of seats. The opposite side is molded-in plastic with a diamond plate texture, designed to stand up to the dirty gear an active lifestyle often generates. Under the bin are provisions for storing the jack and tools.
Jeep Commander is the first Chrysler Group vehicle with Command-View???????????????????????????????? skylights. Located in the roof above the second row, these two fixed, tinted glass skylights are packaged with the available power sun-roof that is positioned above the front passengers. Each Command-View skylight has a roller shade that can be pulled horizontally to block out light when desired. The skylights and sun-roof work together to give the Commander a greater sense of interior spaciousness and adventure. An optional DVD player is located between the skylights.
The two-tone color scheme on Commander??????????????????????????????????????s instrument panel and interior
trim exemplify the vehicle??????????????????????????????????????s attention to interior detail.
The upper instrument panel is new, with 16 Allen head bolts contributing to
the mechanical, constructed look of the vehicle.
Circular elements prevail: The new gear shift knob of the gated shifter is round, as are the eight air vents, the steering wheel pad, the interior door handles, the grilles that conceal the door speakers and the four gauges in the simple and purposeful instrument cluster. A new JEEP medallion dominates the center of the steering wheel and shift knob, with an Allen head bolt design - round, of course - providing additional interest.
???????????????????????????????????By looking to the heritage of Jeep, we were able to move forward with
a design for the Jeep Commander that captures the classic and timeless elements
of the brand,???????????????????????????????? said Donald A. Renkert, Senior Design Manager, Design
Office Jeep Studio.
