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Chrysler rolling out Call of Duty-themed Jeep Wrangler
If you're an independently wealthy Call of Duty megafan who's in the market for a new, gas-devouring automobile, then -- well, first off, congratulations, as you're probably the only person on the planet who matches the aforementioned demographic! Secondly, you'll probably be pleased to hear that Chrysler has announced a limited edition Call of Duty-themed Jeep Wrangler, which will go on sale in time for the launch of the next installment in the series, Black Ops. It gets better: Apparently, the Jeep Wrangler has a pretty significant amount of screen time in Black Ops, meaning your purchase isn't just a sign of your enthusiasm for long-running first-person shooter franchises -- it's cosplay. It's very, very expensive cosplay. That doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't look into it, but you should definitely consider the lifestyle you've chosen.
Garmin provides in-dash navigation system for 2011 Grand Cherokee
It's not quite as elaborate as that 12-inch dual-view touchscreen found in the new 2010 Range Rover, but it looks like Chrysler's 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will come with own its share of in-dash amenities, including a GPS navigation system courtesy of Garmin. That'll be integrated into the same 6.5-inch touchscreen used for Chrysler's Uconnect radio and, of course, will offer everything you'd expect from a standalone GPS unit and then some, including lane assist, speed limit and current speed information, spoken street names, details on nearby points of interest, and even some spiffy customized Chrysler-specific icons. Of course, the vehicle itself also packs a number of other improvements that Chrysler hopes will woo some new customers, but we'll let our friends at Autoblog run those down for you.[Via Autoblog]
Jeep's rugged RT-300 navigator gets rough review
Hmm, maybe Jeep should stick to scaling mountains and whatnot. To be totally frank, we had all but forgotten that a Jeep-branded navigator was even in the works, let alone closing in on release -- of course, maybe that's because we last heard of this thing in December of 2007. At any rate, the ruggedized RT-300 has finally found its way to the review bench, and unfortunately for those holding out for this critter, it didn't fare too well. At all. For starters, $249.99 is a lot of scratch for a lowly 320 x 240 resolution screen, and the fact that it's not even waterproof didn't help matters either. Worst of all, testers had issues with route calculation (read: its main function), with a certain Cincy-to-Jersey query causing a total freeze three times in a row (and even on a second unit). Bottom line? Steer clear of this one, hard though that may be for the Jeep faithful.
Chrysler's new electric vehicles shown on video
What else can we say? Chrysler's new electric vehicles that were introduced yesterday just got a lot more real thanks to a stable of videos showing 'em off. To be honest, we're not too jazzed about the whisper quiet Chrysler minivan or the otherwise plain Jeep Wrangler, but that Dodge EV -- mmm, now that's a fine piece of engineering. Tap the read link and mash play if you're thirsty for more.
Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge electric vehicle prototypes get outed
Seeing that General Motors left a gaping hole of opportunity for other automakers to produce a new EV by 2010 that isn't uglier than sin itself, it's no real shock to see Chrysler champing at the bit. Just this week, the company has introduced a trio of advanced electric-drive vehicle prototypes (simply coined Chrysler EV, Jeep EV and Dodge EV for now), one of which will mysteriously surface in 2010 for consumers in North America. Feel free to hit the read link for the entire hope-filled press release and the gallery of images, but if we've learned anything of late about those succulent concept shots, it's to not believe them (at all).
Chrysler's $499 Uconnect Web in-car EV-DO system coming this month
Wait, wait. Something that was promised for next year is arriving... this year? Be still our hearts! Chrysler will reportedly offer up its in-car EV-DO solution (dubbed Uconnect Web) starting on August 25th, and owners of 2009 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles (along with a few "earlier models") will be able to have the $499 box retrofitted into their rides. Apparently the auto maker isn't planning to install the units directly at the factory, so those who want it will be forced to pay an additional $35 to $50 installation charge, a $35 activation fee and a $29 monthly subscription fee. The service is said to provide download speeds between 400Kbps and 800Kbps with uploads hovering around 400Kbps, and provider Autonet Mobile has promised that you'll "never lose the connection." That's a pretty bold claim -- thankfully we'll be able to test it out in just a few weeks.[Via CrunchGear, image courtesy of Flickr]
Jeep readies rugged GPS RT 300 for January release
It's a Jeep-branded GPS -- did you really expect it to look any less barbaric? 'Course, we're pretty sure those infatuated with the brand won't find anything to kvetch about, and after all, this uber-rugged navigator will withstand more dirt, dust and bumps that your average Garmin. The GPS RT 300 is slated to launch sometime next month for $399, and in exchange for payment you can expect a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen, an integrated media / text viewer, one million POIs, turn-by-turn voice guidance and loads of off-road credibility. Okay, so that last feature isn't guaranteed, but we feel tougher just looking at it.
X3F H3 beta: Penny Arcade's two cents (Nyuk!)
Monday as well as today's Penny Arcade both feature Gabe and Tycho's thoughts on the Halo 3 Beta. The first comic dealt with their unexpected enjoyment of playing the beta and the adverse affects found therein. The second one takes a look at an X3F favorite, the Spartan Laser, and the hijinks that will inevitably occur upon acquisition. Tycho's news posts for both give insight into some of the highlights of the game to them. WAAACHOW!Read: The Third TimeRead: Jim BeamCheck out all the X3F Halo 3 beta coverage
Chrysler to offer hard drive-base MyGIG head unit
Sure, there's a gazillion aftermarket offerings out there loaded with niceties such as iPod connectivity, Bluetooth capabilities, and even flash memory expansion, but Chrysler is hoping to lure in customers who'd rather have their dashboard already pimped out when it rolls off the showroom floor. Slated to hit Sebring models first -- with the Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Nitro to follow suit -- the MyGIG head unit rocks a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, voice-activated controls, 20GB hard drive, "3D-like" navigational maps, real-time traffic updates, and a USB 2.0 port supporting JPEG / MP3 transfers, while also controlling the (optional) U-Connect Bluetooth handsfree system. Opting to support all DAPs (rather than taking the iPod-only approach that many automakers have), it sports an aux input just in case ripping CDs directly on the HDD doesn't interest you. Another impressive feature is the unit's reported ability to play back DVDs via the built-in optical drive (while in park, obviously), or you can hookup the forthcoming Wii or PlayStation 3 to the dual video inputs fpr keeping you and your co-riders entertained should you hit a traffic jam (or LA stoplight). If you aren't much on custom installations, or just needed a good excuse to get in a new set of wheels, the MyGIG head unit will be a $1,700 option when it drops this fall.[Via Gizmag]
Jeep USB flash drive
So maybe this USB drive isn't the the cutest, the biggest, the smartest, or even the weirdest, but how can you deny the Jeep drive's rugged allure? Oh sure, perhaps it's just a fickle attempt to overcharge for a cheap accessory, but whatever the case, EDGE Tech Corp has unveiled these presumably trail rated jump drives to store your maps, hiking trails, emergency contacts, and nearest parts dealers just in case cruising off-road leaves you in a pinch. Aside from looking rough and tough, these USB 2.0 drives seem barely more durable than your run-of-the-mill versions, claiming "shock resistance" as the lone rugged attribute. Considering the absurdly high prices -- $29.95 for 256MB and $44.95 for 512MB -- we can't really understand why these would be appealing, but maybe "it's a Jeep thing," so we wouldn't understand. [Via USBDriveSoft]
EA and Jeep go for a cruise
EA has signed a deal with vehicle manufacturer Jeep to feature one of the most recognizable icons of the Second World War, the Willys-Overland Jeep, in their upcoming title Medal of Honor: Airborne. According to a communications director at Jeep, the deal is designed to "celebrate [the Jeep brand's] history while helping to take this medium to its next level". We're a little confused by this deal. The way it looks to us is that either Jeep is planning to slap their logo all over the jeeps in the game (a blatant anachronism: "jeep" was just a nickname back in the war) and to lobby EA to place the term "jeep" in every other sentence of the script, or EA is taking Jeep for a ride. Surely Jeep could have just sat back and let EA do their marketing for them? It's nearly inconceivable that anyone could create a FPS World War Two game without the legendary Willys-Overland (which most people already call a Jeep). Marketing works in mysterious ways.
