Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty & Wrangler Participate in 'Jeep Trail Rated' Program

JEEP PRESS RELEASE
Jeep proudly announces its 'Jeep Trail Rated' program, a new way of communicating to consumers the extensive level of off-road requirements Jeep 4x4 vehicles are capable of. The 2004 Jeep 4x4 vehicles, including the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler and Liberty are participating in the program.

"Jeep Trail Rated is an industry-leading methodology to objectively measure and predict off-road performance," said Jeff Bell, VP Jeep, a division of the DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "We created Jeep Trail Rated to communicate the legendary Jeep 4x4 capability." Jeep Trail Rated is backed by the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC), which has 45 years of off-road vehicle testing experience, including the creation of standards for the U.S. military.

The "Jeep Trail Rated" badge indicates that Jeep 4x4s are designed to perform in a variety of challenging off-road conditions identified by five key consumer-oriented performance categories, including Ground Clearance, Traction, Articulation, Maneuverability and Water Fording. "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," stated Bell. "Trail Rated will help us ensure that our legendary 4x4 capability remains a cornerstone of the Jeep brand."

Jeep print and television promotions have been launched to communicate the standards that Jeep vehicles must meet in order to earn the Jeep "Trail Rated" badge. Each ad highlights one of the five consumer-oriented categories that make up Jeep Trail Rated. In describing the overall direction of the promotional ads, Bell continued, "Each print ad will consistently show the performance standards with a capability graphic that highlights one of the five off-road conditions being demonstrated, along with the Trail Rated 4x4 badge. The television spots will also feature the performance categories and the Trail Rated 4x4 badge. The Jeep brand continues to deliver on the promise to provide rugged, versatile vehicles with authentic 4x4 capability," added Bell.