August 1, 200817 yr I've just seen the new interiors of the Jeeps, and I have to say, wow, what an improvement. the design isn't earth shattering, but it looks far, far more upscale than the plastic bin interiors of the current cars. The images are in the allpar forums, http://www.allpar.com/forums/index.php?sho...t=0&start=0 Edited August 11, 200817 yr by Dodgefan
August 1, 200817 yr It is a big improvement over the current interior design. It looks much more refined and upscale.
August 1, 200817 yr Thanks! They look better, but still not amazing or anything. Should stay reasonably fresh for a few years.
August 1, 200817 yr Author The images are scans from the new brochure, so it's most likely a demonstration of the heated seats.
August 1, 200817 yr The images are scans from the new brochure, so it's most likely a demonstration of the heated seats. Ahh... that makes sense. One thing that is interesting, the black/gray interior has a different greenhouse than the tan one. I'm guessing the tan one is a Patriot and the dark one a Compass?
August 1, 200817 yr What's with the red target logos on the seats?? I'm guessing that demonstrates the seat heater locations? As for the interior in general, there isn't much wrong with the new design, but there wasn't much wrong with the older one, either. The problems were all due to cheap materials and cheaper construction quality. This design might look fresher, but how is it constructed? What is the overall materials quality?
August 1, 200817 yr I'm guessing that demonstrates the seat heater locations? As for the interior in general, there isn't much wrong with the new design, but there wasn't much wrong with the older one, either. The problems were all due to cheap materials and cheaper construction quality. This design might look fresher, but how is it constructed? What is the overall materials quality? Yes, my dissapointment with recent Chrysler products has been interior materials and fit and finish, not the design. The '05-present Grand Cherokee, for instance..the design is fine, but the materials are dreadfully cheap for a $35k+ vehicle...my '00 GC interior has much nicer, soft touch materials on the dash instead of the concrete-like material of the '05+. Edited August 1, 200817 yr by moltar
August 1, 200817 yr Author Ahh... that makes sense. One thing that is interesting, the black/gray interior has a different greenhouse than the tan one. I'm guessing the tan one is a Patriot and the dark one a Compass? Correct, the tan interior is the Patriot, the black is the Compass. I'm curious to see what the Caliber's will look like. I'm guessing that demonstrates the seat heater locations? As for the interior in general, there isn't much wrong with the new design, but there wasn't much wrong with the older one, either. The problems were all due to cheap materials and cheaper construction quality. This design might look fresher, but how is it constructed? What is the overall materials quality? Supposedly they have been going to great lengths and studying European interiors to make their interiors better. I can't say for certain, but despite the grainy scan, they certainly look much nicer and far less plasticy...so here's hoping. The dash design reminds me of a cross between the last Liberty and a VW Jetta...simple, and clean (notice the 1-piece dash). VW interiors are certainly not a bad choice to benchmark! Edited August 1, 200817 yr by Dodgefan
August 1, 200817 yr Correct, the tan interior is the Patriot, the black is the Compass. I'm curious to see what the Caliber's will look like. Supposedly they have been going to great lengths and studying European interiors to make their interiors better. I can't say for certain, but despite the grainy scan, they certainly look much nicer and far less plasticy...so here's hoping. The dash design reminds me of a cross between the last Liberty and a VW Jetta...simple, and clean (notice the 1-piece dash). VW interiors are certainly not a bad choice to benchmark! GM has been "studying European interiors" for decades and only recently got it right. IIRC, Chrysler was owned by M-B when the original cheap ones were approved. Also, photochopped renderings always make interiors look better than they are. If you go to the Chrysler website and look at the Sebring interior, it looks kinda nice in those photos.
August 1, 200817 yr Author GM has been "studying European interiors" for decades and only recently got it right. IIRC, Chrysler was owned by M-B when the original cheap ones were approved. Also, photochopped renderings always make interiors look better than they are. If you go to the Chrysler website and look at the Sebring interior, it looks kinda nice in those photos. The annoucement the interiors were going to be redesigned came after Cerberus bought Chrysler, I think. I have some hope, because the Ram's interior went from being cheesy to one of the nicest in it's class. We'll see.
August 1, 200817 yr The images are scans from the new brochure, so it's most likely a demonstration of the heated seats. It's still a MUCH nicer interior. Starting to have hope that things will improve! Chris
August 1, 200817 yr Author Black picture is nice... now for the Caliber which needs this just as bad. It's due for one as well, and it probably has been done, pictures just haven't surfaced yet most likely.
August 1, 200817 yr Be interesting to see what they do with the Caliber. My son Joel and I looked at a Caliber SRT-4 in the showroom when we went and looked at those Challengers, and it seems like they are doing a better job getting assembly on the line done well. Like I said, Cerebis is giving me some hope for Chryco. Chris
August 1, 200817 yr Here's an interesting video interview of some industry interior experts, including an plastics graining consultant contracted by Chrysler... http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/show/1207 The 2009 Ram is apparently the first to benefit from these soft-look, low-sheen finishes. Perceived interior quality is as much visual as it is tactile. Recent Chrysler interiors have too many angular shapes and not enough layers, giving it a one-piece "molded" plastic appearance. This MCE visually softens the interior. Edited August 1, 200817 yr by empowah
August 2, 200817 yr can i get a job as a 'plastics graining consultant'? seriously! is there such a thing! the architect bit i've had enough of! kudos to chrysler for acting fast to try to correct the issues with these cars. Edited August 2, 200817 yr by regfootball
August 2, 200817 yr Ford and Chrysler have shown they can move quickly to remedy some design issues, Ford with the Focus just prior to intro, and now Chrysler with the Sebring and these interiors. Hopefully this is just the beginning of a quicker-reacting industry in general, in regards to minor design changes. That black shot is especially nice.
August 2, 200817 yr According to C&D and Motor Trend for the 09 guides, the Caliber isn't getting the interior over haul, just My-GIG.
August 2, 200817 yr Local Dodge dealer just got in a bunch of Calibers, I'll have to sneak out back and check them out to see if they're '09s, maybe press my nose to the glass and see if there are any changes.
August 3, 200817 yr According to C&D and Motor Trend for the 09 guides, the Caliber isn't getting the interior over haul, just My-GIG. motor trend suks, maybe they will be wrong.
August 3, 200817 yr I'm seeing an all-new dash and shifter console, but it doesn't seem clear if the seats, door panels, or center console are different. If they are, can someone point out details that show this?
August 3, 200817 yr Author I'm seeing an all-new dash and shifter console, but it doesn't seem clear if the seats, door panels, or center console are different. If they are, can someone point out details that show this? New door panels, arm rest, seats have new designs and double stitching, new door panels, shifter...basically almost everything is new or revised.
August 3, 200817 yr The only differences in the seats that I can discern are the new belt buckles and possibly added stitching. Lower third of door panels looks carry-over to me, too. At least the side mirrors look revised. Honestly, the photo is of such low quality and depicts a monochromatic color scheme that it is difficult to pick out what's really changed. Until I can experience the new interior in person, I really think it looks like Chrysler took a D+ interior and turned it into a C interior. Unless the tactile differences are radical, it just looks like a slightly better design when a complete overhaul was needed. It will be interesting to see what the effect (if any) on sales is.
August 3, 200817 yr I'm guessing that demonstrates the seat heater locations? As for the interior in general, there isn't much wrong with the new design, but there wasn't much wrong with the older one, either. The problems were all due to cheap materials and cheaper construction quality. This design might look fresher, but how is it constructed? What is the overall materials quality? I agree Croc. Their designs are not that bad, its just that there is Fisher Price all over the place. I drove a Dodge Ram 3500 for about 2 years for work and it was a great design, just cheap crap for the dash and face of the dashboard.
August 3, 200817 yr Author I agree Croc. Their designs are not that bad, its just that there is Fisher Price all over the place. I drove a Dodge Ram 3500 for about 2 years for work and it was a great design, just cheap crap for the dash and face of the dashboard. Yeah but with the exception of the F-150 it's not like any of the other truck interiors were better.
August 3, 200817 yr Yeah but with the exception of the F-150 it's not like any of the other truck interiors were better. Our F-350 at work has had it's shifter handle break off FOUR TIMES at the base. It's a 6 year old truck now. Not "quality materials" if you ask me... :AH-HA_wink: The Caliber's biggest "con" for me is when you close the doors you KNOW you are in a low priced vehicle. It has that "cheap" feel to it, the older imports were famous for it.
August 3, 200817 yr Yeah but with the exception of the F-150 it's not like any of the other truck interiors were better. Oh, I really don't know about that...
August 4, 200817 yr I love crysler interior designs in black....even still when i sit in the breeze...i feel like im in a nice car.
August 4, 200817 yr I love crysler interior designs in black....even still when i sit in the breeze...i feel like im in a nice car. It's the late '90s-early '00s Chrysler interiors I really like, esp. in black..'99-04 Grand Cherokee, '99-04 LHes (Intrepid, Concorde, etc)...the design and the materials.
August 4, 200817 yr Author Oh, I really don't know about that... I forgot that the F-150 was redesigned for 2004, so I take back my statement about it being better.
August 8, 200817 yr and you would expect i $15k car not to be so great inside....but it is Indeed. My Breeze (although with the silver fern interior) looked quite nice as well.
August 11, 200817 yr Author Funny, the Jeep site isn't even updated, nor has there been any official photos released, but there are already some `09s on dealer lots. Here's a 2009 Patriot Sport: And to compare: 2008 Liberty Edited August 11, 200817 yr by Dodgefan
August 11, 200817 yr New door panels, arm rest, seats have new designs and double stitching, new door panels, shifter...basically almost everything is new or revised. Those two pictures aren't the same model (as seen by the a-pillar slope). I can't tell by the pictures if the door panels are actually different here (Patriot) or not: It looks like they may be the same door panels, seats, and center console (one picture just having the arm rest slid forward), while the dash and shifter area are new. Edited August 11, 200817 yr by PurdueGuy
August 11, 200817 yr Author Those two pictures aren't the same model (as seen by the a-pillar slope). I can't tell by the pictures if the door panels are actually different here (Patriot) or not: It looks like they may be the same door panels, seats, and center console (one picture just having the arm rest slid forward), while the dash and shifter area are new. Maybe the materials are just different, even if the design is the same, also I think the switches are new. Although the refreshed Compass has different door panels and seat detailing. Edit: If you look at the new photos I posted, you can see the while the overall design of the Patriot's door panel is similar, it is different, you can see this by looking at the shape of the door handle recess. Edited August 11, 200817 yr by Dodgefan
August 11, 200817 yr Funny, the Jeep site isn't even updated, nor has there been any official photos released, but there are already some `09s on dealer lots. Here's a 2009 Patriot Sport: Looks like a marked improvement already!
August 11, 200817 yr Looks like a marked improvement already! Yup, looks like a marked improvement to me too. I'm obviously old though, I think the earlier interior was way too plush for the Jeep brand, I'm used to steel dashes and removable doors...
August 11, 200817 yr That interior is embarrassingly bad. All Chrysler interiors are far from the competition, I can't see Chrysler lasting very long.
August 11, 200817 yr Author That interior is embarrassingly bad. All Chrysler interiors are far from the competition, I can't see Chrysler lasting very long. Because you've seen the new interiors and touched them in person right?
August 11, 200817 yr Every Chrysler I've sat in has been bad, the 300C interior is about what the Accord, Sonata or Malibu have, but the 300C costs $40,000. The 300C is priced with the CTS, the 300 pails in comparison.
August 11, 200817 yr That interior is embarrassingly bad. All Chrysler interiors are far from the competition, I can't see Chrysler lasting very long. Trollin, trollin, trollin, RAWHIDE! LOL
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