2008 Jeep Commander

2008 Jeep® Commander Adds All-New 4.7-Liter V-8 Engine, New

The Jeep® Commander is the first Jeep vehicle with three rows of seats allowing for more passengers – seven total – to visit more places and enjoy its go-anywhere, do-anything capability.

The 2008 Jeep Commander adds an all-new 4.7L V-8 engine that delivers a 30 percent increase in horsepower, a 10 percent increase in torque, and improved fuel economy of more than five percent compared to the engine it replaces. Also new on the Jeep Commander for 2008 are a wide array of innovative technologies including the all-new SIRIÚS™ Backseat TV, MyGIG™ Multimedia Infotainment System, Hill Descent Control, Hill Start Assist and Trailer Sway Control.

SIRIÚS Backseat TV features three channels of respected children's TV featuring many of the most well-known kids' programming, including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. Rear-seat passengers will be able to watch shows such as Nickelodeon's 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' Disney Channel's 'Hannah Montana,' and Cartoon Network's 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.'

SIRIÚS Backseat TV operates via an in-vehicle satellite video receiver and two small roof-mounted antennas. Programming is displayed on the vehicle's second-row (except minivan: second- and/or third-row) video screen, and channel name, program title and rating are broadcast and displayed on the screen. For added flexibility, rear-seat passengers can enjoy SIRIÚS Backseat TV while front-seat occupants listen to SIRIÚS Satellite Radio. The system can be operated from either the rear-seat entertainment unit or the radio head unit. In addition, when the vehicle is in Park, programming can be displayed on the MyGIG screen for front-seat viewing.

Also new for 2008 is MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System that has a built-in navigation, audio, entertainment and communication system. MyGIG allows customers to use touch screen or voice commands to control all of the features, and includes a 20-gigabyte hard drive where music and photos can be stored. There's space reserved on the hard drive for approximately 1,600 songs – more than 100 hours of music. There also is a voice-memo recorder feature. MyGIG supports real-time traffic information, available through SIRIÚS Satellite Radio, and can provide an alternate drive route based on current traffic.

New for Jeep Commander and standard on 4x4 models equipped with Quadra-Trac II® and Quadra-Drive II® is Hill Descent Control (HDC). Operational in the '4WD Low' position, HDC provides downhill assistance at a controlled rate of speed. By means of electronic brake control, HDC supplements the gear reduction and engine braking that a traditional mechanical low-range transfer case provides. For ease of operation, Jeep Commander's HDC is activated and deactivated automatically, after the HDC button is engaged, as the system senses changes in topography. The system works whether the vehicle in forward or reverse.

Another new feature for Jeep Commander is Hill Start Assist (HSA). Standard on all Jeep Commander models equipped with Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, this feature allows the driver time to transition from brake to throttle to achieve a smooth launch on a grade. The system will hold brake pressure for two seconds upon the driver's release of the brake pedal. The ABS system decreases wheel pressure in response to increasing throttle to provide a smooth launch.

Also new is Trailer Sway Control, which helps to reduce trailer sway and provides improved trailer stability and increased towing safety.

The Jeep brand has been building industry-leading 4x4 vehicles for more than 65 years. The Jeep Commander has Jeep's legendary off-road capability combined with on-road driving comfort. As a result, the Jeep Commander is the most capable three-row, seven-passenger 4x4. And, of course, it's Jeep Trail Rated®.

DesignSix-plus decades of Jeep history gave Commander's design team an unrivaled automotive heritage from which to draw. Key sources of inspiration were the Willys Station Wagons (1946 to 1962), the Jeep Wagoneer (1963 to 1991) and, most of all, the Jeep Cherokee (1984 to 2001).

Introduced in 2006, the Jeep Commander is immediately recognizable as an authentic Jeep due to its classic Jeep design elements: seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel openings, round headlamps and flat surfaces, plus a steep windshield, backlight and rear end. The result is a rugged, constructed appearance that says 'Jeep.'

Commander is the first Jeep vehicle with three rows of seats. Firm and broad-shouldered, the seats are positioned theater-style: The second row is higher than the first; the third row is higher than the second. Additional head room is created by literally raising the roof. It is 3.15 inches higher, beginning over the second row and producing a stepped effect. The second-row seats split 40-20-40; the third row, 50-50. The middle and rear rows fold forward to create a flat load floor for maximum utility. Behind the third row is a storage bin, located in the load floor. Únderneath it are provisions for storing the jack and tools. The bin's top panel is removable and reversible. The carpeted side is level with the third row of seats, and the opposite side is molded-in plastic. It's for storing the gear that active lifestyles demand.

Located in the roof above the second row are CommandView™ Skylights. These dual skylights of tinted glass are optional and are packaged with the power sun roof that is positioned above the front passengers. Standard on Commander Limited, the package expands the vehicle's sense of interior roominess. The CommandView Skylights also have roller shades that can be used to block out light when desired. An optional rear-seat DVD player is located between the skylights.

An attractive roof rack rail has two integrated tie-downs on each side. Available on Limited and standard on the Overland are assist handles which extend from the roof rail down the back of the D-pillars, adding to the rugged, utilitarian appearance of the vehicle. The assist handles are black with chrome inserts on Limited and Overland. On top of the rear bumper is a diamond-plate-texture step pad. The pad's nonskid surface is helpful when stepping on the rear bumper to gain access to the roof of the vehicle. Reinforcing the constructed look, standard on the Overland and optional on Limited models, are decorative bolts that appear to attach the classic Jeep trapezoidal wheel flares to the body.

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. Character is provided by 16 Allen head bolts. A 'JEEP' logo dominates the center of the steering wheel and the new shift knob. The four gauges in the instrument cluster are simple and purposeful.

The result is Commander's Jeep heritage exterior design, complemented by a modern interior of well-conceived amenities and features.

Engineering

• Quadra-Trac I®

For customers who want the assurance of full-time four-wheel drive without any switches or levers to pull, Quadra-Trac I® is ideal. The system provides for smooth operation of the vehicle over a variety of road conditions.

The NV140 transfer case splits torque 48/52 percent (front/rear) for nearly even distribution of engine power. The single-speed transfer case has been designed to rigorous Jeep durability standards while offering smooth and quiet operation. The use of the Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) with the NV140 transfer case makes the 4x4 system extremely competent in most situations.

Quadra-Trac II®
The Quadra-Trac II® 4x4 system for the Jeep Commander gives the customer the benefit of the NV245 two-speed active transfer case and BTCS.

The NV245 transfer case is the same used in the Quadra-Drive II® system. It takes input from a variety of sensors to determine tire slip at the earliest possible moment and take corrective action. The system also uses Throttle Anticipate – sensing quick movement in throttle from a stop – and takes steps to maximize traction before tire slippage occurs. When wheel slippage is detected, up to 100 percent of the available 375 lb.-ft. of torque is instantly routed to the axle with the most traction.

Torque is transferred to the individual wheels as needed by the BTCS to maintain traction in changing road conditions. When the system senses tire slip, it modulates brake pressure to the slipping wheel, which directs torque to the tires with the best traction.

Quadra-Trac II features an electronic shift mechanism for ease of use. The transfer case offers a low range for off-road situations and includes a neutral position for trouble-free towing behind another vehicle.

Source - Jeep