You know what slips my clutches?

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 02/21/2017 at 14:25 • Filed to: Rant

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That the Jeep Active-Drive II 2 speed awd system (AAM Eco-trac) is not available in ANYTHING else.

Its not made by Jeep, its outsourced from American Axle Manufacture and the single speed version is in lots of products from Jeep and others...but why only in the Hideous, non-liftable KL cherokee?

Image a discovery sport with the 2 speed option (it too uses the single speed AAM eco-trac)?

I mean, its not like Jeep is the only brand to hang its hat on off-road heritage.

Now I can’t be sure, but I seem to recall Jeep might have an exclusivity contract with AAM for a few years which would make sense for the disco Sport but what about in the Jeep family?

Why not in the renegade? A real low range in a car like that?! I get that its more expensive and maybe there is a whole deal for why it wouldn’t work, though I can’t see it.

I also understand that its a niche market, but so is the trailhawk brand...and Jeep knows it. They always say that the trailhawk represents a small but important part of their sales strategy to keep the Jeep DNA in all their product, but they they are doing only lip service by withholding real capability that should be within their reach. There is no reason, as far as I know, to NOT have Active Drive II or Active Drive Lock in the Renegade or Compass trailhawks. Same engine and trans in the KL cherokee...the only difference is in the PTO, the driveshaft length and the rear drive module.

I want to see low range make a comback in small fun cars.

No, the Active Drive Low is NOT low range.

and 100 more > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 14:41

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Imagine... modern small-Jeeps modular drivetrain options.

Party-vi > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 14:47

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The Willys MB had a 30:1 or 26:1 crawl ratio. Why isn’t 20:1 a low range?

jasmits > and 100 more 02/21/2017 at 14:49

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Active Drive II with a manual transmission in the Renegade would make a very, very attractive Wrangler Jr, trading a little capability and removable doors/roof for better DD-ability and fuel economy. But that might be exactly why they don’t do it.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 14:53

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My couple experiences checking out the Fiat 500X when my wife was shopping for a mini-SUV left me thinking it was kinda dreadful, if for no other reasons than the 2.4 Tigershark was like a tractor, and it had the junkiest turn signal click clack noise I have ever experienced.

I vastly prefer the styling of the new Compass over the KL Cherokee but man I wish it had something different from the Tigershark.

Honestly for someone like myself where I’d get a Jeep again is for on-road winter capability, and I appreciate some of the extra off-roady gizmos for that purpose. The rear locker and real low range on the Cherokee Trailhawk might come in handy on certain limited occasions, but the Active Drive Low in the Compass & Renegade at least lets you lock the front & rear axles together.

If there were a Compass with that system and something other than the crappy 2.4 Tigershark, I could see the appeal. Sure the Active Drive Lock would be nice to have in that Compass but I think Jeep is trying to do some differentiation in what is a very crowded lineup of 5-seat SUVs.

HammerheadFistpunch > Party-vi 02/21/2017 at 14:56

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Cause 1st gear =/= low range

Party-vi > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 15:01

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Oh? It’s not a two-speed PTU? The Jeep website says it has a low range

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 15:50

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Bring Back Quadra-Drive!

HammerheadFistpunch > Party-vi 02/21/2017 at 15:51

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Single speed. It’s just a short final with a first gear lockout for normal use and 1st gear for “low”. The two speed with the kl has a 2 speed system with 56:1 crawl (2.4 liter)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Party-vi 02/21/2017 at 15:54

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It’s a weird simulated low range.

Party-vi > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 16:02

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So it’s using a granny gear to simulate low-range. Neato.

HammerheadFistpunch > Party-vi 02/21/2017 at 16:10

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It really is, and I’m for that approach if it works, but it kinda doesn’t with the dumpy 2.4. I mean the first land cruisers didn’t have low range but they had big low revving engines, less weight and no brake based traction control absorbing engine torque

nermal > HammerheadFistpunch 02/21/2017 at 18:37

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Along the same lines, why can’t you order the Power Wagon diffs in a “regular” HD truck?

Not sure why the bean counters haven’t figured out that they could charge for the option and people would pay it. It’s not like they even need to develop new parts, they already have everything.