Jeep has partnered with Activision to release the Modern Warfare 3 Edition Wrangler. What you get over a stock Wrangler is some MW3 logos on the seats and the outside of the car, new bumpers, shocks, tires, and a Powerdome hood. Most of these goodies are ripped right out of the Mopar catalog so they are actually useful offroad. However, anyone who has been to the suburbs knows that the closest most Wrangler owners get to going offroad is when they hop curbs because they aren’t paying attention to driving.

So at the end of the day you have a vehicle that traces its origins to an old war vehicle (that is supposed to go offroad, but rarely does), with the logos of a videogame that portrays pretending to go to war, played by people that rarely go outside.

A match made in poseur heaven.

Source: Autoblog

Yet another Frankfurt Auto Show debut has come to light, this time from Maserati. To increase sales volume, Maserati is looking to increase their offerings within the next few years. The first model is the new, unnamed Maserati SUV.

Jealous of Porsche’s success with the Cayenne, Maserati is going deep into Fiat’s toy chest to create their own competitor. The result will be the equivalent of a rich man’s turducken. Expect this new model to use the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s platform, a Ferrari derived V8 (most likely similar to the Granturismo), a ZF 8 speed transmission, and the appropriate Maserati styling adjustments both inside the car and out.

If you are connecting the dots, this means that Maserati will produce a truck with a platform engineered by Jeep (also the Mercedes GL), powered by a Ferrari motor, using a German transmission, and built in the U.S.A.

Let’s see if Maserati can put all the parts together to make a true competitor to the Cayene and BMW X5M when the curtain falls in Frankfurt. If it goes all terribly wrong, expect something like the Chrysler TC by Maserati though.

Source: Automotive News

Chrysler is rockin’ the sales charts with an increase of 10% in May, totally bucking the trend. Jeep sales are on fire and cars like the new 2011 Chrysler 200 are selling well.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Retail sales up 27 percent in May compared with same month a year ago

May marks the 14th-consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains

New 2011 Chrysler 200 sales up 154 percent compared with sales of its predecessor a year ago; retail sales of the Chrysler 200 increase more than five fold

Chrysler brand named “Top Popular Brand” in 2011 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

Jeep® brand sales up 55 percent compared with sales in May 2010

All current Jeep brand models post May sales increases, led by the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, whose sales were up 192 percent versus a year ago

Jeep Grand Cherokee wins “Premium Mid-size SUV” category in AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

New 2011 Jeep Compass posts 92 percent year-over-year sales increase, second highest percentage increase for Jeep brand models

New 2011 Dodge Journey crossover voted “Family Car of Texas” at the Texas Auto Writers Association “Spring Roundup”

Ram Truck brand posts a 13 percent increase versus a year ago, the brand’s 13th consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains

2012 Fiat 500 voted “Best Value” and “Best New Design” at the Texas Auto Writers Association “Spring Roundup”

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