2008 Jeep Liberty Takes a Hard Turn Toward Toughness

NEW YORK — When the Jeep Liberty made its debut in 2002, designers put a premium on a soft, "friendly" look. But with the introduction of the redesigned 2008 Jeep Liberty at the New York auto show, it's clear that edginess and a return to "more rugged, classic Jeep design" is of paramount importance. The '08 Liberty hits showrooms in the third quarter of 2008.

The new Liberty is equipped with a carryover 3.7-liber SOHC V6 that makes 210 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 235 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.

The '08 Liberty gets a new independent front suspension and a new five-link rear suspension.

The big news is the exterior redesign, which results in a gain of 2 inches in length and a half-inch in width. A new front-end module gives the headlights a squared-off appearance and the roof line is also boxier than that of the previous model. Jeep noted in a statement that the front-end module houses "the grille and headlamp system in a single unit, similar to Jeep Commander."

Fender flares are now painted body color. Liberty also gets an optional "Sky Slider" full-length open canvas roof and a liftgate with a flipper glass window. The cabin gets a new two-tone instrument panel treatment.

Prices have not yet been announced on the 2008 Jeep Liberty