2008 Jeep Liberty borrows Dodge styling

KGP Photography | Date posted: 09-25-2006

The ace shooters at KGP Photography are some of the best in the business when it comes to capturing the sharpest spy photos of the newest prototypes. This time around they went one step further and provided a detailed account of what they saw when a 2008 Jeep Liberty prototype crossed their path. Rather than filtering through their notes, we decided to give you the details straight from the source.

At first glance we thought this was an old 2007 Dodge Nitro prototype with some leftover camouflage, but an obvious Jeep-style grille got our attention. We quickly realized that this prototype was the new 2008 Jeep Liberty, and it is far more than a Nitro with a Jeepish front fascia tacked on. The Dodge Nitro is based on a heavily modified platform of the current Jeep Liberty, resulting in a 4-inch-longer wheelbase, but the larger dimensions are combined with a lower roof (chopped by 1 inch), giving the Nitro a squat roofline and relatively narrow window openings.

After analyzing our shots of this Jeep tester, we're convinced that the Liberty uses this same platform, but it appears to be a few inches taller than its Dodge brother, probably an attempt to maintain some utility, not to mention a resemblance to the Jeep Commander.

The Liberty's revised packaging results in a larger windshield and redesigned roof pillars, which means that the Jeep shares few, if any, body panels with the Dodge. The Jeep face is clearly visible through the camo. Its seven-slat vertical grille is flanked by new headlight clusters with some circular internal detailing to maintain familiar Jeep cues, and turn indicators that wrap into the flared front fenders (a trait shared with the current Liberty).

Some version of the Nitro's side fender vents seems to be in play on the new Liberty, but with a different design treatment. Although the Jeep's door panels are cleanly styled, they have a bit more surface development than the smooth-skinned Nitro, giving the Liberty a slightly chunkier look. The Jeep also has a different roof rack setup.

On to the rear, the Liberty gets revamped taillight lenses and a reworked rear bumper, but that's not all. The Liberty's taller rear window is hinged and has a grab handle, meaning that the rear glass can be raised independently from the rear hatch. The Nitro's rear access is strictly through the raised tailgate, giving an edge to the Jeep in terms of functionality.

Although we couldn't crawl under this prototype for an up-close inspection, it appears that the Liberty will utilize the same independent front suspension and five-link rear suspension found on the Nitro, but perhaps some changes are possible if Jeep engineers feel the need for some more trail-cred. Expect to see the same 3.7-liter V6 under the hood as well. We'll have to catch one parked to figure that out for sure.

Give Jeep designers credit for not taking the easy way out and offering a Jeep-grilled Dodge Nitro. The changes visible on this prototype point to an effort to remain true to Jeep's core values — utility and functionality over pure, street-inspired design. With the arrival of two sub-Liberty Jeep models — the Dodge Caliber-based Patriot and Compass — the next Liberty had to do some growing up. And it looks like it has. The 2008 Jeep Liberty promises to be a more substantial vehicle that will move it away from the entry-level role it has played in the past.