Caught: 2008 Jeep Liberty!

WINDING ROADS | September 20th, 2006 11:56 AM

Looking for all the world like a leftover Dodge Nitro prototype, our spyshot-snapping friends at KGP Photography maintain that this is in fact the 2008 Jeep Liberty. Clock the vertical-element grille and different headlamp lenses, and their assertion quickly begins to come good.
We’ll let KGP Photography’s photogs take it from here:

At first glance, we thought this was an old Nitro prototype with some left over camouflage, but an obvious Jeep-style grille got our attention. We quickly realized that this prototype was the new 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 wheelbase longer by 4.0- inches (and 4.4-inches longer overall), but these larger dimensions are combined with a lower roof (chopped by 1.0-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–in the name of utility, and a closer family resemblance to the Jeep Commander.

(Click through for more shots and spy shooter musings)

The Liberty’s revised packaging results in a larger windshield, and revised 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 seem 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 tail-light lenses and a
reworked rear bumper, but the changes are more thorough than that.
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 a functionality edge to the Liberty. 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. 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 model promises to be a more substantial vehicle moving away from the entry-level.