The Jeep name has become synonymous with off road vehicles, with most modern SUVs owing their design to the classic military model. The brand itself has been owned by Chrysler since 1984, becoming a division of DaimlerChrysler upon the 1998 merger with Daimler-Benz.
Originally the Jeep was designed at the request of the US Army during the Second World War, with several companies competing for the contract. American Bantam built a model that satisfied the criteria but the Army feared the company would be too small to produce the required quantities.
The contract would eventually be awarded to Willys-Overland, though Ford would also build the vehicles in order to ensure the necessary high production rates. Several other versions would be manufactured around the world, in addition to railway and amphibious interpretations.
In 1941 the first commercial version of the Jeep was produced, known as the CJ throughout its various incarnations. Production ran until 1986, with the CJ line being replaced by the Wrangler the following year. This was also the year in which Chrysler acquired the company as part of its buyout of American Motors.
The name ‘jeep’ is thought to have originated from the original vehicle’s designation as for General Purpose – shortened to GP. There are several other theories, though, which include the use of the term in Army slang. Today Jeep vehicles are frequently among the best selling in their class.
EuroNCAP Safety Ratings for Jeep cars
The European New Car Assessment Programme produces reports on the safety of vehicles based on the results of several crash tests. As well as measuring how the car will hold up in a crash the risk to a pedestrian struck by the car is assessed. The star ratings (maximum 5) of key Jeep models are shown below.
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