Jeep brings back Cherokee nameplate

Look who’s back.

Jeep has announced it is resurrecting the Cherokee nameplate for 2014. The boldly styled mid-size SUV will debut at the New York Auto Show in March and go on sale this summer.

When it does, it will replace the boxy, forgettable Jeep Liberty. The Cherokee will look to challenge perennial leaders of the segment such as the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Chevy Equinox. Thus, it sheds its predecessor’s traditional SUV styling in favor of something more contemporary.

Photos: 2014 Jeep Cherokee revealed ahead of N.Y. debut

Jeep hasn’t released any details on the Cherokee, saying only that it will be more than 45% more fuel-efficient than the outgoing Liberty. The vehicle is likely to share a platform with the Dodge Dart and will be front-wheel-drive in base form; all-wheel-drive will be optional.

Chrysler is also working on a new nine-speed automatic transmission. With such a bold promise in the Cherokee’s efficiency gains over the Liberty, it’s likely this new gearbox will be offered on the new Jeep.

Jeep’s Cherokee was introduced in 1984 and was at the genesis of the SUV craze throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The company discontinued the model in 2001.

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