Published: Aug 09, 2012

Jeep Liberty to Meet its Maker Next Week

In a time when mid-size SUVs aren't selling well, Jeep has finally made the decision to end the Liberty for good.

Well, that's it folks. It's now official that the long-running Jeep Liberty will end production next week and rumble off to automotive heaven where it will join its unloved cousin, the Dodge Nitro. According to a report from Automotive News, the final Liberty will be rolling off the production line at in Toledo, Ohio, next Thursday, August 16th. It's been 11 years since the Liberty was first launched and it's had two significant facelifts along the way as well.

Jeep Liberty to Meet its Maker Next Week

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As the direct replacement for the Jeep Cherokee, which was built from 1984 until 2001, the Liberty had big shoes to fill and for a while it did a fine job at its assigned task. However, time and changing tastes left the Liberty showing its age faster than Jeep and Chrysler would have liked. Still, the end of the Liberty means Jeep can continue focus on the rest of its lineup and there are already some details as to what will be replacing it. The as-yet unnamed successor will reportedly share a platform with the 2013 Dodge Dart (which itself is based on an Alfa Romeo) and pack a new 3.2-liter V6 mated to an also-new nine-speed automatic slushbox.

Set to be built at the same facility (where the Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited are also built), about 1,100 workers will be added to help later next year in order to keep up with the growing demand for Jeep on a global scale.