Chrysler LLC is planning to build car-based sport utility vehicles (think uni-body) rather than heavier, truck based versions with separate frames. The conversion will cost Chrysler $1.8 billion to re-design, develop, and expand its assembly plants in Detroit, Michigan which currently manufacture the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Expected to land in dealer showrooms in 2010, the new sport utilities will retain the Grand Cherokee name, according to Chrysler President, Tom LaSorda. "This new product will allow the consumer to keep all attributes of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. They won't be able to navigate the Rubicon trail but they will get to the grocery store on less fuel". I don't know of anyone that wants to take a (basically) uni-body vehicle offroading, do you? I am going to go ahead and call this one ahead...FAIL.

Source: CNN.