QFC49 - A New Shape of Family Car
The XJ Jeep Cherokee was an incredibly influential car on the future of the automobile. When introduced in 1984, it brought into existence a completely new market segment, one that is now ubiquitous to nearly every global market: the compact crossover.
By modern standards, the XJ does not appear to be a crossover. It is unibody, but it rides on solid axles front and rear, with rear leaf springs, with real 4WD and low range. However, in concept, this is where the crossover begins: the very first affordable SUV designed to be a family car. At a time when SUVs were almost exclusively just modified trucks or military vehicles, often crude and with just 2 doors, the XJ Cherokee proved a popular alternative for families to the more commonplace wagon, thanks to having been designed to work as one.
The impact was immediate; this brand new market segment could not be ignored. Manufacturers scrambled to put together competitors. Mitsubishi and Isuzu happened upon similar products just before the XJ, introducing 5 door wagons of their Montero and Trooper, more as budget Land Cruisers than family wagons, but they would quickly face off against the XJ in showrooms. Other manufacturers worked feverishly to produce proper competitors, when suddenly, in 1990, it seemed all of the other manufacturers caught up. The market exploded with a gamut of 5 door family SUVs: the Nissan Pathfinder was made into a 5 door; the 2nd generation Toyota 4Runner was released available as a 5 door; the Chevy S10 Blazer and GMC S15 Jimmy now could be had as a 5 door, Ford released the Explorer, and Isuzu unveiled its 2nd 5 door SUV to the market, the more affordable Rodeo. The market segment was suddenly hotly contested.
Can you build something for this burgeoning market, the point in history when the SUV became a family car?
Rules
These rules may seem strict and restrictive compared to many challenges, but I want to be somewhat experimental with this QFC. Given the somewhat narrow window of fitting a very orthodox market segment, can you make something that stands above competition that is mechanically more alike than different?
Trim and Variant year: 1990
Body: 5 door SUV, wagon, hatchback or van. Style should be that of an SUV.
Wheelbase: rounded 2.50m-2.85m (98.8" - 112.6")
Seats: minimum 5, +seats count
Drive: 4x4 or AWD
Transmission: No Continuous
Fuel: Regular Unleaded
Emissions: WES 7
Tire type: Radial Offroad, Radial All Terrain, or Radial Utility
Tire width: Minimum 205
Tire diameter: Minimum 665 (26.2"), Maximum 785 (31")
Wheel diameter: 14", 15", or 16"
Suspension Toe: May not exceed -.4 or +.4
Driving Aids: Some form of power steering is mandatory
Maximum 0-100 time: 16 seconds
Techpool: $35M, no negative values
Maximum Price: $28,000
ATS: Adjustment to wheel diameter is not allowed. Adjustment of tire width or diameter is not allowed. Body Z and ride height adjustments may not net raise or drop the vehicle more than 4 units. IE; if you drop the body Z by 6, you need to raise the front and rear ride heights by at least 2.
Please name your entries “QFC49 - YourNameHere” for the Model and Engine Family
Price Adjustments
Automation, at least in sandbox, allows you to make some very statistically advantageous choices at little cost. Benchmarked against more typical engineering options of the segment at the time, the following choices will be given price credits or penalties, applied to the vehicle’s price:
Suspension Type:
- Rear Solid Axle Coil +$1500
- Rear Semi Trailing Arm +$4000
- Rear Double Wishbone +$6000
- Rear Multilink +$8000
- Both front and rear are solid axle -$1500
Other Options:
- Twin Tube Dampers: -$1000
- AWD +$3500
- Inline 6 engine +$500
- Boxer 6 engine +$500
Priorities
Drivability
A strong factor making these vehicles family cars was their newfound user-friendliness.
Style
Another strong factor in their popularity is in their rugged image. Interiors will not be accounted.
Reliability
Dependability is important in any family car.
Price
It wasn’t the pricey Range Rover that caused this market to explode. Scraping the bottom of the barrel isn’t necessary, but no one turns up their nose at a better value.
Comfort
These SUVs were more comfortable than their utilitarian forebearers; no small part of their family car appeal.
Offroad
While time would show that this type of buyer would almost never go offroad, it would be a long time before the market was really ready to accept an SUV without offroad capability.
Service Costs
These rugged and simple vehicles should not be too costly to keep on the road.
Performance
Acceleration and cornering performance isn’t a hallmark of this class, but the weakest, base engines were rarely the volume sellers. The people will take a bit more performance if it is available to them.
Prestige
An SUV buyer might be looking for something that’s different from their neighbors’ wagons and minivans in more than just form factor. A bit of showmanship would not go unnoticed.
Safety
These vehicles were not typically very safe, but as family cars, safety features can be a selling point.
Fuel Economy
Not expecting miracles here, but too low here will drive away buyers.
Practicality
While 5 seats are sufficient, if you can fit 6 or 7 without hurting your overall package, why not?
Env Resist
Time would eventually show that rust prevention was not a high priority in this segment, but it would be beneficial to the long-term reputation of your SUV lineup.
Additional Inspirations:
Mitsubishi Montero/Pajero
Isuzu Trooper, Bighorn, etc.
Nissan Pathfinder
Toyota 4Runner/Hilux Surf
Chevrolet S10 Blazer/GMC S15 Jimmy
Ford Explorer
Isuzu Rodeo/MU, Vauxhall/Opel/Holden Frontera, Honda Passport, etc.
I understand this is a fairly limiting ruleset with some fairly heavy handed adjustments. I hope that you will find this an interesting and unique exercise, but if not, it’s QFC and it will be over with soon.
Submissions will open soon. The deadline will be 10 days after submissions open.
