Jeep Liberty pivots handily through the mall parking lot, and making a U-turn on a trail wouldn't involve dragging a load of brush with you.

High fuel prices have been tough on Chrysler's Jeep division. Its hardy off-road vehicles are built with heavy-duty components in critical areas to help owners get back home after a day on the trail. Carrying around heavy skid plates and cast-iron parts have a cost in fuel and the purchase price.

DETROIT – Before Bob Lutz joined General Motors Corp. as vice chairman of product development in 2001, the left brain, by most accounts, was dominating the right when it came to making cars. The rational, left-brained engineers and planners would develop the chassis, engine and transmission, and marketing would have its say.