Джип Comanche: компактный пикап 1986–1992 годов

Pickup truck variant, produced 1985–1992

The Jeep Comanche (designated MJ) is a pickup truck variant of the Cherokee compact SUV (1984–1992) manufactured and marketed by Jeep for model years 1986 1992 in rear wheel (RWD) and four wheel drive (4WD) models as well as two cargo bed lengths: six foot (1.83 metres) and seven foot (2.13 metres).

During the mid 1980s, according to AMC chairman W. Paul Tippett Jr. "People are finding trucks a reasonable and sophisticated alternative to cars." To satisfy the demand and to compete with Japanese competitors, both AMC and Chrysler were preparing compact pickups for the 1986 and 1987 model years (respectively). The Jeep Comanche was introduced in mid August 1985, at a lavish event staged at the ballroom of the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (currently Bally's Las Vegas) for AMC's over 1,500 North American dealers. American Motors included Chinese officials as part of the negotiations establishing Beijing Jeep (now Beijing Benz). The goal was to produce and sell Comanches in China through this joint venture. The base price of the two wheel drive model was $7,049 (adjusted only for inflation equal to US$ in dollars), making it the lowest priced Jeep model for the 1986 model year.

American Motors' Jeep designers based the Comanche MJ body, styling, engineering, and drivetrain on the XJ Cherokee, which had been introduced for the 1984 model year. From 1986 to 1987, the Jeep Comanche grille had ten slots in a similar configuration to the 1984 1987 Cherokee XJ, while from 1988 to 1992, this configuration changed to eight slots to match with the SUV. A new "4x4" badge, similar to those found on the Cherokee and Wagoneer models, was affixed to the upper rear of the cargo box on all the four wheel drive models. the Jeep Comanche, like the similar Cherokee, received only minor changes. These were primarily to improve reliability and parts interchangeability with other Chrysler built vehicles.

The Comanche used the XJ Cherokee's "Quadralink" front suspension, with coil springs and upper/lower control arms on a solid axle. It was argued that the coil springs allowed for greater ride comfort and axle articulation during off road excursions. A track bar (Panhard rod) is used to keep the axle centered under the truck. Modified versions of this same basic suspension system were later used on the 1993–2004 Grand Cherokee, 1997 and newer TJ Wranglers and 1994 and newer Dodge Rams. For the rear suspension, the truck used leaf springs that are considerably longer than the Cherokee's, which give Comanches good load carrying capacity without creating a hard ride. The standard rear axle was the same Dana 35 used in the Cherokee, except that the Comanche mounted the leaf springs underneath the axle, as do most other trucks, and the Cherokee mounted them on top of the axle. There was also a heavy duty Metric Ton package for the long bed models. The package included heavier duty leaf springs and wheels, larger tires, and upgraded the rear axle to a Dana 44, which increased the stock payload (cargo) capacity from , well above that of any other mid size truck. The Metric Ton Comanche's payload rating was higher than that of many full size pickups.

The inaugural 1986 model year Comanches could be equipped with one of three engines: AMC's 2.5 L four cylinder as standard, with General Motors' 2.8 L V6 or Renault's 2.1 L I4 turbo diesel available as options. The new six cylinder was also more fuel efficient. The performance of the base 2.5 L engine was also improved with a new air intake, raising peak output to 121 hp and 141 lb⋅ft. The slow selling turbodiesel option was dropped during the model year. Concurrent with introduction of the new straight six a new four speed automatic built by Aisin Warner replaced the former Chrysler three speed. The 30 40LE featured electronic controls with a switch on the dashboard allowing the driver to choose between two performance modes: "Power", in which the transmission downshifts more quickly and upshifts at higher rpm during hard acceleration, and "Comfort", in which the upshifts are made at lower engine speeds to conserve fuel and reduce engine noise and vibration. In 1988 output of the 4.0 L engine was improved slightly to 177 hp and 224 lb⋅ft. Chrysler purchased AMC in 1987, and by the 1991 model year adapted their own engine control electronics to replace the original Renix systems used with the 2.5 L and 4.0 L engines. Power and torque in both engines improved as a result, with the four cylinder having an additional 9 hp and 8 lb⋅ft and the six cylinder improving by 1 lb⋅ft and 13 hp. The 4.0 L was badged "High Output" thereafter. As a result of the power improvements the Aisin Warner automatic transmission's output shaft was changed from 21 splines to 23, and the "Power Comfort" switch was deleted. The four cylinder was no longer available with the automatic in 1991 and 1992. During the production life of the Comanche six different transmissions were offered, manufactured by Aisin, Chrysler, and Peugeot. Chrysler provided the aforementioned TorqueFlite 904 three speed automatic in 1986 models. In addition to the aforementioned 30 40LE four speed automatic Aisin also provided the AX 4 (four speed), AX 5 and AX 15 (five speed overdrive) manual transmissions. The AX 15 was phased in midway through the 1989 model year to replace the Peugeot BA10/5 five speed that had been used behind the 4.0 L engine from its introduction in 1987. Comanches were available in either two or four wheel drive, with solid axles front and rear (two wheel drive Comanches used a simple beam axle with otherwise the same front suspension as four wheel drive models). Transfer cases were built by New Process Gear, and the Comanche was available with either part time "Command Trac" or full time "Selec Trac" systems. In 1986 Command Trac transfer cases were model NP207 and Selec Trac were NP228, both with a 2.61:1 low gear ratios. In 1987 the NP207 was replaced with the NP231 and NP228 was replaced with the NP242, both with 2.72:1 low gears. These remained the same through the rest of the Comanche's production.