First, let's talk about what Jeep's designers were trying to get across when penning the new model. I don't know about you, but when

The Commander's traditional 4x4 shape brings back memories of great times in various old Cherokees. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

I first saw the Commander, in photos and then at the Vancouver auto show, being that I missed New York last year for personal reasons, I had to smile. Not because I was overcome with the excitement that comes to me when first witnessing a stimulating new design, but more due to memories of good times had within a variety of old Cherokees. My old band-mate, the guitarist and creative genius (at least I think he's pretty brilliant) behind my previous career (we were called Th13teen and then Zufo before parting company - the band is currently called Zufo and the White Martians; go give a listen here if you want to expand your musical horizons: www.zufo.org), was one of the first I can remember to purchase a 4.0-litre model, which was a relative road-rocket in its day thanks to a 190-horsepower inline six-cylinder engine. We stuffed it full of band gear on a regular basis, enjoying some of my favourite times creating

Jeep is betting that many other potential Commander buyers have had happy memories in a vehicle just like this Cherokee, and that the positive association will sell people on the new model. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

new music and playing it live before adoring fans - well not always adoring but we didn't care.

In between Th13teen stint one and stint two, and just after living and touring around Europe with a techno project called ASK, I met a girl while in hiatus, living in Edmonton, who had a four-cylinder Cherokee, and, well, I have good memories of traversing the Rockies and enjoying her company. There are more Cherokee stories, including a brief stint in 1984 when I tried my hand at automotive retail at my local AMC/Jeep/Renault dealer - I have to admit to preferring journalism - where I grew to appreciate the Jeep brand (as well as a few quirky AMCs and the pesky Renault 5 especially), drove a particularly obnoxious V8-powered CJ5 with headers and side pipes as a company car, and waited for the day that the Cherokee's GM-made 2.5-litre inline four (Iron Duke) and 2.8-litre V6 engines would be replaced.