Here’s the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, the most powerful and best handling Jeep ever. There are lots of interesting things about it.
And the most interesting thing of all is that look! Normally we would mock that ridiculously wide mouth and the whole monster-like design. But it seems they deliberately wanted to make it mean and scary. That’s cool. What’s more it’s got the power to back up its insane design.
The Cherokee gets the same 6.4 liter HEMI V8 as the 300 SRT8 with 465 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque which gives it a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.8 seconds, top speed of 155 mph, and quarter-mile time of around 13 seconds. Those are astonishing numbers for a gigantic SUV.
Also like the 300, it gets the standard Fuel Saver Technology and a new-for-2012 active valve exhaust system allows four-cylinder operation to engage over a wider rpm range, to deliver both improved fuel efficiency. It also features An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing delivers maximum low-end torque while optimizing high-end power across a wider and improved rpm band.
They have put a big effort into making this car a proper handling SUV and fitted it with a new SRT-tuned, adaptive damping suspension managed by the new Jeep Selec-Track system that interacts with several different systems (stability control, adaptive damping, transmission shift strategy, transfer case torque proportioning, Electronic Limited Slip Differential performance, throttle control and cylinder de-activation) to automatically tune the dynamics of the vehicle. Drivers can manually choose between five dynamic modes for specific driving conditions:
- Auto: provides the most compliant ride and automatically adapts to any road situation using the adaptive suspension tuning
- Sport: provides enhanced body control for a sporty, fun-to-drive ride for the street
- Tow: provides a safe reduction in pitch and bounce for enhanced towing capability
- Track: provides the high-performance, firm, “track-tuned” suspension option to lock down body motion for the ultimate handling experience
- Snow: provides the most conservative dynamic mode, so the vehicle will safely stay
in-line in inclement winter weather conditions
The new Grand Cherokee SRT8 also features an Electronic Limited Slip Differential, performance-tuned, fully-hydraulic steering system is improved with a new, heavy-duty pump and pump cooler, high-performance Brembo brakes with four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) and 20-inch forged aluminum wheels ride on P295/45ZR20 Pirelli PZero run-flat tires. Stopping distance performance of 116 feet from 60-0 mph is made possible by new red-painted, Brembo 6-piston (front) and 4-piston (rear) calipers, and vented rotors at all four corners measuring 15-inches (front) and 13.8-inches (rear).
Interior features include all-new, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel with a flattened bottom surface, SRT-styled Nappa leather and suede seats, with sculpted bolsters and adjustable headrests, carbon fiber accents integrated into the instrument panel and door trim panels and new bright, racing style brake and pedal pads.
This is a hugely impressive car. Well done Chrysler.
