All powerful super SUV has bold looks to match
LOCAL LAUNCH/ The 522kW Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk blasts to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, writes Phuti Mpyane
The order books for the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk are open in SA, and the asking price for the most powerful SUV in the land is R2,199,900.
The defining feature that separates this super SUV from the regular Cherokee SRT is the 522kW and 874Nm supercharged 6.2l V8 engine nestling under the bonnet.
Best known as the “Hellcat” engine, it comes straight out of Chrysler’s Mopar skunk works, where components of this Hemi engine are sculpted chiefly with US drag-racing culture in mind. First fitted in FCA’s Challenger muscle car range, this engine that features a raft of strengthened parts is coupled to a TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission and Quadra-Trac fourwheel drive with an electronic limited-slip diff.
It’s claimed to propel the 2.5ton SUV from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, blast past the quarter mile mark in 11.6 seconds and run out of steam at 290km/h. It’s also reported to tow 2,905kg. Retardation is by high-performance Brembo brakes, which are claimed to not only bring the Trackhawk from 100km/h to a halt in 35m, they are also reportedly the largest in the segment with 400mm brake discs.
This SUV is equipped with five drive modes primed for optimal deployment of envisaged usage: Auto, Sport, Track, Tow and Snow.
Easily identified with bodycoloured wheel flares, side sill cladding, a sculpted bonnet with dual heat extractors and a unique Gloss Black rear valence chaperoned by a quartet of Black Chrome tipped big bore exhaust ports, the Trackhawk’s standard ride height has been lowered by 2.5cm and stands on standard-fitment 20-inch light alloy wheels that are 5.4kg lighter than those of the SRT.
It wears Pirelli rubber in 295/45ZR20 Scorpion Verde All-Season or P Zero three-season tyres with an increased speed rating. The brutally powerful Jeep is available in nine typical Jeep Grand Cherokee exterior colours of which two, Rhino and Redline II, remain exclusive to this model. For more spot-in-the-crowd posing it has “supercharged” badges on both front doors and “Trackhawk” pasted on the lift-gate.
Changes to the interior include a new 21cm Uconnect touchscreen with Trackhawkexclusive Performance Pages, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, a flat-bottom threespoke steering wheel, dark Ruby Red seatbelts and standard fitment Nappa leather seats with a “Trackhawk” logo.
Standard premium features include noise cancellation, a leather-stitched instrument panel, a dual-screen rear-seat centre with Blu-ray and an 825W Harman Kardon highperformance audio system with 19 speakers and two subwoofers, adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist; blindspot monitoring; rearward collision warning with crash mitigation; front and rear park assist; and lane departure warning.
Another feature is a Trailer Hitch Camera View at Speed, which allows drivers to view towed items through the rearmounted camera while moving.
BEST KNOWN AS THE “HELLCAT” ENGINE, IT