Trust Jeep to build yet another vehicle no one else can

Acceleration, corning force on asphalt and stopping distance generally have nothing to do — at all — with the Jeep brand. In fact, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is about as un-Jeep-y as it gets.

But here it is, a combination that’s unique among North American-based sport utility vehicles and a rare achievement for any such model from anywhere at just about any price.

Knobby tires, big ground clearance and exposed door hinges? Nope, but the SRT8 is a Jeep that you just have to love.

The initials refer to Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology division and the Grand Cherokee is one of four such designated models with the others being the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans plus the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392. Later this year, the Viper coupe returns as the first SRTnameplated model (the Dodge handle has been dropped).

You’re forgiven if you assumed the ride was over for the Grand Cherokee SRT8 when it passed into history following the 2010 model year. With its big-power V8 and taut suspension, the Jeep delivered Cheetah-like launches along with snappy passing prowess, regardless of weather or road conditions. However, at a cost of thousands more than a more-off-road-capable base Laredo V6 or Limited V8, that could have easily sealed the SRT8’s fate.

Well, apparently there remains enough potential buyers with outrageous transportation leanings to prod Jeep into bringing the SRT8 back on line. Only this time there’s more passenger space, luxury features and power, all wrapped up in a sinfully slick wrapper.

Creating an SRT8 begins with the latest edition of the Grand Cherokee that arrived for the 2011 model year. It’s a solid platform with a 140 per cent more torsional stiffness than its predecessor. Good bones, indeed.

From that point the SRT8 is given its own distinctive front end with cat’s-eye-looking running lights, body-colour grille and prominent lower air intake flanked by ducts that channel fresh air to the vehicle’s 15inch Brembo-brand front disc brakes. Additionally, the hood’s dual heat-extractor openings provide extra engine cooling.

In back, a spoiler adorns the liftgate while a blacked-out lower panel houses a pair of four-inch-diameter exhaust tips and the optional trailer hitch (2,270-kilogram towing capacity).

Hauling anything with the SRT8 should be a breeze, owing to its 6.4-litre “Hemi” V8 generating 470 horsepower and 465 poundfeet of torque. That’s up 50 horses and 45 pound-feet from the previous 6.1-litre SRT8. Jeep says that the 6.4 can propel the 2,340kilogram Grand Cherokee to 60 mph (96 km-h) from rest in 4.8 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in the mid-13-second range.

The Hemi is hooked up to a five-speed automatic transmission that can be manually operated with the console shifter or the steering-wheel-mounted paddles.

To ease the SRT8’s 91-octane habit, the 6.4 comes with “Fuel Saver Technology” that powers down half of the eight cylinders when operating under light- or no-load conditions. It doesn’t help too much in city driving where consumption is rated at 17.1 l/100 km, but that number drops to 11.4 on the highway.

But for SRT8 lovers, living with its fuelish thirst will likely be worth it, and not just in terms of acceleration. The standard SelecTrack system uses active (variable) shock damping that automatically adjusts ride and handling quality depending on the road surface and how the driver intends to use the vehicle.

Aside from an Auto mode, there’s Sport ( firm), Track (really firm), Snow (maximum traction control) while Tow (reduces suspension pitch and bounce for safer trailering).

In addition, the SRT8’s on-demand Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive setup goes to work whenever wheel slippage is detected and can transfer 100 per cent of the available torque to just a single rear wheel if need be.

All SRT8s arrive contented to a reasonably complete degree, with climate control, heated and cooled leather seats for both rows, heated steering wheel and 20-inch wheels fitted with foot-wide Pirelli all-season performance tires.

There’s also a nifty display that shows zero-to-100 km-h times, 100-km-h-to-zero stopping distance, 1/4- and 1/8th-mile acceleration times as well as cornering gforces.

At $59,000, including destination charges and a $2,000 federal “green levy,” the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is actually an impressive deal. It’s also not the sort of vehicle that requires picture-perfect weather and road conditions to flex its muscle and demonstrate its butt-whipping capabilities.