Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Some cars are ballistic; the Trackhawk is a force of nature – and its pure, raw American muscle trumps its competition

PUTTING A BIG ENGINE INTO AN OLD CAR’S SUCH AN AMERICAN THING TO DO.

To satisfy the penchant for carporn in the US, Jeep pimped its dated Grand Cherokee design with a 6.2-L 710hp supercharged Hemi powerplant called the Trackhawk. It’s the wildest Jeep ever, the epitome of political incorrectness – which is precisely why this steam hammer’s so much fun to drive.

Imagine a big box that weighs 2.5 tons and accelerates from 0km/hr to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds, accompanied by a V8 engine, roaring primally. It’d turn every drive into The Cannonball Run.

When the souped-up Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT debuted in 2016, the fact it was less of an o -roader than a show-o was evidenced by its 426hp from its 6.1-L Hemi-v8 – there was a lot of fun under its hood.

en, Fiatchrysler began to search for a slightly stronger beating heart and found a Hemi 6.2-L supercharged V8 with a muscular compressor was already playing beautiful music in the Dodge Challenger and Challenger Hellcat.

e result? e most expensive and powerful stock Jeep

“It’s the wildest Jeep ever – which is precisely why this steam hammer’s so much fun to drive”

ever. It’s not only the engine that’s new.

e manufacturer had to fortify its auto gearbox, drive sha s, transfer box and brakes to withstand the violent onslaught of its 710hp. Luckily, Brembo supplied its giant 350/400mm (front/back) brakes, which can bring the monster to a standstill from 100km/h in 37 metres.

The ‘normal’ setting for its gearbox and engine alone is enough to give you goosebumps. Each time you apply the pressure of your right foot to its accelerator, no matter the speed or rpm you produce, it results in tremendous propulsion, while the Trackhawk roars with pleasure from its four-arm-thick end pipes.

e number-one Jeep de es expectations. It loves twisties as much as it does straight lines and quarter-mile runs. But it’s not too wild; its rear end is just as eager to go. With utter con dence, the Trackhawk compares to the likes of the Mercedes GLE 63 AMG, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the BMW X5M and even the Lamborghini Urus and the Bentley Bentayga. No stock SUV is more powerful, and Fiat-chrysler has matched its muscular appearance with an opulent leather interior. All this comes at what some motoring enthusiasts would consider a bargain price.

When you drive the Trackhawk, you almost want to have to stop at a robot or go through a tunnel, whose red lights would provide an irresistible combination of motion and sound.

ere’s no sensible reason to buy a 710hp SUV. But there are no laws yet against having fun in a car.