JEEP’S MOST POWERFUL SUV, EVER

Turns out Jeep’s most powerful SUV ever – the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – is also a worthy snow-hunting companion.

UNLIKE MOST people who actually come from snowy countries, South Africans love snow. Any given winter, if word gets out there’s been a dusting on the mountains somewhere, you can expect an exodus of cars headed there in a matter of hours, and soon everyone, from grannies to grandchildren, is mucking about in the seldom-seen white stuff. Freezing hands and feet abound, but no one really cares because it’s all just so novel.

So aside from learning how to ski (see page 58) during our recent trip to the north-east United States, seeking out as much snow as possible was a high priority for me. Of course, this mission required a suitable vehicle, so who better than Jeep to step up and assist, the iconic American brand whose tough off-roading roots date back to wartime in the 1940s?

Waiting at Boston airport for us was the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, not only the most powerful SUV Jeep has ever produced, but also the most powerful and fastest commercially built SUV ever. Those familiar with my driving antics, though, will know I’m no speed demon, so this capable contender was in for a different sort of test with me behind the wheel.

The Trackhawk looks like a souped-up Grand Cherokee with its facia that’s been crafted for unhindered airflow and cooling, and quad-tip exhaust, but there’s so much more entwined into its DNA than meets the eye. Under the bonnet lies a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 that

THE ICONIC AMERICAN BRAND HAS TOUGH “OFF-ROADING ROOTS THAT DATE BACK TO THE 1940s.

“THE GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK IS THE MOST POWERFUL SUV JEEP HAS EVER PRODUCED.

delivers a mammoth 522 kW of power and 868 Nm of torque. A speed test held in May last year saw this vehicle achieve 280 km/h on the frozen surface of Lake Baikal in Russia. To keep all 2 515 kg of this beast and its rampant power under control, it’s been fitted with a Brembo braking system featuring the largest front brakes ever on a Jeep. Incredibly, the 100–0 km/h braking-performance result is a nimble 35 m. Aesthetically, this SUV turns heads, however, it’s the acceleration growl that really grabs attention.

But did we find any snow, and how did the Trackhawk perform? After uncharacteristically warm winter weather at our base on the Rhode Island coastline, a nine-hour road trip to the far west of New York state, right near to Lake Erie, soon had us ploughing through inches of freshly fallen drifts during a marked cold snap. The Selec-Trac on-demand 4×4 system – which boasts Auto, Sport, Track, Snow and Tow modes – optimised traction and handling, so in spite of my lack of experience in these conditions, I always felt in control.

The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is the evolution of an icon, and although it’s been crafted around delivering immense acceleration and high-speed performance,

I can confirm that it’s more than a capable snow cruiser too.

From whichever angle you view the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, it’s a head-turner. The Selec-Trac 4×4 system was particularly helpful, considering the diverse variety of surfaces we encountered during our US road trip. Interior finishes are deliberately bold, and exceedingly comfortable – what you’d expect from a vehicle that’s priced at more than R2 million.