Hellcat-Powered Jeep Grand Cherokee Coming in 2017

[wemay]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/jeep-ceo-hellcat-powered-jeep-grand-cherokee-coming-in-2017/

Quote:
The first hint that a Grand Cherokee/Hellcat mashup might be in the works arrived when Fiat Chrysler registered a trademark for the name “Trackhawk,” in late 2014. The rumors began to take on some serious weight when FCA showed a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk to a group of Jeep dealers during a meeting in Las Vegas last August. So while the Trackhawk may not be “officially” confirmed, it’s looking more likely than ever that 2017 will bring a circa-700-hp, all-wheel-drive SUV with a projected zero-to-60-mph time of 3.5 seconds and the letters J-E-E-P on the hood.

 

[UNC017]

Finally, enough traction for the engine.

The SRT version (6.4L) of the JGC is already better at the dragstrip than the same drivetrain in the Challenger or Charger. The Jeep's advantage with 220 *more* horsepower should get even bigger. Look out, Cayenne S Turbo drivers...

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
"...Look out, Cayenne S Turbo drivers...

I was thinking the same exact thing!

 

[SuperDave456]

Cause what I want with my 700 Hp is a higher center of gravity as I take that turn!

 

[wemay]

um....yes.

 

[dishdude]

That's pretty mean looking!

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
Cause what I want with my 700 Hp is a higher center of gravity as I take that turn!


Like its really any worse than the 570 HP in the Cayenne or the 555 in the X5 M

Silly-high horsepower is rarely about cornering... or else the Viper ACR would have a Hellcat instead of a normally-aspirated V10. Its all about getting off the line with acceleration to detach your retinas, and this vehicle should do it.

 

[Tuffy1760]

I think the SRT looks better... I think they had a v-10 version way back...
The SRT is a wrecking machine vs cars...

 

[Donald]

Well obviously designed for a younger crowd that I. At 62 I do not floor the gas pedal coming off a stoplight. The 4.0 engine in my JGC has enough HP for me.

At age 18 I trashed the 3 speed manual in my 1965 Mustang and had to tow it from Lake George NY to NJ, then replace the transmission. Too many sand start burn-outs with my Mustang. The lesson learned was when you are constantly straining your vehicle it will eventually break and your left to fix it.

 

[bluestream]

I'll wait for the 1000HP version

 

[crazyoildude]

nice now if they can build the jeep to stay together that would be nice.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

I want a Hellcat-Powered Grand Caravan with AWD..

 

[53' Stude]

I'm puking now just thinking of a hellcat jeep with all the issues were having with Daimler Chrysler.

 

[demarpaint]

Nice! How about popping that engine into a Wrangler. LOL

 

[CT8]

Chrysler will sell lots of them.

 

[rslifkin]

Now if they could put the AWD Hellcat setup in something that wasn't north of 5000 lbs... Or maybe in something that didn't have a high center of gravity without much ground clearance to make up for it...

I still don't quite see the point of building a super high performance lowered SUV. It can't much in the way of SUV things anymore, and it's handicapped when it comes to doing the car things they're trying to make it do.

 

[Gasbuggy]

I want one. Infact I'd like to see that engine/trans in everything. Wranglers, Rams, whatever they can stuff it into. I shut one of the new SRT8 Jeeps down the other day. With the Hellcat motor they will be nasty.

 

[HerrStig]

These real practical devices enrage the envirowhackjobs. It's about all they are good for.

 

[glock19]

I think a Hellcat Wrangler would be pretty tough to keep shiny side up.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
Now if they could put the AWD Hellcat setup in something that wasn't north of 5000 lbs... Or maybe in something that didn't have a high center of gravity without much ground clearance to make up for it...


The problem is, an engine like the Hellcat needs a fair amount of "infrastructure" to work as well as it does (aftercoolers, coolant loops for the aftercoolers, electric coolant pumps, coolant-to-air heat exchangers, oil coolers) and fitting all that in a small chassis is hard. GM did it with the Z06, and immediately got lambasted for the fact that it can't sustain its full output for as long as the Hellcat can (and recently got roasted in another review because its not nearly as well balanced as a Viper ACR). The Hellcat had a "20 minutes on a road course without power reduction" goal, and they met it. But they couldn't have if they'd tried to put that engine in a Viper... which is why the Viper still has its normally-aspirated V10 with a slightly lower horsepower rating but enabling a much lighter overall package.

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
I still don't quite see the point of building a super high performance lowered SUV. It can't much in the way of SUV things anymore, and it's handicapped when it comes to doing the car things they're trying to make it do.


At first blush, I would tend to agree. But the segment is pretty hot, between the Cayenne S and S turbo, JGC SRT-8 and now SRT Hellcat, and the BMW X5 M. Nevermind the 510-horsepower Range Rover. A co-worker has a Cayenne S, and while he doesn't go rock-crawling with it he does go up unimproved trails to get to his West Texas land from time to time. Its still capable of that level of SUV-ness. And its just fun to drive. Heck, a regular 5.7 Grand Cherokee is a really nice, fun, powerful car- even if you don't use the suspension travel for rock crawling, it is also very good at soaking up interstate expansion joints and potholes. I think today this class sorta appeals to the buyer who would have gone for a 300 Letter Series in the 50s: Roomy, smooth, highly-optioned, and comfortable are important, but a lot of refined power on tap is nice too.