Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Video: First Look at the Most Powerful Jeep Ever
Calling it, “the most powerful and technologically advanced Jeep ever,” Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley today unveiled the new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 at the New York Auto Show. And he isn’t kidding.
Transforming the capable off-roader to a serious street machine, the team at SRT revamped the entire package to deliver sports car statistics. Impressive numbers include a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds and a quarter mile time in the mid 13 second range. And it’s not just a straight-line monster either, with a 0.9 G rating on the skidpad and a 60-0 braking distance of just 116 feet.
To achieve all that performance Jeep completely reworked the Grand Cherokee with a new 465-hp 6.4-liter V8, that makes an equally incredible 465 lb-ft of torque. Its been fitted under the hood of the GC chassis that’s been dropped one inch on new 20-inch wheels and features an adaptive suspension as well as the Quadra-trac AWD setup that can deliver up to 100 percent of the power to one rear wheel.
Adding plenty of style is an aggressive aero package, LED running lights, a sculpted hood with air vents. And inside there’s a custom interior with leather and Alcantara seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel and real carbon fiber trim.
GALLERY: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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Just a beautiful vehicle to look at, and technologically state of the art....but the cost of owning one( in many respects) may be to high.First, the price....If it's priced like other "Jeep JGC" models it will be out of reach for most. Jeep Canada and USA's MSRP's are a "Will-O-Wisp" that you continually chase but never find. For whatever reason, Jeep dealers across North America have set their prices thousands,even tens of thousands of dollars higher than the Manufacturer's recommendations and the SRT-8 will be no different. Second,...Value,are you getting it? Sadly,I would have to say No.The new SRT-8 has little,if any, "Off Road Capability" and even if it did, who in their right mind would take one down a creek bed.As well, fuel consumption is a big concern. The new SRT-8 is going to be thirstier than " Foster Brooks" at an open bar...with a 6.4 liter V-8 you'll need to get your gas delivered by the tanker.So what it really comes down to is, you're paying all that money for speed....and this is the SRT-8's " Tercio De Muerte"....It's not all that fast....For a vehicle that was hinging everything on "Acceleration and speed" it misses the mark. There are a number of SUV/CUV competitors that are outright faster(BMW X-5 M,Cayenne Turbo...etc)...even the 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe has a 0-60 time of just 7.4 sec, only 2.5 seconds slower than the JGC SRT-8 ( with 200 HP less and at half the cost)that's impressive. Finally "Reliability" issues have plagued Jeep products for decades...As we speak NHTSA is considering a Recall of over 3,000,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee's made between 1993 and 2004. Fuel tank Ruptures are apparently responsible for 55 Fire related deaths.It just never seems to end with Jeep.Even the new 2011 JGC is starting to develop disturbing problems...Back in January "Consumer Reports" discovered "Stability problems with the JGC's ESC during avoidance maneuver testing at their track. Chrysler claims the problem has been fixed and that may be true but it leaves a bad taste in the mouth and potential customers have to be asking themselves " What's Next?" Trouble with the "Air lift system,leaks in the sunroof and voice activation system are problems now coming to the forefront...Is the New SRT-8 destined(No pun intended)to go down this same road....
This car is not for off road use, its for someone who's wife wants a family SUV and the husband wants a sports car. I think in fact this will be a great value compared to the X5 M and the Cayenne, do the math it will come in at 20-30k less than the x5 guaranteed... I mean the Cayenne Turbo has an MSRP of 104k... get your oranges away from my apples. To compare this model to previous JGC undermines your entire post. The Fiat line of jeeps introduces an entire line of new part suppliers for Jeep, along with entirely new quality control program. Arguably the only thing Jeep failed on this was engine engineering, they should have a smaller engine with higher MPG and thrown a twin turbo on it much like the ecoboost campaign ford is pushing. I own a Ford Raptor myself but come on this is a great compromise for the upper middle class of vehicles. Who do you know who owns a JGC that even takes it offroad, the rest of us have JK's for that.