Jeep trades the trail rating for a serious performance machine with the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8.
Jeeps have always traded on their rugged capability. But for once the brand guys at Chrysler have decided to forego tradition and build a Jeep for speed.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee becomes the fourth new 2012 offering from Chrysler to wear the SRT badge, along with the likes of the new Dodge Charger and Challenger models, as well as the 300C SRT8, but while Jeep’s entry into the muscle car segment is clearly designed with an emphasis on performance it does not abandon entirely its off-road capabilities.
You’ll notice something different the moment you spot the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. To start with, ground clearance has been reduced, which must pass for something like heresy in Jeep’s engineering shop, and the skid plate was removed. Instead of that traditional off-road cue you’ll quickly spot a functional rear spoiler added to improve aerodynamics on a vehicle that normally boasts the dimensions of a brick.
The heart of the beast: SRT's 6.4-liter Hemi V-8.
The suspension of the Grand Cherokee SRT8, meanwhile, was re-tuned to give it a little less bounce so it can hold the road closer. The 2012 Jeep shares with the rest of the SRT line-up a sophisticated adaptive damping suspension that can hold a solid .90 G on the skid pad, which is testament to the inherent stability built into the vehicle.
Nonetheless, SRT version still retains a lot of the traditional versatility and capability along with extra speed. For example, it can still tow 5,000 pounds. But it also has a 0-60 speed of 4.8 seconds and can run the quarter mile in just over 13 seconds, according to Chrysler’s estimate. Top speed is a governed 155 mph.
Out on the track, the Grand Cherokee SRT reaches 100 miles per hour effortlessly thanks to the 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque delivered by the new 6.4-liter version of the Hemi V-8 that powers the 2012 SRT lineup.
The result is a blend of power and serious performance that is a pleasure and a thrill to drive thanks to the clever alchemy performed by Chrysler’s engineers.
The new adaptive damping system delivers a comfortable on-road driving experience but quickly shifts to performance mode.
Skeptics might wonder about the timing of the 2012 SRT line’s roll-out. True, gas prices have begun to slip, a bit, though few expect that reprieve to last very long. So, to make a modern muscle car line-up palatable in today’s environment, Chrysler engineers took a number of steps to make the Hemi guzzle a little less gasoline than you might expect.
A new active exhaust system allows Chrysler’s standard Fuel Saver Technology to engage over a wider RPM range for a 13% improvement in highway fuel efficiency and 450-mile range. Nonetheless, don’t look to trade in you Prius for the new Jeep, which is rated at 12 mpg City, 18 on the EPA Highway test cycle.
But if muscle is what you’re looking for, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 delivers—from the moment your foot touches the throttle. Ninety percent of peak torque is available between 2,800 and 6,000 rpm, allowing for quick standing starts and solid straight-line performance.
The Quadra-Trac active on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer case, which uses input from a variety of sensors in order track tire slip at the earliest possible moment and take corrective action, is also part of the powertrain.
The skid plate is gone, replaced by a spoiler.
The transfer case enhances handling by proportioning torque between the front and rear axles to maintain the driver’s intended path. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 also features an Electronic Limited Slip Differential, which eliminates rear wheel slip and also improving the vehicle’s overall handling.
Chrysler Group’s SRT line is more than just an assortment of classic, ‘60s muscle cars. Sure, they’re quick off the line, but they’re also able to scrub off that speed in a hurry – just 116 feet to go from 60 to 0. Stopping power for the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 comes courtesy of new SRT high-performance Brembo brakes, which feature 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers with vented rotors measuring 15-inches in the front and 13.8-inches in the rear.
Those Brembos feature the anticipated mix of technologies, including ABS and stability control – the latter of which you can tone down with the touch of a button for a more track-like experience.
The interior of the Grand Cherokee SRT comes with a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel that features a unique satin chrome rim section with a flattened bottom surface – evoking a race-inspired cockpit – that showcases the SRT logo.
Standard paddle-shift controls flank both sides of the wheel. Information Center controls are accessible from the horizontal spokes on the steering wheel, providing access to the SRT-exclusive Performance Pages are new for 2012 and show instant feedback steering input measurements, horsepower, torque, 0-60 mph time, 60-0 mph braking distance, g-forces, and one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times.
New SRT-styled Nappa leather and suede seats, with sculpted bolsters and adjustable headrests, provide both comfort for daily drives – and enough “grip” to keep the driver and passengers in place when the vehicle’s speed-demon personality is one display.
Carbon fiber accents are integrated into the instrument panel and door trim panels and new bright, racing style brake and pedal pads add to the high-performance look inside the cabin. An optional “luxury group” package adds premium leather to the door trim panels, instrument panel and center console along with a power liftgate, adaptive cruise control as well as forward Collision warning and blind-spot monitoring.
No, you won’t want to take the new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 out on the trails in Moab, though you’d have a blast getting there. The new offering sacrifices the classic Jeep “Trail Rated” badge for performance you’d likely never expect from a sport-utility vehicle. Even so, it’s a surprisingly pleasant daily driver that can handle snowy streets as well as the track – which are the extremes that most Grand Cherokee drivers experience anyway.
Look for the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 to roll into local showrooms by autumn at a starting price of $55,295.