Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

My old business partner shoehorned a Lingenfelter-tuned 5.7-liter Corvette V8 into a Jeep CJ7. I assumed, quite correctly, that he had lost his mind. It turns out I may owe him an apology; he may have been a visionary not an escaped psychiatric patient. Or, perhaps my evaluation of his mental state was correct and like-minded inmates are now running the asylum at Chrysler. Ladies and Gentlemen, the 465 horsepower V8 Hemi-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, the quarter mile passes in 13 seconds and its top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. If that sounds familiar to BMW drivers, there’s good reason, this two-ton truck will run with the mighty M3. In fact it will run with most sports cars. One trick pony you say, nay I say.  It’s quick, it’s fast and it can also handle the twisty bits, pulling .90-g’s on the skid pad. Braking isn’t bad either, 60-0 is a very short 116 feet, thanks to 6-piston Brembo’s at the front and 4-pistons at the rear clamping down on vented rotors at all four corners.

Fuel economy, somewhat of an oxymoron in trucks in this class, is actually 13% better than the outgoing model. Thanks largely to clever engine electronics and cylinder de-activation the SRT8 has a very respectable range of up to 450 miles on single tank.

Power is routed to the ground via Jeep’s Selec-Track 4-wheel drive system in one of five modes: Auto, Sport, Track, Snow and Tow. The trick new transmission even features sporty paddle-shifters mounted to the thick leather steering wheel. The SRT8 rides on 20” wheels with either “three season” P-Zero run flats or high-performance all-season tires.

The Grand Cherokee SRT8 is also packed with amenities, including: a 825 watt 19-speaker Harmon Kardon sound system with Sirus/XM, LED DRL’s, tinted sunroof, power rear lift gate, remote start, Uconnect phone interface, iPhone integration, Garmin SatNav, tire pressure monitors, back-up camera and just about very safety feature and type of airbag you can think of. It really is quite literally tons of value for money compared to its rivals.

Speaking of which, if you’re in the market for a mental truck, prices will start just below $50K (US). SRT8’s will be reaching showrooms later this summer.