Imagine a 470-hp, 6.4-liter HEMI? V-8 under the hood, Brembo brakes at all four wheels and the ability to tip toe over boulders?It?s Super Jeep. ?Roaring into Jeep showrooms late this summer will be the hottest Jeep ever, the 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8? — it has more power, technology and performance than any Jeep ever.
?The all-new 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the ultimate performance SUV, delivering a combination of Jeep capability and utility, world-class performance, luxury and refinement, and advanced innovative technology,? said Mike Manley, President and CEO ? Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.? ?Jeep vehicles have long been known for their off-road capability. ?In addition to Jeep four-wheel-drive traction and utility, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 takes capability to a new level by giving driving enthusiasts extreme performance for the street and track.?
SRT Jeep accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, performs a 0-100-0 mph in the mid-16 second range, storms through the quarter mile in the mid-13 second range, has a top speed of 160 mph, and brakes from 60-0 mph in 116 feet.
Anyone buying the Jeep SRT8 also gets professional driving instruction from the Richard Petty Racing School as part of the SRT Track Experience.? The program is ?designed to maximize driving knowledge and skills on the street or track. Sessions are held throughout the year at selected tracks.
The five-speed automatic transmission has the AutoStick manual shifting linkage on the console and wheel-mounted paddle shifters to provide the driver with better control.
The best handling Jeep vehicle ever ? capable of .90 g on the skid pad ? the Grand Cherokee features a new SRT-tuned, adaptive damping suspension managed by the new Jeep Selec-Track system that interacts with several different systems to automatically tune the dynamics of the vehicle. Drivers can manually choose between five dynamic modes for specific driving conditions: auto, sport, tow, track and snow.
The SRT uses the Jeep Quadra-Trac active on-demand four-wheel-drive transfer case taking inputs a variety of sensors in order to determine tire slip at the earliest possible moment and take corrective action. ?When tire slippage is detected, the Jeep 4×4 system can transfer up to 100 percent of available torque to one rear wheel.
Just in case you have a boat, or some other adult toy, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a trailer tow rating of 5,000 lbs.
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is also very refined with a luxurious, yet performance-inspired interior complete with race-inspired technology and SRT-exclusive appointments.
New for 2012 is the SRT-exclusive Performance Pages system that shows instant feedback on steering input measurements, horsepower, torque, 0-60 mph time, 60-0 mph braking distance, g-forces, and one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times, along with expanded engine information, just in case you are a numbers person.
New SRT-styled Nappa leather and suede seats have sculpted bolsters and adjustable headrests to hold the driver and passengers in place during spirited driving. The embroidered SRT logos and contrast stitching accent the two front seats. Heated (front and rear) and ventilated (front) seats are standard.
The SRT version is available with luxury extras, too, like a rear DVD entertainment package with power sunroof and a luxury group with a premium interior treatment, ?adaptive cruise control and blind spot warning.? There?s also an 825-watt Harman Kardon? 19-speaker audio system with a 30GB hard drive, and premium navigation system (a Garmin system is standard equipment.)
Prices have not been announced, but the base price is expected to be about $46,000.
