2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 unveiled at New York show

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By Brett Davis | April 21st, 2011

Jeep has unveiled the all-new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 at the New York International Auto Show in the US. The car gets the same 6.4-litre HEMI V8 as the new Chrysler 300C SRT8, a sporty new body and some serious performance mechanicals which provide sportscar-like figures.

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 features a specially moulded bodykit incorporating a long and aggressive front fascia and bumper bar layout. It also gets a body-coloured grille, pumped wheel arches with skirting moulds, and a vented bonnet for the ultimate muscle car look.

Under the bonnet lies the new Pentastar 6.4-litre HEMI V8 outputting 347kW of power and 630Nm of torque – eat your heart out BMW X5 M and Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG. This stonking engine is brutal enough to pull the large four-wheel drive wagon from 0-100km/h in an astonishing 4.8 seconds. It’ll also go on to a limited top speed of 250km/h.

Helping the big unit handle all that power is a set of 20 inch chrome alloy wheels that are wrapped in Pirelli PZero tyres. These surround a comprehensive Brembo brake package, and stay firmply planted on the ground at all times thanks to a new adaptive suspension system.

Jeep says that the new Grand Cherokee SRT8 is not only fast in a straight line but says it can also pull up to 0.9g around corners, although, we’re not sure why anyone would need to do that in an off-road vehicle.

The new sports Jeep is also supported by Jeep’s four-wheel drive system and is fitted with a limited-slip differential at the rear, for those times when the going gets rough.

Other stand-out features include a premium Harman Kardon 19-speaker, 825-Watt surround sound system, boosted by a 10 inch subwoofer, and a high-quality sports interior featuring a flat-bottomed steering wheel, Nappa leather and suede sport seats and carbon-look trimming.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is expected to go on sale towards the end of this year.

David

The X5M will still eat it for breakfast. It has an extra 61kW and 50Nm.

John

….and the X5M still costs twice as much, which leaves me with enough money to bolt on a s/c or turbo and destroy any X5M or X6M.

G

The price premium to an X5M is justified by an increase in quality, performance and badge snobbery. In my opinion both are overpriced but I’d still pick the X5M if you made me choose – more class.

The Jeep just looks like an oversized Suzuki Grand Vitara.

andronicus

61kw for an extra $50k most likely. worth it??

I quite like the look of this, will be a bit of a beast on the roads.

Steve

lol…get your hand off it David
Y

Yo friggen stompin manz vroooommmmmmm
F1MotoGP

Typical American big ugly and use too much fuel. When fuel prices will go up like in the 70\’s in 14 years the fuel went up 5.4 times from 0.0982c/l to 0.5263 than all US car companies collapse again.

nickdl

Well the issue with American companies was that they previously focussed only on big V8 cars and neglected compact cars. When fuel went up, people traded their big Yank Tanks for better imported cars. They all seem to have worked out that small cars are important after going (or nearly going) bankrupt twice in the past 30 years. Ford and GM now offer great small cars for the US market and Chrysler’s are on the way.

G

Yes, they’ve wised up a bit. But Yanks still make the tanks, most of the more fuel efficient stuff comes from European (Ford, Chrysler=fiat) or S Korean (GM) subsidiaries.

The biggest thing they’ve innovated on a mass market scale is cylinder deactivation which is only because they are the only ones (apart from here) still pushing V6 and V8s for the (i.e. not sports) family car.

http://baji192.wordpress.com Baji

Kind of pointless really, but Im really liking this thing! Amazing car, much better than the predecessors.

Fmatt

yep carbon tax , that’ll work. Oh except when another volcano erupts and puts more co2 into the atmosphere in 5 days then all human activity since we stumbled out of caves. Love the car. Tried to buy an overland today. Can’t get one because of production delays on some components made in Japan. They are still in strife from earthquake.
Until I get one I’ll just have to drive one of my other v8,s with all my bogan mates!!

AR

A big ‘Carbon Tax’ should be applied for the person who purchased this car and the manufacturer who produced this eco un-friendly vehicle.

Steve

Why? The person who buys it pays their share in taxes when purchasing the car and its fuel. Also i guarantee you emissions to manufacture this are quite likely less than those produced to manufacture a Toyota Prius and someone who buys this would probably do less than average k’s in it.

G

They’re heavier and cause more wear & tear on the roads. Which is a separate issue from emissions which is overlooked. Not to mention they reduce visibility for other drivers. Anyone driving a big 4wd like this jeep needs to have it taken off them if they can’t justify it over a people mover or estate car.

JD

LOL what a shocking comment!.. my solution would be to just buy your wife a hybrid and balance it out

bob

Slobber running down my lip….pant pant…I want.

F1Moto, I agree…but this car isn’t exactly being geared towards the Toyota Prius market. There are those that, frankly, just don’t care about how much fuel it uses. If I was sitting on millions, I’d probably be one of those people.
hamane

I will get one when it come out
Tydurban

Visceral. American cars are back. The Germans couldn’t make something that bad ass looking if they brought the Third Reich back. Unbelievable. I cannot wait to see it in the flesh. Makes the X5M look like a soccermom vehicle. My $50k is waiting.

Matthew

More like $80K+

Steve

50k would buy you an ’06 model Price guide: WK Overland is about 78k and 2010 SRT8 is about 90k.

bangel

Watch it fail and depreciate faster than a melting ice cream cone , remember is good old USA rubbish build .

Steven

For those saying it shouldn’t be allowed because it uses a lot of fuel etc, just think for a moment about how many will be on the road.

It’s the same with McDonalds/Hungry Jacks, if people ate it once in a while rather than twice a week, no one would care about how much fat is in it. Restaurant meals have more fat and oil than takeaway food but we don’t care as we don’t go to restaurants often.

So get over it and allow those that can afford the fuel bills to enjoy them.
Aidan

This aint an off road vehicle Brett
Peter G

I don’t get “sports” 4wd cars.

Can’t help but think each time I see one that the drivers have “mines bigger than yours ” syndrome and I cant help but laugh to myself.

For sheer entertainment there should be more!
Suntory Time

Wow!!! that’s about as awesome as it gets.
Tumac

This thing is so fast, when you stop you’ll be in a new age….Your front bumper will be in July and your back bumper will be in June…..And this new SRT’s wheels actually get dizzy…
http://ben_mcculloch@hotmail.com ryan

This is possible the most coolest tow cars in the world!

JD

i think you mean coolest cars.. period!

http://www.clearimagephotos.com braydenc

Track mode…….seriously ?
bangel

Perfect for bogans on 5 centerlink pensions and a cellar full of Hydro , just dont do your deliveries in it .

Hung Low

Stick to your FWD econoboxes Nancy!

matt

far out im gettin annoyed with this “bogan” crap, if it has more then 4 cylinders or weighs more then 1.1 tonne its immediatly a “bogan mobile” or… maccas brigade… or white sunny wearer….. or dole bludger…. or drug barron….. or drivers arm out the window idiot, ffs get over it and get back to posting on drive where you belong with all the other negative nancy’s.

Henry F

Well put Matt. Some of these posts as so predictable and place too much emphasis on the “social class” of the driver (whether it be bogans or Euro-snobs).

I love all sorts of cars whether it be Australian, Japanese, European or American and am sure the vast majority of people on these forums do too.

Tumac

This new SRT8 goes so fast you won’t have to worry about your cholesterol……It goes so fast you’ll think you’ve stolen it….and the two rules when you get in are “Hang on” and ” No Screaming”.
Punjabi

I was considering the Range Rover Evoque… But this thing has credentials! 4.8 seconds is on par with an M3, let alone an X5M! With strong exchange rate, I think you will be able to get this baby for $80k driveaway, same as the top spec Evoque… But Evoque has a measly engine anyway…

JD

Punjabi i am think more in the low 100′s based on previous releases, however i hope for both our sakes you are right

bangel

Yer 4.8 secs in a straight line , next corner the M3 would be gone in a flash .

American garbage appeals to uneducated aussie bogans , who believe the straight line figures , grow up .

G

Like the C63 – more power than the M3 but put it on the track… I like the Fifth gear review they did recently where they checked out the competition/sports packages. Merc upped the power, BMW just tweaked suspension and wheels and left the drivetrain alone. BMW still won around the track.

Off-topic I know, just reinforcing a point that power isn’t everything especially with big heavy Yank tanks. They peaked in the ’60s but have been left behind by the Euros and Ricers.
JD

bangel, wow what is your problem? its a nice car, maybe you should take a look at them to understand the appeal before throwing out comments about uneducated bogans.. if you like cars trust me, one drive in one of these are you will be hooked.. if not stick to your 118d and keep on truckin

BOB REDFORD

………u dont buy it in australia with aussi dollars you morons……

you import it with yank bucks…at yank costs and still come out 15k better off….thats alot of fuel.

“living the dream”

Seriously Bob, have you done this?

I’m moving back to Aus this Dec and desperately wanted to repatriate with my (owned since new) 2009 Chevy Tahoe. Aside from costing the same as my purchase price to convert it to RHD, the Aus Gov wanted to charge me GST, Customs and (potentially) a luxury tax on the vehicles value in Aus – no, not what i paid.

So before telling people that they are “morons” why TF don’t you try telling people your little tax evading secrets to importing vehicles into Aus with US dollars. personally i think you’re FoS, but hey if your right you may end up with more than two friends on Facebook.

On the topic of American SUV’s… I love them and “have owned them”, from an Austrian built 5.7 Grande Cherokee Limited, to Ford and Chevy SUV’s and pickups. Nothing in Europe, Aus or anywhere else comes close to their value (outside Aus) and performance both on and off-road.

I’ve also owned an unforgettable BMW M5 and a two-door 335i, yet I’m going to miss the American trucks the most. America has been and probably will continue to be instrumental in the development of motor vehicles.

I WILL be test driving this SUV in the new year, if only to remind me of what i’m going to miss back in Aus.

GazMan

Top Gear guys drive like old grandfathers, theirs is surely no test to be ever considered seriously. This 2012 SRT, with the new Jeeps built on Mercedes ML chassis and a huge adjustable ride height independent suspension with 6 pot Brembos. Will not only be a very fast and competitive sports road car, it will be a nice toy for the serious off roader. But then, those who eat rubbish like McDonalds, could never afford such a toy anyway, and usually drive what they eat, way behind the technology times Japanese rubbish. I believe it will come in around 90K. Bargain!