Hemi drag: 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT takes on 1930s Hot Rod

The 6.4-litre V8 Hemi-powered Jeep produces 344kW and 624Nm, which is helped along with launch control and all the high-performance technologies on offer.

In the other corner, a 1930-bodied Ford Model A mounted on a 1932 chassis, also powered by a Hemi V8, producing 304hp (226kW). It is one of Chrysler's earliest engines, named "Firedome", and is out of a 1956 DeSoto, a brand known for making large and premium cars.

The result of the quarter-mile dash was closer than you might think. The Grand Cherokee SRT, driven by champion UK drag racer, Stuart Doignie, reached the finish line of the 402-metre-long strip in 13.5 seconds.

It bested the coupe, with drag specialist Kelvin Dunn behind the wheel, by only 0.9 seconds.

The Jeep raced to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, clocked at 165km/h on the finish line.

“I was hugely impressed by the raw power and speed of the Grand Cherokee SRT,” said Doignie.

“I’ve driven plenty of dragster vehicles at Santa Pod but never a car built purely for the road. It’s immensely quick off the line and powered through the finish gantry. It was an epically close race with the Hemi Coupe, but I was glad to keep up my great record at Santa Pod with another win."

Want more Jeep racing? See the Grand Cherokee SRT in competition with an aerobatic twister plane here.

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