Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat SUV confirmed

Jeep CEO Mike Manley has confirmed that his company will be producing a Hellcat version of its Grand Cherokee SUV for the US market from July 2017. The new Jeep will get the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 used in FCA stablemate Dodge’s Challenger and Charger Hellcat models, although it’s not yet known if the SUV will have the same 717hp and 881Nm outputs of those cars.

Even with a slight power deficit, the Hellcat model should comfortably outpunch Jeep’s current fastest car, the 467hp Grand Cherokee SRT which is capable of accelerating from 0-100kph in 5sec and reach a top speed of 257kph.

The Hellcat engine’s potential performance could even move the Grand Cherokee beyond the realms of today’s current crop of super-SUVs, which includes the 569hp Porsche Cayenne Turbo S and 550hp Range Rover Sport SVR.

Additional technical specs will be revealed in the coming months, but we can expect the Hellcat-engined car to get bigger brakes and a performance-focused chassis setup. It’s thought the name Grand Cherokee Trackhawk could be adopted, in reference to the car’s track focus.

The new Hellcat powered Grand Cherokee is expected to sit above the SRT variant in the Jeep line-up and not replace it.

Jeep is set to enter India this year with three models, and its smallest offering, the Renegade, in the near future. The first of the trio is the rough-and-tough Wrangler in its long-wheelbase four-door guise. The Wrangler is expected to catch the eye of people looking for a go-anywhere SUV. The second model is the Grand Cherokee targeting a more luxury driven buyer. Both SUVs will be diesel only. The third offering is the Grand Cherokee SRT. Powered by a 6.4-litre petrol V8, the Grand Cherokee SRT will sit atop Jeep’s range in India and will rival performance SUVs from brands such as BMW and Porsche.

Sam Sheehan (Autocar UK)

Jeep displays Grand Cherokee SRT and Wrangler Unlimited at Auto Expo 2016