Rendered Speculation: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
by Noah Joseph on Apr 13th 2009 at 11:27AM 
Our friends over at Jalopnik have what they claim is an official rendering of the next-generation 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. With the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee already revealed under the brights lights of the New York Auto Show, it was only a matter of time before we received news of the high-performance version's fate.
Aside from big wheels, a ram air scoop, rear spoiler and some subtle ground effects, the new GC SRT8 looks fairly restrained from the outside, but inside reportedly lies a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 producing between 505 and 525 horsepower and somewhere around 510 lb-ft of torque. The vehicle's all-wheel-drive system will also reportedly be heavily revised to handle all that power, which should make this new SRT8 SUV faster than its predecessors and one of if not the fastest SUV of all time.
Being that Chrysler uses the same V8 in most SRT8 products, expect this one to find its way under the hood of the Challenger SRT8 and Charger SRT8, as well. You might be asking why Chrysler continues to keep the lights on in the SRT offices, especially after GM scuttled its High Performance Vehicles Operation. While the cash to make new SRT vehicles could certainly be used for other things, we applaud the Auburn Hills-based automaker's decision to further fund its high performance department. If anything, it shows there are men and women in the company who still passionate about building things other than minivans and Wranglers.
UPDATE: We contacted Chrysler to confirm this rendering is indeed official and were told, "Definitely not ours." So consider the image and information above speculation until harder evidence surfaces.
[Source: Jalopnik]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Steve 11:33AM (4/13/2009)
"it was only a matter of time before we received news of the high-performance version's fate."
I'm sorry, lol I had to read that sentence 3 times before my mind settled on "news" and not "we received the bad news of the high performance division's fate."
You'll have to excuse me, I'm just so used to hearing BAD = Chrysler, and never hearing MIDDLE GROUND = Chrysler.
My mistake.
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rsfourever 11:38AM (4/13/2009)
i still LOVE LOVE LOVE this car. the best thing coming out of chrysler corporation on a regular basis!!!
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Other Man 5:03PM (4/13/2009)
I agree. The current ones have their haters, but that's all those people are.
It performs as well in the bends as the best of the best SUVs, Porsche included!
It's quicker to 60 than any other production SUV, although after that its gearing and comparative lack of power does show. It looks mean, drives great, and has a superb powertrain and drivetrain.
Truly, I am excited to see how this turns out. With the real interior the Jeep gets for 2011, it will have few flaws IF they do it right.
Jim 11:40AM (4/13/2009)
"You might be asking why Chrysler continues to keep the lights on in the SRT offices, especially after GM scuttled its High Performance Vehicles Operation. While the cash to make new SRT vehicles could certainly be used for other things, we applaud the Auburn Hills-based automaker's decision to further fund its high performance department. If anything, it shows there are men and women in the company who still passionate about building things other than minivans and Wranglers."
Also, to the best of my knowledge, SRT vehicles have sold rather profitably. which is helped by the fact that there are rarely any incentives on them, and aside from the Viper, they're built on line with the regular cars.
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JayP 11:56AM (4/13/2009)
Sounds rational to me- profit on the low-volume production cars.
Try to get that past the government though.
Greg Aryous 12:40PM (4/13/2009)
Incentives! Haven't you heard about Chrysler's Plus Plus - giving ALL vehicles away at deep discount employee pricing, Plus $1000's in added discounts, Plus 0% for 60-mth financing! Profitable, I doublt it, thats why Chrysler is going Ch.7!
Jim 12:47PM (4/13/2009)
"Incentives! Haven't you heard about Chrysler's Plus Plus - giving ALL vehicles away at deep discount employee pricing, Plus $1000's in added discounts, Plus 0% for 60-mth financing! Profitable, I doublt it, thats why Chrysler is going Ch.7!"
RIGHT NOW is an abnormal market. I was talking in general.
Jake B 1:19PM (4/13/2009)
It is non performance Mopar metal that Chrysler has a hard time moving. If all of their cars would sell great with high performance motors, they would stick V8s in all of them. We all know Dodge can make a great performance vehicle. It is when it comes down to the choice of a Camry or an Avenger that people get scared. That happens to be where all of the sweet cheddar is right now.
the_MVP_X 11:47AM (4/13/2009)
I like, for SRT show must go on.
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Fazzster 11:55AM (4/13/2009)
SRT must live but tuning trucks and SUVs is silly.....
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styleguy 12:06PM (4/13/2009)
Have you talked to BMW and Porsche lately? Seems like they're not listening
PJ 1:44PM (4/13/2009)
BMW and Porsche know full well it's silly, the difference is that theirs actually sell.
When you're nickel-and-diming your core products to death, you don't embark on whimsical engineering adventures like the GC SRT8.
Tdogg 12:13PM (4/13/2009)
I WANT ANYWAYS! Of course they'll keep producing SRT8's. They sell good now there is alot less competition with most of GM's high performance models fading away.
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e36 12:20PM (4/13/2009)
I dont get it. You guys love the SRT8 but hate the M x5
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Jake B 1:23PM (4/13/2009)
People can be mad about Chrysler bastardizing other names. Those same people can be mad at BMW for bastardizing the M name. Nothin' wrong with a Cherokee SRT8, they are smokin', NA, and with new cams you could ream the BMW a new one.
Protzenegger 2:01PM (4/13/2009)
That's because the SRT8 is a more coherent design than the X5 M.
RJ 2:07PM (4/13/2009)
Sell the X5M @ $40,000 and I'll stop hating it....
Jason e 12:21PM (4/13/2009)
While I love the SRT Jeep I seriously doubt that Chrysler is concerned with a new one at all. What were the lifetime sales for the current model?
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poop 12:39PM (4/13/2009)
it is a low volume car....doesnt matter about life time sales....it sells and makes a great profit
PumaGTO 12:37PM (4/13/2009)
the Jeep is nice and everything, but... will Chrisler survive untill 2012 ?
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