Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk flies in
BY TIM NICHOLSON | 18th Mar 2013
Unique styling flourishes and extra gear have been included with the Trailhawk which retails for $68,000 plus on-road costs.
This price places it just under the top-spec 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 Grand Cherokee Overland which retails for $70,000.
The Trailhawk is easily distinguished from its more sedate siblings by the large black and red decals on the bonnet contrasting with the white body colour, bright red recovery tow hooks in the front bumper and black headlamp bezels.
Grey accents on the mirrors and grille, Trailhawk badging and solid steel Mopar rock sliders add to the tough off-road look.
Jeep’s 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine powers the four-wheel drive Trailhawk, which also includes under-body protection plates, QuadraLift air suspension and 18-inch all-terrain tyres.
Other features included in the Trailhawk are black leather/suede seats with the Trailhawk logo, red interior stitching, Mopar rubber floor mats, power tailgate, heated seats and steering wheel.
Meanwhile, the Fiat Chrysler Group unveiled its heavily revised 2013 Grand Cherokee at the Detroit motor show in January this year that is likely to arrive in Australia in the third quarter of this year.
A new eight-speed automatic transmission will be fitted to the new vehicle which will help to improve fuel economy by five per cent as well as boosting towing capacity by 24 per cent on standard models.
The mid-life update will bring with it refreshed styling, including a redesigned front end and new tail-lights.
Easily the US-based car-maker’s top-selling vehicle in Australia, the Grand Cherokee is also Jeep’s number one globally.
Sales of the Grand Cherokee were up by a whopping 148 per cent last year, with the SUV shifting 8373 units for the year.
It was the fifth best-selling large SUV under $70,000 in Australia in 2012, trailing the Toyota Prado, Ford Territory, Toyota Kluger and Holden Captiva.
