Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk confirmed for 2017

ONE of the worst kept secrets of recent weeks has been confirmed, with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Australia finally confirming that its new fire-breathing Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will arrive in Australia before the end of 2017.

“I’m very excited to confirm that the Trackhawk will officially join the new Grand Cherokee range,” said Jeep Australia president and CEO Steve Zanlunghi.

“From the moment it was revealed in New York we knew we had to bring it to Australia. Public interest in the Trackhawk has been incredible – barely a day goes by when I’m not asked if it’s coming. Now I can confirm it.

“The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will be on sale in Australia in December, and it will shatter performance SUV benchmarks.”

The confirmation follows GoAuto’s report from last week revealing a Trackhawk testing in right-hand-drive form, which fuelled speculation that Australia – as the second largest market for SRT products behind the United States – was in line to receive the 527kW/874Nm 6.2-litre V8-powered large SUV.

The engine is also used in sister brand Dodge’s SRT Hellcat performance sedan.

Head of the Jeep brand in Australia Guillaume Drelon told GoAuto that customers were already trying to place orders for the car. “And not just two or three,” he said, adding that the company “has the chance and the opportunity to bring it in with very affordable value for money, as always for our brand.”

The all-wheel-drive SUV will be the third most powerful vehicle on sale in Australia, behind the Lamborghini Aventador and the Ferrari F12.

It makes its prodigious power from a modified version of the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine that is used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT – currently the brand’s most expensive car at $91,000 before on road costs.

While neither Mr Zanlunghi nor Mr Drelon would discuss pricing, it is estimated the Trackhawk will cost around $150,000 before on-road costs.

Given its performance, the Trackhawk will be equipped with upgraded chassis components, including six-piston Brembo brakes, a traditional steel spring/Bilstein adaptive damper suspension system and a toughened ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.

It is claimed to do 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, and will top out at 290km/h.

It will compete directly with other performance SUVs, such as the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 and the BMW X5M, Porsche Cayenne and the Audi SQ7.