The 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

One of the Meanest, Most Bad-Ass SUV's...

  I figured since my last two posts were about two of Chevy's nastiest SUV's, I'd throw in a new post about Chrysler's big boy, the SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Synonymous with off-road capability, brawn, and just about everything military-related, performance isn't the first thing one thinks of when he hears the name Jeep. That being said, the SRT8 Grand is a wake-up call who thinks a Jeep is simply a little 4wd truck with a 6 foot wheelbase.

Features:

  The first thing one notices when looking at the SRT is the fact that, hey, it doesn't have huge tires and it isn't two feet off the ground. On the contrary, the SRT sits low, with a stance that looks like its ready to pounce at any moment. Also fairly evident is the fact that the entire front end has one huge cooling duct that runs under the grill, and the dual exhaust meets right in the center of the car, under the rear bumper. That's right; it has a dual center-exhaust. Other than the disgustingly sexy and extremely arousing looks of the body, the Jeep has some other goodies inside and out. These include:

• a 420 hp, 420 ft/lb trq 6.1 liter Hemi engine
• a 5 speed automatic transmission with Autostick
• upgraded track suspension
• AWD for those ridiculous launches, on any surface
• center, sport exhaust
• 20-inch SRT rims
• Brembo brakes (for serious stopping power)
• SRT-badged leather seats with suede inserts (so you don't slide when you're cornering at 60)
• Premium sound, navigation, and other goodies
• Extremely aggressive looks, and brawn to back it up

Performance and Comparison:

  Basically, the SRT is the king of the American sport SUV's. It's faster than the Trailblazer SS, Torrent GXP, and anything Ford can throw at it. The SRT runs low 13-sec quarter miles right out of the box, and with a little tuning, could be in the high 12-secs and better. That's fast for a 5000lb truck. That being said, the Jeep is the only one of my SUV's that has a legitimate future, because the 2012 Jeep SRT8 was just released.

The Future of the SRT8 Grand Cherokee:

  Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the Future!  The newly-released 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT8 includes everything the 2010 got right, as well as some new goodies, power, and improvements on the old design. The 2012 includes:

• 6.4 Liter Hemi generating 456 hp, and 465 ft/lbs trq
• 0-60 mph in 4.6 secs
• Brembo six-piston brakes
• 5,000 lb towing capacity
• 13% overall boost in fuel economy
• Steering wheel mounted Magnesium Paddle-Shifters
• New Selec-Trak system for suspension adaptiveness

Conclusion:

  I will do anything for either of these cars. No questions asked, if you have one, and want to get rid of it, I will gladly take it for whatever you want me to do. I sat in one of these cars the other night, and nothing has ever felt so...right. Oh lord. Sigh. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, while pricey, is an amazing example of true American Muscle in an SUV. They're beasts on the road, and off, and not many other trucks their size could handle them in a one-on-one. All in all, I give the Jeep a 10/10, for styling, power, and sheer sex appeal. 4wd? Yes. Manly? Yes. Brawny? Yes. Little 4wd with a 6ft wheelbase? Hell no.