Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with Hellcat V8 Confirmed for 2017
Jeep will launch the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk fitted with the supercharged Hellcat V8 next year, confirming long-standing rumours about a 700-horsepower SUV flagship.
Jeep has confirmed that the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, powered by the supercharged 6.2-litre Hellcat V8, will arrive in the United States in July 2017. The announcement, attributed to Jeep chief Mike Manley, puts to rest months of speculation about the brand’s plans to transplant Dodge’s most powerful engine into its largest SUV.
The Trackhawk will be the most powerful production Jeep to date. The Hellcat engine, already known for its 707hp and 650lb ft in the Dodge Charger and Challenger, will lift the Grand Cherokee well above the current SRT model, which uses a naturally aspirated 6.4-litre V8 producing 475hp. While Jeep has not officially confirmed if the Trackhawk will match the full Hellcat output, early indications suggest the numbers will be close, if not identical.
Performance SUV rivalry
Jeep’s move puts the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in direct competition with the likes of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport SVR and other high-performance SUVs. The SVR currently offers 550hp from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8, giving the Jeep a clear edge in power on paper. The Trackhawk’s arrival marks Jeep’s most aggressive push into the premium performance SUV market.
Spy photographs have already surfaced showing pre-production Trackhawk prototypes undergoing testing. The images reveal only subtle visual changes over the SRT model, suggesting the Trackhawk will focus on mechanical upgrades rather than dramatic styling revisions. Details such as brake and suspension enhancements are expected, but Jeep’s official information so far centres on the powertrain.
What it means for buyers
For buyers, the Trackhawk will offer supercar-level performance in a practical SUV package. The addition of the Hellcat engine means acceleration and top speed figures are likely to eclipse anything previously offered by Jeep. Pricing and full technical specifications have not yet been released, but the Trackhawk is expected to sit at the top of the Grand Cherokee range when it reaches showrooms next year.
