The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk aka the fastest model Jeep has ever produced has just been unveiled a few days before its official debut at the 2017 New York Auto Show. With the Hellcat-powered 707 horsepower engine under the new Trackhawk’s hood, Jeep certainly has a lot to boast about and they aren’t holding anything back by labeling their newest product as the “most powerful” and “quickest SUV ever.”
Exterior
In terms of style and design, there aren’t any big surprises with this new model. Design-wise it is pretty much the same as the newly updated Grand Cherokee SRT. Only differences are the lack of SRT’s fog lights and the addition of the new quad exhaust setup.
Down below, the new 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk features a set of 20-inch alloy wheels with the 3-season P Zero Scorpion Verde tires, Z-rated 295/45s. If you wish, you can also take a more lightweight route with 20-inch forged alloy wheels that are lighter 12 pounds per corner over the standard set.
Interior
Inside the cabin there are some slight improvements, which include the new 200-mph speedometer, a Trackhawk logo adorned three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and a set of new performance pages for the 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system. The sets are upholstered with the standard nappa leather that can be outfitted in a new Black and Dark Ruby Red color scheme. Both rows of seats are heated, while only the front seats nab the new ventilation capabilities.
Optional features include the dual-pane panoramic sunroof, Dark Ruby Red seatbelts, metal interior accents, a dual-screen entertainment center for the back row with an accompanying Blu-ray player, as well as the new Harmon/Kardon 19-speaker, two subwoofer sound system. Moreover, the new model will offer only the best from the active safety tech. Everything from the blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning to automatic emergency braking will be included with the new Trackhawk.
Engine and Performance
Powering the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V-8 engine that some doubted could perform well with the Grand Cherokee all-wheel drive system’s strength. Jeep engineers solved the problem by adjusting the full-time active transfer case with forged steel chain sprockets and a wider chain. The case is now a single-speed active setup with an electronic limited-slip differential in the back whose job is to regulate the power. Moreover, the 8-speed automatic transmission has been upgraded, while the drive shaft and the new rear axle have been improved even further.
As for the performance, the new model is said to go from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, while it runs a quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. Impressive, indeed. The drive system of the new 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will come in five distinctive modes (auto, sport, track, tow, and snow) just like the Grand Cherokee SRT. These modes adjust the all-wheel-drive parameters, as well as the transmission, suspension, paddle shifters, and electronic power steering programming. There is also a valet mode that restricts most of the features so that you can safely hand over the keys to the valet driver.
Lastly, the towing capabilities of the new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk are rated at 7,200 pounds, which is pretty much the same as the Grand Cherokee SRT and the Hemi V-8 outfitted Grand Cherokee manage to pull off.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Release Date and Price
The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is set to hit the showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2017. Price information is yet to be released, but we expect the Trackhawk’s base price to start at about $84.000.
