Jeep will officially unveil the 2018 Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at the New York Auto Show on Friday, April 14. The new model has a Hellcat engine that boasts 707 horsepower, the most powerful ever in the brand’s SUV lineup.
Fiat Chrysler Automobile has gone as far as to say that the new Grand Cherokee flavor is the fastest of its segment, outperforming even some trims of the Mercedes G-Class, the Bentley Bentayga, and the Porsche Cayenne.
The beast SUV will debut at the New York International Auto Show, scheduled to take place between the 14 and the 23 this month. It will share the showroom floor with its much-awaited cousin, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: Design
The Trackhawk’s name is inspired on Jeep’s Trailhawk moniker for off-road trips of the Grand Cherokee. With great track performance in mind for the vehicle, the automaker decided to differentiate it from others with a winged stamp on the back.
Other than that, the Trackhawk is an animal in disguise, sporting almost the same look as its next most powerful brother, the Grand Cherokee SRT. The yellow Brembo calipers and the quad exhausts on the back are, however, a dead giveaway that this is no regular SUV.
The latest model in the lineup will come in nine different colors, including Bright White, Billet Silver, Diamond Black, Granite Crystal, Ivory Tri-Coat, Redline 2, Rhino, True Blue, and Velvet Red.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: Specs
Under the hood, drivers will find the same supercharged Hellcat engine that comes with the Dodge Charger and Challenger. The V-8 has a 6.2-liter capacity, and it brings the full 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque in all their glory to the Grand Cherokee family.
As a result, the Trackhawk can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, according to Jeep, and it has a maximum speed of 180 mph. Estimates suggest the vehicle could complete a quarter of a mile in 11.6 seconds reaching 116 mph.
Moreover, the newest Grand Cherokee addition comes with an eight-speed Torqueflite transmission and AWD as a standard. The system offers Auto, Sport, Track, Snow, and Tow modes, the latter of which stands up to 7,200 pounds.
Other than that, the SUV has reinforced components to withstand the Hellcat inside the engine bay and the massive force it produces. The interior has seats emblazoned with the Trackhawk logo and a Supercharged badge outside each front door.
Also on the inside, there is a Uconnect infotainment system courtesy of Fiat Chrysler, which is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk: Price and availability
Jeep has yet to offer a specific price point and launch date for the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, but the automaker said it would be available this fall. Experts suggest the car could be priced in the mid-$80,000 range upon release.
In the meantime, motor enthusiasts can check out the new Trackhawk at the New York Auto Show starting this Friday. It will take place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, and the showroom will be open every day at 10 AM through April 23.
Source: Motor Trend