The topic of our review is the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. In general, one mention of the Jeep Grand Cherokee evokes awe in many of our compatriots. Back in the early 90s, when the first Russian entrepreneurs began to import this car into the country, it became a kind of benchmark for an SUV.
But, if the usual Grand Cherokee is a classic jeep, then the SRT 8 is its "charged version". The abbreviation itself means "street racing technology". This is not the first time Chrysler's parent company has used this abbreviation for its cars. For example, the Chrysler 300 was also produced in the CPT8 modification. Eight means the number of cylinders.
The new car received a completely different fuel injection system than in the Grande with increased long intake ports. The design turned out to be quite effective, and made it possible to improve the circulation and filling of the combustible mixture. As a result of this implementation, the fuel in the engine burns out completely.
History of appearance
The standard Grand Cherokee has been produced since 1992, and the first generation of the Grand Cherokee CPT 8 was released in 2004. The car turned out to be so successful that they did not think about changing generations for five years. In fact, almost everything suited the buyers.
Under the hood powerful jeep stood gorgeous Gas engine with a power of 432 hp. He accelerated the car from 0 to 100 km / h in just 5 seconds. For such characteristics, the unit had a volume of 6.1 liters. If we continue the comparison with the classic Cherokee, then it is worth noting also a stiffer suspension and a lighter system. all-wheel drive... When creating it, the engineers installed a reinforced cross-wheel differential, but refused to lower the gear.
The system works simply. Normally works rear axle... It receives 95% of the torque. But as soon as the car goes into a skid, or a sharp turn, the front axle is immediately connected.
Realizing how powerful the car turned out to be, the developers thought about how to provide this wheeled monster with a reliable braking system. It was created by the masters of the world famous Brembo brand. They proposed a model with 4-piston calipers. Brake discs with a diameter of 360 mm were installed in the front, and 350 m in the rear.
The car is often compared to an airplane, and not only because of its incredible power. Exhaust pipes are very similar to jet nozzles. At the start of the overload, it can be compared with the sensations of the passengers of a liner taking off.
If you look into the salon of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8, then you will notice the seats. They are finished with quality leather and have lateral support. You will appreciate its presence on sharp turns. Sitting in an ordinary chair, you simply fall out. This is especially felt in the front row. But for passengers sitting in the back, this convenience is not provided.
The front panel and steering elements are also different from those in the "classic". Stylish leather elements and aluminum inserts are also used here. The pedals are also made of it, finished with comfortable anti-slip pads.
The next generation has an increased volume power unit... If earlier the manufacturer believed that 6.1 liters. enough for everyone, now a 6.4 - liter gasoline engine is installed on the car. Thanks to the power increase by 36 hp, it was even possible to reduce the acceleration time to 100 km / h. Now this task will take you no more than 4.8 seconds. This generation was produced less than the previous one - only three years (from 2010 to 2013), but managed to gain considerable popularity in the world.
By 2013, Chrysler decided to release a restyled version of the Grand Cherokee srt8. Looking at it, buyers have a question - what, in fact, is the difference? Noticeable - slight changes in the shape of the steering wheel. It also replaced the Jeep name with the letters SRT. Tidy and interior trim have changed slightly.
Exterior refreshed LED lights front bumper. On back door placed the inscription SRT. The eight was removed. The engine remained the same, but, according to the assurances of engineers, now acceleration to hundreds has become faster, thanks to the engine start control system. Whether 0.1 sec will give you something, decide for yourself.
A car of this generation costs an average of 3.6 million rubles. That is, about a million more expensive than a regular Grand Cherokee. Not the cheapest car, but you are not paying for a fashion brand, but for real power, and the ability to leave far behind those who decide to compete with you on the track.
This car is designed for those who like to drive a lot and fast. So get ready to refuel more often than on a regular SUV. On average, a jeep srt8 spends 20 hp. and more for every 100 km. run around the city. In the combined cycle, consumption can reach 15.5 - 16 l / 100 km.
Modern Jeep Cherokee SRT 8 release 2016
What does the owner of a new CPT get? Even more power, of course. Chrysler uses HEMI engines for this car, familiar from many cars of this company, including RAM pickups.
For the street racing Cherokee, a 468 hp motor is used, paired with an 8-speed gearbox. The gearbox can work as an automatic machine, or shift using gears under the steering wheel. 8 cylinders of the "American Beast" accelerate it from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 5 seconds. But this is far from the only plus, there are also such pluses:
- this model has such impressive handling that one hundred Chrysler has named it the best in the history of the Jeep brand;
- during tests on the track, the car gave out an acceleration rate of 90 g;
- the novelty has even more reliable brakes. At a speed of 100 km / h, the braking distance is 35 m. You can slow down in time and avoid an accident. The front discs are 350 mm in diameter and the rear discs are 320 mm in diameter. They are air cooled. Instead of four-piston calipers, six-piston calipers are installed;
- choose your ride settings. Standard mode - "Auto", for winter "Snow", for racing "Track", or "Sport";
- Tires from Pirelli deserve a special mention. Model P Zero P295 / 45 / ZR20 is a truly high quality and reliable rubber.
Salon interior
Everything inside the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8 is very stylish and high quality. If you like “expensive and beautiful”, then this is about the new Grand Cherokee. Everything looks so premium that you involuntarily wonder if this is definitely Jeep and not Bentley? Leather "Laguna", suede, alcantara - these are the main materials used in the decoration.
The steering wheel was heated, and under it are not only the gearbox buttons, but also the Uconnect system. You can connect the gadget and send sms from it using your voice. But much more important on the road is such a practical and useful thing as a navigator. The multimedia screen is huge. Its 8.4 ”diagonal is what you need. It is even larger than the dashboard display (7 ”).
Many drivers often complain about cabin noise. The Grand Cherokee SRT 8 of the new generation eliminated this problem. For this, an effective noise reduction system called ANC System was introduced. Now you cannot hear the noise generated by the unit.
Car safety is not only about airbags for the driver and front passenger. The manufacturer took into account other equally important elements. For example, the car has rollover sensors. Another useful thing is the collision warning. Cameras also check the so-called "blind spots". Useful and roll-over protection.
Ad-Free Review
Test drives with reviews Grand The Cherokee SRT 8 was made by all and sundry. The drivers were divided. Perhaps the most flattering reviews were left by the guys from the Russian department of Top Gear. They also characterized appearance the car is the brightest, comparing it to a hybrid of a hound, a steam locomotive, top model Naomi Campbell and tennis player Serena Williams. In terms of handling, they also equated it with city slugs, like Volkswagen Golf.
The car is a real Yankee, beautiful, powerful, in which every detail and system is needed and useful. As already mentioned, the only noticeable disadvantage of the Jeep SRT 8 is its gluttony. The new 6.4-liter engine consumes an insane amount of fuel - up to 25 liters per 100 kilometers.
The first thing that a common man will say is “expensive”. Expensive, gentlemen, this is a tuned Cayenne that costs twice as much. And here the price is quite justified. Of course, a certain percentage of it is made up of customs duties, but what to do?
Main competitors
Who can this powerful and beautiful car compete with?
- First, the good old G-class. Mercedes Gelendvagen, of course, is a legend and all that, but if you look at its design and operation in really difficult conditions, how the car falls on its side in difficult turns, it becomes clear that Gelik was created for completely different tasks.
- Infinity FX and QX - Nissan creations often end up in the hands of fast-driving enthusiasts. Both series combine luxury, build quality and very good performance.
- Jaguar F-Pace is quite good four-wheel drive car from 3.0 / 380 hp gasoline unit and 8-speed automatic. The car accelerates to 250 km / h. The speed is limited by the factory settings. From 0 to 100 km / h acceleration occurs in 5.8 seconds;
- Lexus RX - 2.7 l / 188 hp engine Max. speed - 200 km / h, acceleration to 100 km / h in 11 seconds;
- Mazda СХ-7 - 2.3 l / 238 hp engine Maximum speed - 181 km / h, acceleration to hundreds in 8.3 seconds.
- Mitsubishi Pajero sport- diesel 2.5 l. / 178 hp The maximum speed is 176 km / h. Acceleration 0 - 100 km / h in 12.4 seconds.
None of these machines can achieve the performance that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT 8 possesses. First, 468 hp. - unattainable performance even for a powerful Jaguar. Chrysler's creation is two heads taller. Secondly, it takes 5 seconds to accelerate to 100 km / h. Here the Jaguar lagged behind by only 0.8 seconds, but its sports characteristics are inferior.
For the price, the cars are in the same range. Jaguar with 3 HP the engine costs 5.2 million rubles, and for the Grand Cherokee, described in the review, they ask for 5.3 million rubles.
For 4.5 million rubles, you can buy a Porsche Cayenne S. This is much closer. First, its 420hp bi-turbocharged engine. the engine can accelerate the car to a hundred in 5.4 - 5.5 seconds (with and without a sports package). Secondly, the car has good aerodynamics, and it helps where the "brick" Jeep meets air resistance.
And if you want real power, then take the Cayenne Turbo. It costs more than 7 million rubles, but it already breaks according to the characteristics of the CPT8. Engine 520 HP accelerates the car to 100 km / h in 4.5 seconds. If you put a sports package - for 4.5. So we found a real competitor to the creation of Jeep. The only question is, is half a second worth two million rubles? If you are an avid street racing fan, the answer is yes. If the car is bought as an indicator of prestige, and you need actual power, and not a difference in numbers, you do not need to take a steam bath. The main thing is that you enjoy the feel of the crossover. And, believe me, it will be great in both cases.
A call from Olya Lukyanova, I pick up the phone and hear: "Mark, I have good news, in a week you are taking a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 for a test drive, are you glad?"
“Well, yes,” I replied coldly, but inside myself I could hardly restrain my emotions. Somewhere in the stomach, butterflies fluttered, and the smile on the face, as it appeared after the call, and lasted all week until the beginning of the text. I could not eat or sleep normally, all thoughts were about only one thing. Do you think I'm out of my mind, and a normal person takes it easier? Congratulations, you are normal. Me not. This is a dream that was destined to come true.
Day X
Monday morning, Leningradsky prospect, Jeep dealership office. After meeting with a representative of the company, we went to the parking lot, where He was waiting. So, Renegade, Renegade, Wrangler, Compas, SRT ... And then my tower was blown off. Remember that feeling when you saw a Ferrari for the first time as a child and you were even allowed to sit in it? So, I remembered myself at that moment. Even the color red is my favorite. Signing papers for the transfer of the car. God, it seemed to last forever, not 10 real minutes.
Looking outside
The SRT8 doesn't have any dramatic differences from the civilian versions, but this is for the average onlooker at the bus stop. For those familiar with the brand, the differences are visible to the naked eye. Not even so - you have to be blind not to notice them. A completely different and aggressive front bumper, because of which the car becomes completely off-road. Hood with gills for air intake, which in turn cool the "brains" of the car, increased diameter of nozzles exhaust pipes... Probably only the lazy didn't write that in the previous SRT the exhaust was more brutal due to its location in the center of the bumper. Remember the competitors, none of them had this, and the BMW X5M even produced a body kit with the same design. But now the jeep has become more modest and made it too "trite", but we will not focus on this. Quite simple wheel disks 20-th radius, which in these giant square arches look (oddly enough) harmonious.
Inside view
Oh, this interior, pure American classic! And I'm not talking about that classic muscle car from the 70s. I mean, all American cars are about the same. Quite a modest and ascetic car with a large-screen multimedia system, well-assembled and very comfortable.
A plump steering wheel with a comfortable molding and the most thermonuclear heating in my memory.
Firstly, it instantly heats up in any frost, which is undoubtedly a huge plus. For example, in the new BMW 5 G30, the steering wheel heating is such a brake that while it heats up, you already turn off the car at work. I'm kidding, of course, but for a very long time.
And secondly, it heats it up to such temperatures that after 2 minutes it can melt the heart of any of your exes. By the way, it turns on the heating on its own at negative temperatures overboard - it's convenient. It's the same story with heated seats. The car was created to melt the hearts of gloomy Moscow young ladies in the cold winter season.
Armchairs. A few words about them. From the form, you immediately understand that this is pure water made in USA. The Germans are more sophisticated in this regard, but they usually spend precious hours in traffic on them, rather than admire them. And in this regard, everything is on a solid five. They have all the basic adjustments, developed lateral support and even ventilation. Oh yes, I think the combination of Alcantara and leather on the seats is rightfully the best solution. It is both beautiful and convenient. You do not sweat in the warm season and do not freeze in the cold.
Have you seen the dashboard? Take a look at the speedometer. Personally, at a glance, I will not notice the difference between 60 km / h and 160 km / h, the numbers are so close and the readings are very small, every 20 km / h. Here a faithful friend comes to the rescue in the person of an electronic dashboard, where you can display so much information (including an electronic speedometer) that for a week I did not decide which readings were most interesting to me. Perhaps the acceleration time to hundreds? Or maybe a quarter mile time? Maybe lap time? I think the engine oil temperature is better! Or is it the temperature of the oil in the gearbox? To hell with everything, I will watch the instant fuel consumption and burst into bitter tears.
Oh, that multifunctional lever on the left behind the wheel! Why can't I make a single sweep of the wipers by simply pressing the end of the lever? This is how it is implemented in Mercedes, and it is very convenient. Why, with a simple press, does it immediately start splashing washer fluid? Of course, you get used to everything, but definitely uncomfortable.
Fast forward to the center console and take a look at the large touchscreen monitor. He is responsible for almost everything: for navigation, music, entertainment, climate, even the dimming of the rear-view mirror is switched on through it. In general, this is a small world that rules your iron horse... But hats off to Jeep executives for leaving all of the vital and frequently used buttons mechanical, positioned right under this screen. Convenient when in the blind you can turn off the sound or turn it down. It's great when you, without being distracted from the road, can make the climate a little warmer or turn on the windshield blowing. In general, a big and bold LIKE.
By the way, about music. I apologize to you, my readers, that in every test drive I pay so much attention to this. It so happened that I have been fond of music since childhood, and at the age of 7 I was presented with a powerful - even by modern standards - audio system. Therefore, when I hear a midrange crying, not coping with their tasks, and with it the door trim, not coping with their tasks, I begin to cry too.
Harman / Kardon
Bad music and Harman-Cardon are not overlapping concepts. The subwoofer handles the lowest frequencies even when the equalizer is turned to the maximum. With my hand on my heart, I can write that this is the most powerful factory sub I've ever heard. The middle frequencies merge a little into a mess at almost maximum volume. High frequencies are always discernible. I was disappointed only by the power window unit on the driver's side - it rattled sometimes to the beat of the music at a volume of 50% or more.
Central tunnel
Convenient gearshift lever with a fixed position, two cup holders, a niche for a telephone with AUX and USB input, as well as a washer for selecting transmission modes. There are 5 of them: automatic, snow, trailer, sport and track. The latter, as you understand, is the most evil. On it, the car allows you to completely turn off the stabilization system and throws up to 70% of the torque to the rear axle. A very, very angry regime. The accelerator pedal is so sensitive that at the slightest pressure, the car starts to lift its nose. But do not think that it is impossible to “pedal” in this mode. It's just scary. It's like the Sport + mode multiplied by two in AMG cars.
Launch button with racing traffic light. Drool began to flow, eyes lit up, and here I am in search of a hook. How bad it is to test such cars in winter.
SEX. Available. But I haven't tried
The back sofa is spacious. For rear passengers, there are airflow deflectors in the central tunnel, there are also buttons for turning on the heating of the sofa and two USB sockets for charging electronic devices.
Furniture delivery. Expensive
I fully experienced the trunk on a trip to the country. By folding the rear sofa, we get a completely flat floor, which is convenient when traveling and for spending the night in the car. But I spent the night there a curbstone in an assembled state and a bunch of things scattered around the cabin.
So you will definitely be able to save on delivery from IKEA. But not gasoline.
About the close button
She is not where we are used to seeing her. It is located on the left side of the taillight. Unusual, but wildly convenient in the case when bags from the supermarket are huddled in the hands. By the way, there is also an LED flashlight on the left, which does not have batteries, but is charged from the car's power supply.
Six and four liters
This is an absolutely incredible volume by modern standards. While the Germans are releasing two-liter death stools, the Americans live in their own world and laugh at the sight of the juice packs in the face of the Subaru WRX. What a boyish thrill it is when you press the red START Engine button and awaken the beast.
A second - and the whole yard knows that you are going somewhere. This is real sound, no deception in the form of the sound of the exhaust from the speakers. Everything is fair. Isn't honesty the main thing in a relationship? Even the relationship between machine and man.
6.4 Hemi
V-shaped figure eight with the ability to turn off half of the cylinders in order to save fuel. He will not say "goodbye" to 100 thousand kilometers, and after that he will not say. It feeds on 95th gasoline, if you wish, you can 92, but it is better to love your car and give it the best. Scheduled maintenance is 100-150% cheaper than German competitors - in the region of 20-25 thousand rubles. Requires only oil change and replacement of pads. Isn't it happiness for a Russian person? No turbo lags, forget about it. Constant and even traction from the bottom to the cutoff. Incredible low rpm pickup. And the exhaust sound in the range from idle to 2,000 rpm just excites ...
Well, let's try to accelerate to 200. Closed circuit (yeah). Sport mode. We hit the gas pedal with our right foot and we get the same sharp blow in the back from the car. 0-100 flew by imperceptibly, 140, 160 ... by 220 everything is not so fast. But this sharp push is at the start. It was as unforgettable as the first sex. I am ready to experience it over and over again.
Where is the launch button? We press and try to start from it.
Track mode. Stabilization is completely disabled. Brake. Gas. Let's go!
Fast, but emotionless. To be honest, I expected a concussion from hitting the headrest, but there was no jolt at all! Just fast, steady acceleration. Boring. Tried it once and never used it again.
I haven't received such emotions from overclocking for a long time. Yes, there were cars much faster and more powerful, but this is a different feeling. In CPT, 5 seconds is felt much more emotional than 4 seconds. By the way, about the numbers. The manufacturer is modest in his testimony. Factory acceleration values to 100 km / h are equal to 5 seconds, in fact, this value is slightly less.
While colleagues go crazy for 8 seconds of acceleration, the SRT8 makes the planet spin even faster.
An 8-speed automatic helps to achieve such acceleration. Not a robot, but a real torque converter. Shifts gears imperceptibly and without jolts, either during dynamic acceleration or when driving through Moscow traffic jams. Comfort, and more! The automatic transmission is reliable and does not cause problems. The potential is great. Increasing the power won't break it. This is certainly not 5 stepped box gears, as in the previous model, which does not die at all, no matter what you do with it, but also nothing.
I got a bonus card of one of the largest gas stations ...
Let's talk about fuel consumption. Yes, a sore point when you have SRT. But everyone is interested in these readings. Well, the car consumes fuel in direct proportion to how much you push the gas pedal. Best regards, your captain is obvious. Now you will understand what I mean.
Riding in the city in ECO mode and without traffic jams. 14-15 liters per hundred.
Driving in the city normally and with traffic jams. 17-18 liters per hundred.
Driving in the city as usual, but with gas at every traffic light. 18-25 liters per hundred (depending on the pressure).
Riding in the city in the sport mode on the petals in the style of "a hot Caucasian just bought an AMG". 25-35 liters per hundred.
Driving on a suburban highway. 11-13 liters per hundred.
Control
I want to dispel the myth and cliché of ten years ago about management. Yes, this car won't drive like the X5M, GLE63 or Cayenne Turbo. It is obvious. Do not go to the fortune-teller. But it doesn’t only drive in the forward direction like the SRT8 MK1 did. It flies well into corners, rolls are not minimal, but they do not cause discomfort. At speeds under 200 km / h, you can safely enter the bends and enjoy driving with a little fear to boot. After all, the weight of the car is 2.4 tons.
Brakes BREMBO cope with their plight by 4 points out of 5. I would like a slightly more responsive pedal, and the brakes withstand 10 minutes of very active driving, not 5.
Active driving for me is not two starts from a traffic light up to 79 km / h, followed by braking. This is a constant speed of about 200 km / h with constant braking up to 100 (like on a track).
The steering wheel is heavy, especially after the Germans. Approximately at the level of BMW. There is no void in the zero position. Reacts sharply to the slightest change in course. This car definitely has character. It is not artificial, like most representatives of the modern car industry. You fight with him, and you are afraid of him at the same time, from this you fall in love even more.
Interesting things noticed during use
Adaptive cruise control is happiness for a travel lover like me.
SRT monitors the vehicle moving in passing direction, and can slow down, up to a complete stop at traffic lights or emergency situations, followed by independent acceleration. Collision warning works amazingly, no lag. The car saw the danger and, if you do nothing, immediately brakes. As fast as Mercedes. Foot parking brake. Sometimes he kicked him out of his stupidity. Basically, it's a matter of habit.
Small subtotal
I thought for a long time what to write about the results. SRT needs to be understood, you need to love its character. This is not a mass market trying to please everyone and everyone. Basically, like any charged crossover, this is a very niche product.
This is not a German that every schoolboy in the yard loves. This is a car for those who appreciate brutality. Who cares about fuel consumption and taxes. For those who do not care that letters from the traffic police come more often than letters in Whats'app from a beloved.
I would buy it myself to the question, I still cannot answer. I fell in love with this car, it sunk into my soul, and I cannot forget it. But I would rather prefer a crossover with a three-liter diesel engine. Only because I travel a lot. And 12-13 thousand rubles for gasoline per week is a fairly large amount for me. Although he gives unforgettable emotions.
Buyer portrait
A young man between the ages of 25 and 37. Owning a small or medium business. Who does not care about the opinion of others. He wants to get a fast, brutal, at the same time reliable and unpretentious car for every day, in order to feel comfortable in a big metropolis near the Central Department Store and in the Sverdlovsk region with his family on a picnic.
On the broken asphalt of the station square in the city of Vladimir, it seems like something alien, I would even say - alien. I walk up to him in disheveled feelings, the signature bass slap of Deep Purple and Ian Gilmore's furious falsetto beating in my ears:
Nobody gonna take my car, I "m gonna race it to the ground Nobody gonna beat my car, it "s gonna break the speed of sound Ooh it "s a killing machine, it" s got everything!
“Nobody will take my car away from me, and I will drive it on the dirt road! No one will catch up with her, she overtakes the sound! Oh, this is a killer machine, and it has absolutely everything! "
To be honest, I just did not expect such luck. There was only one bright red SRT in the small convoy of four Grand Cherokees that went on the model's quarter-century rally, and I was sure the guys from the TV would pick it up immediately: they love everything bright in the frame. But they preferred the comfortable Anniversary Edition, so I had a unique chance to check out how this 468 horsepower monster behaves on not the best roads and light off-road conditions. After all, usually such devices, capable of accelerating to hundreds of seconds in five and continuing to accelerate to a speed of about 250 km / h, our brother-journalist prefers to test on ring tracks, which allow squeezing out of the car everything he is capable of. But the sporty SUV is so good because it can not only show off at the Promenade des Anglais in Nice or on the asphalt Nordschleife, but also calmly go on a picnic or on a business trip, for example, to Kovrov. Suddenly you are an arms baron, and you urgently need a batch of Pecheneg machine guns ...
But before you open the door and try on the role of the pilot of this aggressive beast, you should probably still go back 25 years and remember the history of the "Big Indian".
Peace pipe, tomahawk of war
It is generally accepted that he was born on January 7, 1992, when a brand new ZJ, driven personally by Chrysler President Robert Lutz, spectacularly broke through a glass window and rolled out onto the presentation area of the Detroit auto show.
Photo: Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) "1993–96
But in fact, it all began much earlier, in the early 80s, when the Jeep brand was owned by the American Motors corporation, which, in turn, was owned by the French company Renault. The decision to start developing a model that will replace the famous "Brick" (Cherokee XJ) on the assembly line was made back in 1983. Larry Shinoda, Adam Clenay and the great master Giorgetto Giugiaro were involved as designers, but the project they created, known as the "XJC project", was already completed by their own home team. Anyway, in 1987, when Jeep came under the wing of Chrysler, work was in full swing, and in 1989 the world was presented with the Jeep Concept 1, in which we can easily recognize the future bestseller, and it is quite ready for mass production.
So why didn't ZJ get onto the assembly line in '89, '90, or '91? And why did he have to become the flagship, although it was planned that he would replace the XJ?
I don’t want to reiterate the “Tale of how Lee Iacocca bought Jeep” (those who wish can read it, for example), but in this case it is important that Iacocca did not manage to buy the Jeep brand separately, and he got the whole AMC corporation. with all the debts, assets that he absolutely did not need and model lines that did not interest him. As a result, at first he pulled as best he could with the launch of the Grand Cherokee in the series, since the money was needed to develop the minivan class. Well, by 1992, it became clear that, firstly, the XJ, despite its solid (by the standards of the American market) age, still sells well, and secondly, that the money for the development of a new flagship to replace the retired In 1991, the Grand Wagoneer did not exist, and it does not.
As a result, it was decided that two "Indians" are better than one "Indian", and together it would be easier for them to contain the pressure of the growing popularity of the Ford Explorer, and the new Grand Wagoneer, perhaps, will appear only next year, 2018. So the Grand Cherokee became the flagship and set sail for a quarter of a century, during which four generations of the model were replaced (ZJ, WJ, WK and WK2).
I must say that this path was marked by many technical innovations. For example, the ZJ-generation Grand Cherokee was the first SUV to feature a driver's side airbag and the first SUV to feature three different all-wheel drive systems. The WK became famous for its QuadraDrive all-wheel drive system, which allowed it to safely continue driving in a situation where there is only one wheel for normal traction.
Meanwhile, dramatic events were taking place in the fate of the Chrysler concern (and therefore the Jeep brand). In 1998, an epic merger with the German giant Daimler-Benz took place, which ended in 2008 with an equally epic divorce. But the fruit of this love was the Grand Cherokee WK, built on the Mercedes ML platform and debuting in 2005.
At the same time, another event took place, which cannot be ignored. V-shaped "eights" have always been part of the Grand Cherokee's arsenal, but in the first two generations their power was about 250-260 hp. WK got a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, which produced 357 "horses", and this was already serious enough for the SRT division (Street & Racing Technologies) to pay attention to the model. So in the same 2005 at the Convention Hall in Las Vegas, where the famous SEMA Show is taking place, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 was shown for the first time.
Photo: Jeep Grand Cherokee (WK) "2004–07 The novelty was equipped with an engine from the same Hemi V8 family, but with a volume of 6.1 liters and 420 hp. Naturally, we had to work closely with the transmission and the suspension ... And something unimaginable happened. Such cars are always expensive, by definition they cannot be mass-produced, which means that they have only two options for the future: either flash a bright star and go down in history as an interesting but impractical experiment, or become cult. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 has become iconic. So when the next, fourth generation Grand Cherokee with the factory index WK2 entered the scene in the summer of 2010 (which in itself unequivocally hinted at a more evolutionary than revolutionary nature of the changes that had occurred), then the appearance of a "charged" version from SRT was also the phenomenon is quite expected. And, like the Grand Cherokee itself of the WK2 generation, the new car was not only more powerful (the 6.4-liter V8 HEMI installed on it developed already 470 hp), but also differed from the previous one by a much greater saturation of electronic systems.
But now you can return to the station square in Vladimir and take a closer look at the hero of our test, especially since there are three more "Grandas" in other trim levels next to each other.
Indian chief
Let's start with the looks ... How do high-speed sports versions of any model usually differ? First of all, the aerodynamic body kit, and the Grand Cherokee SRT was no exception.
The installation of completely different bumpers required a change in the location of the fog lights. In "ordinary" Grand Cherokee, the lower part of the bumpers is made easily removable: I was going to dive into the mud - I unfastened the plastic clips, removed the part, threw it into the trunk, and you don't have to worry about the safety of the "lower lip".
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In addition, the lower grille of the air intake is decorated with powerful tusks of the towing hooks, and rightly so: only those who never went off-road at all never got stuck. This solution allows you to attach a towing cable or a sling without profanity and the need to lie down in the mud, or even digging at all, trying to get to the towing loop located under the bumper.
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SRT has none of this, because no one expects feats from such a car on timber roads or rocky tracks.
But on the bumper there are two diffusers that provide cooling of Brembo brakes. They are sporty at the SRT8, 6-piston front and 4-piston rear, with a diameter of ventilated brake discs increased by 30 mm. And has a different form rear bumper... But still the most striking detail is the hood with a characteristic protruding "hump" in the middle and "nostrils" directed towards the driver, through which hot air passed through the cooling system is discharged. That's all, in fact, except for the nameplates and the corporate paint in the color of Inferno Red ("hellish red"). What is minimal ground clearance decreased by 10 mm, is not optically determined.
And inside? On the one hand, the Grand Cherokee remains the Grand Cherokee, and the SRT's interior looks quite solid and respectable. But there are more than enough differences in details.
First of all, the SRT has a different handlebar with a cut-off lower segment and ergonomic nodules (other WK2s have a constant cross-section handlebar). I cannot but approve of both. If it is understood that the car can at least sometimes move off the asphalt into all sorts of abysses, where sometimes you have to engage in high-speed taxiing "from lock to lock," a constant cross-section is much more convenient. And on the track, the rigidly set position of the hands on the steering wheel does not bother anyone ...
It is clear that the front row seats have more developed lateral and lower support. At the same time, the Americans did not go against their nature and did not begin to completely liken them to sports "buckets": the seats are wide enough, and I, with my hundred kilograms of live weight, fit into them quite tightly. But a more slender pilot will definitely feel the lack of fixation in turns. I am afraid that in this case, the non-slip perforated nappa leather inserts will not be effective enough.
Naturally, a car with the word "sporty" in its classification must also have a corresponding instrument cluster. Everything is quite expected here: the central place was taken by the tachometer, and the speedometer was shifted to the left. And since the left instrument of the Grand Cherokee has the shape of a semicircle, the markings turned out to be very shallow. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the speedometer scale of the SRT8 is marked up to 300 km / h (in the “simple” Grand Cherokee - up to 240). As a result, the scale turned out to be practically unreadable. Thank God that there is a small digital speed indicator on the panel, which I was mainly guided by during the test.
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All the leather elements of the interior decoration remained in place, but the wooden inserts were replaced by parts made of plastic "like carbon". This, of course, does not add speed, but you get the feeling that you are in the cockpit of a real sports car. Neither the Harman / Kardon acoustics nor the navigation and entertainment system interfere with this at all. By the way, it has a special Performance Page with a number of timers (including lap times) and additional data that is important only on the track. But, perhaps, the most significant changes have been made to the transmission mode controls.
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Where the Laredo, Overland or Limited have a downshift key, the SRT has a Launch Control key. I will say a few more words about it, but for now we will note that the Selec-Trac complex is really devoid of a "drop". Instead of a button for the assistance mode on the descent, it is just a plug. The washer of the selector of preset electronic modes is exactly the same, but the modes themselves are different. The "simple" Grand Cherokee offers you a choice between Snow, Sand, Auto, Mud and Rock. The SRT driver has at his disposal Track, Sport and Auto (no translation needed), as well as Snow and Tow (towing).
And then there's the Valet mode. It’s customary for Americans, you know, to rent out a car to a valet in public places, in much the same manner as we rent out coats in the wardrobe. So that an inexperienced driver does not inadvertently use all the power and does not bite into any post or other car, this mode is intended. Turned on - and the fire-breathing dragon turns into a "vegetable": the engine starts to work in the mode of limiting revolutions (up to 4000 rpm), power and torque, engaging the first gear is blocked, and shifting to higher gears is carried out earlier than usual. The steering column switches do not work yet, the inclusion of special modes becomes impossible, the Launch control is disabled, and the stabilization system, on the contrary, becomes non-disconnectable. With us, this mode will come in handy when handing over the car for service: all of a sudden hot guys are eager to drive without your permission, the temptation is great ... Actually, my hands under the driver's gloves were already itching with impatience.
However, I got into the driver's seat with some caution: after all, almost 500 horses are not a joke, the road goes through the city with all the restrictions and cameras. What if this beast kaaak jumps? ... But nothing terrible happened. It turned out that the "Big Indian" knows how to behave modestly and quite civilized. In the first third of the gas pedal stroke, it generally behaves like the most ordinary SUV - I can't even believe that such power is hidden under the hood ... Moreover, the sound insulation of the Grand Cherokee is at a height, and the characteristic "boom-boom" of the big V-shaped "eight" at low revs, it practically does not penetrate into the cab. And not all 8 cylinders work in this mode ...
Nevertheless, the speed should be monitored very carefully: it seems like you didn’t drive and didn’t even press the pedal - so, stroked it lightly, but on the speedometer it’s already 90. At the same time, the speed is not felt at all - a complete feeling that the car is not dragging faster 40 kilometers per hour.
In general, "jeep drivers, be vigilant!", Especially since the speed on the speedometer is read, as I said, very poorly. But the city finally ends, and the route leads us in the direction of Suzdal, and not along the main highway, but along local paths through Kameshkovo and Savino. Oncoming and passing cars are becoming less and less, there are no photo cameras, which means that you can press the gas heartily.
And - here it is, what such cars exist for! Hurricane, squall, fire, growl of an angry engine, speed, speed, speed !!! I wonder what the instant fuel consumption is now? Liters 20 per hundred or more? I don’t care, it’s not interesting at all! How is Metallica doing? Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire! "Give me fuel, give me fire and what I desire!" Because under the wheels is not a perfectly flat racing track, but the broken asphalt of the Russian hinterland, and you need to keep your ear open: on holes, bumps and other irregularities, the SRT noticeably shies to the sides, requiring careful steering. Yes, and in high-speed corners, despite the adaptive suspension, falls a little more than we would like.
And thank God that our Grand was shod in Yokohama tires Geolandar 295/45 R20, which did not react to bumps as sharply as the Pirelli P Zero 295/40 R20. It is not for nothing that colleagues who tested the SRT at Pirelli wrote that any trip on a regular road turns into an armwrestling competition.
Here is a suitable straight line, and there are no cars. Well, try to accelerate to 200 kilometers per hour? Which mode should I turn on, Track or Sport? No, God protects those who are careful, I'll turn on the Sport after all. In Track mode, stabilization systems are turned off, and the quality of the road surface hints that this should not be done.
Well, let's go, gas to the floor, pedal to the metal! 100, 140, 180, 200! The roadside bushes merge into some kind of gray mush, the knuckles of the fists clenching the steering wheel turn white, the flashes in the eight cylinders merge into a victorious crescendo. Everything is flying towards it ... but no, thank God, not a KAMAZ, just a turn, but I don't want to go through it in this mode at all. And it's good that the Brembo brakes on the SRT work quite adequately.
Trunk volume
457/916 liters
Naturally, I could not resist the temptation to try the Launch Control system in action, although, of course, it is absolutely not designed for such conditions. In theory, it is just supposed to be used on the race track ... There are no compromises, Track mode automatically turns on, and electronic stabilization ceases to interfere with the pilot's actions. So, turn on Launch, squeeze the brake all the way, then the gas. In this case, the revolutions are fixed at around 2,500. Abruptly drop the left pedal, and the electronic mind carries out further acceleration for you. Its task is to provide the fastest possible acceleration, but not to allow slipping. Feelings are amazing! Probably, the pilots of carrier-based aircraft experience about the same when taking off from a catapult ...
But in general, I realized that, having adapted slightly and not paying attention to shaking, even very bad asphalt you can go quite fast. Yes, and I would call the shaking moderate. Range of course Rover sport An SVR or a Porsche Cayenne Turbo with air suspension would provide much more comfort. But they cost one and a half to two times more! At the same time, I would not hesitate to drive on the "Range" even on much more serious off-road - after all, it also retained a downshift, and all Terrain Response off-road modes remained in place. 
From Suzdal to Vologda I returned already in the salon of the "usual" Grand Cherokee in a rich 75th Anniversary configuration. Everything seems to be the same, and 286 hp. - this is not enough, and the 8-speed automatic transmission goes through gears just as imperceptibly. But you immediately realize that this car is designed to deliver the owner from point A to point B with maximum comfort (and it does not matter with what road conditions you will have to face it). But SRT is a pure adrenaline generator. Yes, probably, it is quite suitable for city life and for long-distance travel (especially since the folded back sofa is converted into a flat platform with an area just for an air mattress, and the engine, unlike the motors of direct competitors, is not capricious and readily consumes 92nd gasoline). But it’s not that, not that ...
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I said everything. Hug
It is clear that any sport utility vehicle is a purely niche product. They are bought either by amateurs to demonstrate their special status, or by real fans. For the first category, the fact that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is positioned as “the most affordable sport utility vehicle on Russian market”Is more of a disadvantage than an advantage. Just think, some 5.2 million rubles ... Whether it's the Cayenne Turbo S for 14 million, or, at worst, the BMW X5 M for nine and a half ...
And a fan should not just be a fan of speed, he should get a thrill from just such a car: something somewhat contradictory, a little illogical, brutal, formidable, not the easiest to drive, but precisely this and attractive. Are there many of them? Not too many, by definition. But I am absolutely sure that the number of thirsty "fire and fuel" will always be enough so that in the near future, when the fourth generation Grand Cherokee comes to replace the fifth, he too will have a stunningly fast and powerful version with the letters SRT on the nameplate.
You will love the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 if:
- Your favorite band is Deep Purple and your favorite album is Machine Head;
- Your main passion is speed, but you also really respect going fishing;
- There is a good racing track just a couple of kilometers from your summer house.
You won't like the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 if:
- You do not understand why you need a Jeep that does not have a downshift in transfer case;
- You think a 5 million SUV could be more comfortable, especially on a bad road;
- You are convinced that all the prestige of the Grand Cherokee remained somewhere in the 90s of the last century.
