527kW/874Nm Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk confirmed for Australia

One of the fastest and most powerful SUVs to grace the streets in Australia from later this year will be wearing a Jeep badge. FCA Australia, the distributor for Jeep vehicles in the country has officially confirmed the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk performance flagship crossover will arrive Down Under as a right-hand drive model in December this year.

“I’m very excited to confirm that the Trackhawk will officially join the new Grand Cherokee range,” said Jeep Australia president and CEO Steve Zanlunghi.

“From the moment it was revealed in New York we knew we had to bring it to Australia. Public interest in the Trackhawk has been incredible – barely a day goes by when I’m not asked if it’s coming. Now I can confirm it.

“The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will be on sale in Australia in December, and it will shatter performance SUV benchmarks.”

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk packs a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine delivering an earth-shattering 527kW and 874Nm, the most powerful engine from the Chrysler group (which own Jeep).

Already in action in the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, the HEMI V8 is one of the world’s most powerful V8 engines, eclipsing even those from the AMG and M stable. It also out muscles the Range Rover Sport SVR.

On the road, the numbers translate to a 0-100km/h time of just 3.6 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 290km/h. While Jeep is laying claim to the title of the world’s fastest SUV, Tesla will be quick to point out that its all-electric Model X P100D is quicker still with a 0-100km/h time of 3.1 seconds.

The Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is also said to be capable of covering the quarter mile (400m) in 11.6 seconds with a trap speed of 186km/h, on par with the mighty Nissan GT-R.

Like the SRT model, the Trackhawk channels power to the road through an on-demand all-wheel drive system and an uprated eight-speed automatic transmission. Its drivetrain has also been intensively strengthened to cope with the extra punch. Jeep claims up to 70 per cent of torque can be sent to the rear wheels.

The flagship also gets bigger Brembo brakes – including 400mm discs with six-piston calipers up front – which allow the full size SUV to pull up from 100km/h in just 36 metres, according to Jeep.

For optimum handling, the rear axle is fitted with an electronic limited-slip differential for maximum traction out of corners. Launch Control is also standard for drag junkies.

Visually the Trackhawk stands out with flared wheel arches and side sills, beefier front and rear bumpers, deeper rear diffuser and quad exhaust tips. It rolls on 20-inch alloy wheels shod with 295/45Z Pirelli rubber all around.

Inside, highlights include Trackhawk-branded Nappa leather and suede seats, a flat-bottomed sport steering wheel, carbon fibre trim and contrasting leather-stitched surfaces. As with the rest of the Grand Cherokee range, infotainment is managed by an 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Pricing has not been officially confirmed but expect the performance flagship to cost in the region of $150,000, making it the most expensive model within the FCA group.

Check Also

Jeep Gladiator brings heighten 4×4 adventure priced from $75k

Four-wheel-drive fanatics now have another option to choose from with the arrival of the new Jeep …