Pricing and specs have been announced for the monstrous Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Depending on your point of view, it could either be a bargain, or an outlandish extravagance.
A list price of £89,995 is the headline figure, and Jeep says that only 20 examples of the Trackhawk will be coming to the UK in 2019.
Hellcat’s bigger brother
So what exactly do you get for almost £90,000 of American SUV? For a start, the same 6.2-litre supercharged Hemi V8 engine that is used in the Dodge SRT Challenger and SRT Charger Hellcat muscle cars.
That means the faintly ridiculous power output of 707hp – more than a Ferrari 488 GTB – combined with 645lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed TorqueFlight automatic gearbox has the job of channeling all that torque to the upgraded four-wheel drive system.
Performance is suitably shocking, with 0-62mph taking just 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 180mph.
For comparison, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo can only hit 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, and reach 177mph flat out. The German machine is also more than £9,000 more expensive than the Trackhawk, even before you dive into the Porsche options list.
Fully loaded for battle
Standard specification is another area where Jeep wants the Trackhawk to appeal.
Externally is a substantial bodykit, complete with ‘supercharged’ badging to the door to ensure there is no confusion as to which Grand Cherokee you’re driving. Titanium coloured 20-inch wheels are standard, as are the powerful Brembo brakes with yellow calipers.
UK cars receive upgraded Laguna leather sports seats as part of the deal, along with carbon fibre accents for the interior. The 825w Harmon Kardon sound system features 19 speakers, but we imagine the Hemi V8 will provide the greatest aural output.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide smartphone connectivity, with an 8.4-inch multimedia screen in control of most functions. For the Trackhawk it also offers bespoke performance data, letting you see just how much horsepower you are using and even G-forces.
Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist, and even a Trailer Hitch camera are just some of the claimed 65 security and safety features fitted.
At almost any price the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk would be a niche purchase in the UK. But it is hard to ignore the lure of a 707hp Hellcat engine fitted to a practical, right-hand drive, SUV.