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The big news on Chrysler's New York Auto Show stand was
the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee. At first glance, you'll
notice a harder-edged, more butch style evolved from the
current model. Very large flares over the wheel arches,
a squared off rear hatch and proportionately more
shallow side-glass give the Grand Cherokee a much
tougher looking stance. Except at the front, where the
Grand gains rounded headlights with an almost
Jaguar-like fluted bonnet. The new styling works, while
remaining instantly recognisable as a Jeep.
Inside, the styling has been brought up to date, and
real effort has gone into making the tactile surfaces
feel of a higher quality. Engineers even sought to
reduce the number of panels, and hence, join points, to
enhance the perception of quality. The Grand Cherokee
does, though, remain resolutely a five-seater at a time
when competitors such as the new Discovery offer seven.
Chrysler bosses say that this is because their customers
say that a manoeuvrable size is more important than
seven-seat capacity. When pushed, though, they do admit
that the market may well demand a seven-seat Grand
Cherokee and that they've been looking at the best way
to achieve that.
When it goes on sale in the U.S. late 2004, the Grand
Cherokee will offer a 3.7-litre 210bhp V6, a 4.7-litre
230bhp V8 and a storming 5.7-litre 325bhp Hemi V8. The
new Grand will be even more capable off-road, too, with
a highly advanced electronic limited-slip system on the
front, rear and centre differentials. New
right-hand-drive Grand Cherokees will go on sale in the
UK around the middle of 2005, by which time the engine
choice will expand to include the2.8-litre turbodiesel
offered in the smaller Jeep Liberty. Chrysler chiefs
told 4Car that prices aren't likely to increase by much
over current model prices.
Jeep's executive off-roader, the Grand Cherokee, has
generally been able to cut the mustard off-road, but
given how few customers actually take their big Jeeps
into the wilds, the company decided that only a 'quantum
leap' in terms of on-road dynamics would do when it came
to replacing the model.
On sale from June 2005, the latest Grand Cherokee
retains quite a few of the previous model's visual
characteristics, such as the seven-slat grille, raked
windscreen and minimal overhangs. So this is an
evolution of the old Grand Cherokee, in terms of style,
if not substance.
Under the skin, the latest car is all-new, and a big
improvement, dynamically at least, over the car it
replaces. It gets independent front suspension,
rack-and-pinion steering and functions like electronic
stability control and electronic locking differentials
for the first time, helping to make the Grand Cherokee
genuinely competitive among its rivals.
It's keenly priced, too, with base models starting from
under £30,000, while even the well-equipped, top-spec
5.7-litre Hemi Limited is only £37,995.
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