Jeep is celebrating the launch of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 on the European market with two custom-built versions of the SRT8 called the Ferrari Editions. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that the SRT8’s transformation will be all about getting it to look like a Ferrari, at least in terms of colors and styling. Highlighting the transformation are exclusive Rosso Corsa colored exteriors, red leather interiors, and other odes to Ferrari, including being delivered to the Fiorano circuit in Maranello, Italy by Scuderia Ferrari Formula One drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.
The two special Gran Cherokee SRT8 units are painted in a special Rosso Corsa paint finish and then combined with a matte-black front grille and matte black dual-pane sunroof. The standout feature of the paint job is the race-inspired, glossy black driver’s stripe with a white accent going from the front bumper up through the hood, roof, rear spoiler, and ending at the rear bumper. The aggressive look of the car provided by the SRT-exclusive design and the Italian flag painted on the underside of the rear spoiler add to the appeal and are topped off with a new set of unique forged aluminum, 20-inch wheels painted black and a lowered (1.5 inches) suspension.
The interior of the Grand Cherokee Ferrari Edition comes with exclusive Ferrari Red leather inserts on the seats with sculpted bolsters. The leather-wrapped SRT8 steering wheel with mounted paddle shifters features red contrasting stitching, while the unique instrument cluster features yellow dials which give the cabin the look of the GT cars produced in Maranello.
If there was ever an SUV that could be categorized as automotive porn, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Ferrari Edition would be it. Unfortunately, the two shown in the picture will be the only two ever made unless a tuning firm picks it up somewhere. Hint, hint, all you tuners!
Of all the models in Jeep’s line-up, the one that doesn’t get a whole lot of love is the Compass. We know all about the Grand Cherokee, the Wrangler, and the Liberty, but the Compass isn’t given the same amount of attention.
Whatever reasons that may have, the new Mopar-tuned Compass "True North" model is giving the Compass some well deserved love and affection.
The enhancements done on the Compass are prevalently cosmetic, albeit a comprehensive one. On the outside, Mopar added plenty of modifications, including a new matte black-finished roof, wider wheel flares, black-headlamp and fog-lamp surrounds, rear fog lights, a new lower fascia, a new black grille with body color inserts, custom front and rear brush bars and custom rock rails, and a new set of 16" matte black alloy wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich All Terrain tires to go with a 2" lift kit from Rocky Road Suspensions.
Inside, the Mopar went to great lengths to give the Compass’ interior space with plenty of fine-tweaking. The most notable is a tie-up with renowned audio component manufacturer Kicker. For the ’True North’ model, the latter added a completely new audio system that includes front and rear speakers, an amplifier, a sub-woofer, and lift gate speakers. Outside of the audio system set-up, Mopar also added a custom center stack gauge pod that carries the pitch and roll inclinometer gauges. There’s also a new Mopar bright pedal kit, door-sill guards, a rear-cargo tray, a new shift knob and neoprene seats, all of which adds some serious flair and attitude to the Compass’ interior.
Availability for the Compass "True North" model has not yet been announced, although we expect to hear more about the details at the Chicago Auto Show this coming February.
A new special edition 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee was making the waves at the recent Houston Auto Show except that the SUV still didn’t have a name. Sounds odd, right?
Apparently, the production-ready concept vehicle is the subject of Jeep’s "Name My Ride" contest, an online competition that gives Jeep fans a chance to come up with the official name of the Grand Cherokee concept. The contest is currently being held at Jeep’s official website with the top three choices being elevated to another round of voting before the official winner is announced in May 2012.
As for the vehicle itself, this one-of-a-kind Grand Cherokee is based on Jeep’s Laredo X package and is highlighted by a bevy of stealth-inspired custom touches, including a Brilliant Black exterior finish, a black mesh grille, a chrome lower bumper trim, black headlamp bezels, a black liftgate light-bar, and a new set of 20" glossy-black aluminum wheels. The interior also comes with plenty of special features, particularly the leather-trimmed seats and heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, as well as key technological components, including a 9-speaker 506 watt amp sound system with subwoofer, iPod/MP3 connectivity, Parkview rear back-up camera, ParkSense rear-park assist system, Keyless Enter-N-Go, and last but certainly not least, the Uconnect hands-free communications system.
"Jeep enthusiasts have always appreciated limited-edition models and the ability to customize their vehicles," said Mike Manley, President and CEO of Jeep. "This new Grand Cherokee comes with a unique, ‘factory-customized’ stealth appearance directly from Jeep, and is certain to attract interest from an array of potential customers."
"If the level of excitement is what we anticipate, this new Grand Cherokee will be in Jeep showrooms this spring."
To that, we say, bring it on, Jeep! This special, one-off Grand Cherokee looks absolutely stunning.
With one little teaser note - "Who Needs Reindeer When You Have an 800 HP Twin Turbo Sleigh?" - Hennessey Performance has given us even more reason to love the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. The American tuning company went bananas on the HEMI-powered SUV, releasing a comprehensive tuning program that includes aerodynamic and performance upgrades that will leave your jaws on the floor.
Talking about the former, Hennessey dressed up the Grand Cherokee SRT8 with a new carbon fiber front splitter, a lowered suspension system, a new set of light alloy wheels with 15.1" Brembo brakes, and a custom leather interior with a new Alcantara steering wheel. Pretty good, right?
It gets better.
Known for being one of the best engine tuners in the country, Hennessey saw the enormous potential of the Grand Cherokee SRT8’s 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine and decided that it could still get some more tweaking. And that’s precisely what they did. Additional modifications include an upgraded transmission system and torque converter upgrade, 15.1 inch Brembo brakes front and rear, a lowered sport suspension system, lighter alloy wheels, carbon fiber front splitter and a custom leather interior with Alcantara steering wheel. Thanks to an HPE800 Twin-Turbo engine package, an upgraded transmission system, and a torque converter upgrade, Hennessey managed to bring the output of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 from its ’regular’ 465 horsepower and 465 lb/ft of torque figures, all the way up to an eye-popping 805 horsepower and 823 lb/ft of torque. These numbers are good enough to drop the SUV’s 0-60 mph number from 4.8 seconds to a mentally disturbing 3.1 seconds and set the quarter mile at 10.9 at 130 mph.
Hennessey will only build 24 of these bad boys with the limited numbers reflecting the tuned-up SUV’s price tag: $235,000.
Can you say *gulp*?
No aftermarket company has redefined SUV tuning quite like A. Kahn Design. Known for their programs for the Range Rover and all different types of its offspring, A. Kahn Design has, on occasion, jumped out of their comfort zone to build a program that doesn’t have the words ’Range’ and ’Rover’ in its name.
Take for instance the new Jeep Wrangler. By all measure, the rugged American all-utility vehicle fits into the description of a go-anywhere, get-down-and-diggity rough rider. But if you’re Azfal Kahn, the Wrangler can be more than that. And that’s where A. Kahn Design comes in under the banner of ‘Chelsea Truck Company.’
On the outside, the Wrangler Military Edition received a new mesh front grill, gold-finished calipers, smoked side lights and repeaters, dial fascia clocks, LED driving lights, a new quad exhaust system, and a set of 20" Kahn RS wheels, among other things.
There are also other refinements that drive up the looks and security of the vehicle, particularly an optional bullet-proof glass on the blank rear window sections and the LED lights on the vehicle. If bullet-proof isn’t enough to make you feel safe, A. Kahn Design also has what they call "a superior type of glass," a more advanced version of their bullet-proof set-up that even the most high-profile of clients would be happy to have on their vehicles.
Inside, A. Kahn Design always brings the luxury up to bespoke levels, and the Wrangler Military Edition - despite it’s reputation - is no different. From the red quilted leather seats to the dial fascia clocks, A. Kahn Design spares no expense in dressing up the interior according to the preferences of the customer.
For the whole set, customers will have to pay £35,875, or around $56,000 based on current exchange rates.
