Skip to main content

Jeep’s Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee is a rolling monument to horsepower

Jeep has borrowed the vaunted Hellcat engine from sister company Dodge and stuffed it under the Grand Cherokee’s hood. Named Trackhawk, the supercharged off-roader will be one of the uncontested stars of this week’s New York Auto Show.

Dropping the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Grand Cherokee’s engine bay was easier said than done. Earlier reports suggested Jeep needed to either ditch four-wheel drive in favor of rear-wheel drive, or settle for using a detuned version of the Hellcat engine. In the end, engineers managed to clear every hurdle and they avoided making compromises.

Recommended Videos

The V8 generates 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque, and it spins all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission controlled by shift paddles. The gearbox and a majority of the driveline components were strengthened to handle the extra grunt, and the Trackhawk is equipped with the largest front brakes ever fitted to a Jeep in order to keep the cavalry in check.

In the SUV segment, the 5,300-pound Trackhawk’s performance numbers are second to none. It sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, it blasts through the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds, and it goes on to a top speed of 180 mph. Jeep proudly claims the newest Grand Cherokee is the quickest SUV on the planet. Alternatively, the Hellcat V8 helps the Grand Cherokee tow 7,200 pounds.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Five driver-selectable modes called Auto, Sport, Track, Tow, and Snow, respectively, change the Trackhawk’s character. The torque distribution varies from 40 percent front/60-percent rear in Auto to 30/70 in Track. The driving modes also change other parameters like the steering’s weight, the transmission’s shift times, and the suspension’s firmness.

The aesthetic modifications are surprisingly minor considering the monumental firepower lurking under the sheet metal. The Trackhawk only stands out from the less powerful Grand Cherokee SRT with air dams that replace the front fog lights, air vents cut into the hood, and quad exhaust tips. Bold “supercharged” emblems on the doors add a finishing touch to the look.

Built in Detroit, the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will reach showrooms nationwide by the end of the year. Look for a pricing announcement before then.

Who gets the bragging rights?

Critics quickly pointed out Tesla’s Model X deserves the performance crown because it performs the benchmark zero-to-60-mph sprint in 2.9 seconds, over half a second quicker than the Trackhawk. Jeep disagrees; the X and the Grand Cherokee are not direct rivals because Tesla’s seven-seater isn’t a true SUV.

A company spokesman told Digital Trends Jeep relies on Ward’s vehicle classification system, which ranks the Grand Cherokee as a sport utility vehicle and the Model X as a crossover. When viewed in that light, the Jeep is indeed the quickest SUV while the Model X is the quickest crossover — not to mention one of the quickest product cars regardless of segment.

Ronan Glon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Tesla Model Y Juniper vs 2024 Tesla Model Y: what’s actually new?
Blue Tesla Model Y Juniper in the snow

The Tesla Model Y is the most popular EV in America, and it's about to get a major refresh. Tesla has announced the Model Y Juniper, the biggest refresh for the EV since its initial launch.

So far, the vehicle is only available China, but it will inevitably make its way to the U.S. too, and it's likely to do so sooner rather than later. Curious about what's new for the Model Y, and how much better than the previous-generation Model Y it really is? Here's a look.
Design
The Tesla Model Y Juniper has a number of design changes that make it unique, but it still looks like a Model Y in general. You're not going to look at the Model Y Juniper and think it's anything other than a Tesla.

Read more
Tesla Model Y Juniper vs Ford Mustang Mach-E: 2025 EVs battle it out
Tesla Model Y 2025.

The Tesla Model Y is the most popular electric vehicle in America, and it's finally headed for its first major refresh in the form of the Model Y Juniper. The Model Y Juniper has to go up against other electric vehicles that are highly popular and have launched over the past few years. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is one such EV, offering a similar crossover size, a sleek and stylish design, and more.

So, in 2025, how does the Tesla Model Y Juniper compare with Ford's go-to EV? Is one better than the other, or is it really down to personal preference?

Read more
Tesla’s Elon Musk reveals first city for automaker’s new robotaxi service
Tesla Model Y 2025.

Tesla is aiming to put its first robotaxis on public roads in June, the automaker’s CEO, Elon Musk, said on Wednesday.

Speaking during a call with investors following the release of Tesla’s latest financial results, Musk said the plan is to begin with a paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in June, using vehicles with a version of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. He added that a paid ridesharing service using unsupervised autonomous Teslas would expand to other U.S. cities “by the end of this year,” with launches in the first overseas markets coming some time in 2026, though he cautioned that regulatory constraints in locations like the EU and China could result in delays.

Read more