Along with the new face-lifted version of the Jeep Cherokee, Chrysler is also bringing the new SRT8 version to the Detroit Motor Show. The high-performance SUV get the same visual changes as the standard car, plus the usual SRT treatment.
The car looks quite menacing now with its blacked-out front fascia. The bumper grille, the mesh inside the seven-slot grille and headlight bezels, they are all finished in dark black. But the LED lights on the bumper and the strip in the headlight soften the edges a bit. The SRT8 also gets larger front air intakes and a vented bonnet. Around at the back you find a roof spoiler, a rear diffuser and two large tailpipes.
The cabin is also revised based on the latest changes, with the new steering wheel getting a flat bottom and aluminum accents to look sporty. Aluminum accents are found aplenty throughout the cabin, especially in the center console where you also find the new gear lever nicked straight from the Chrysler 300, and the latest Uconnect infotainment system that can be had with an 8.4-inch display.
As for the technicalities, while the new Cherokee SRT8 retains its 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque HEMI V8 engine, the new 8-speed ZF automatic transmission will have a profound effect on the way it responds. It offers many different modes for various driving conditions, plus an Eco mode which in combination with the engine’s cylinder deactivation system gives the SRT8 a few more mpgs.
The performance remains unchanged over the old model, but that’s OK, because this massive thing catapults from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and can reach 160 mph. The chassis and suspension with its Bilstein components and Brembo brakes are also intact.
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