Jeep Is Bringing A Hellcat-Powered Grand Cherokee To The New York Auto Show

It looks like Jeep is joining sister company Dodge in raising the SUV power stakes this year. With the Challenger SRT Demon currently being teased to death with weekly titbits from Dodge HQ, news has emerged that Jeep has borrowed the Hellcat’s engine for its biggest SUV.

We’d imagine that the maximum 707bhp and 650lb ft would be adequate even for a car that weighs more than the whole of the British Isles put together, although it’s not yet known whether the unit will be detuned for Jeep. As for the name, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which owns Jeep and Dodge, has trademarked ‘Trackhawk’.

Since Jeep already uses Trailhawk and Desert Hawk in its SUVs, Trackhawk would fit right alongside the range as it stands.

The previous hot Jeep Grand Cherokee that we’ve pictured here has gone with the SRT badge and a measly 461bhp, so using the Hellcat engine at all is a hell of a step up. Nonetheless, we expect a drop to around 650bhp to maintain the Challenger’s prestige.

Motor Authority is claiming to have been told about the project by a company insider, while Jeep’s official response was this:

“We can’t comment or speculate on future product. Please stay tuned.”

Which basically means it is future product but we’re going to have to wait until the New York Motor Show in April, or just before, to find out more. It does at least mean that the great American V8 dream is alive and kicking.