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Philip Lord22 Aug 2016
NEWS

Better Jeep Grand Cherokee nearly here

Hard-core Trailhawk model and upgraded MY17 Grand Cherokee range due Down Under in October

When prospective buyers stroll into Jeep dealerships later this year, they’ll see a fresh MY2017 Grand Cherokee that comes with not only a cosmetic refresh and mechanical and spec improve-ments but also a new variant, the off-road oriented Trailhawk.

Zac Loo, Fiat Chrysler Automotive Australia’s marketing and product strategy director, said at last week's 75th Anniversary Jeep range launch that much of the MY2017 model's changes can be seen in the upcoming Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition, which was previewed in the US in January.

“The MY17 cars will have the front-end changes of the 75th An-niversary Edition, but each model will get slightly different treatments,” said Loo.

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The Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary Edition (and the just-released limited-edition Grand Cherokee SRT Night) feature the MY17’s shorter seven-slot grille and its headlights also have reduced depth.

The Grand Cherokee’s tail-end also has been slightly resculpted, with a new bumper and exhaust outlets.

Loo fleshed out details of the MY17 update we previewed from the New York motor show earlier this year.

“There’s new [interior] colours, trims and Uconnect gets new features,” he said. The latter will include Siri incorporation and off-road screens with information such as front wheel angle and diff lock engagement.

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The SRT variant — given its brief as a heavy-breathing, track capable SUV — will instead feature new info for the centre screen including lap times, g-force measurement and engine oil pressure.

All models get a more conventional gear lever (in the wake of a recall on the existing WK2 auto shifter), plus an acoustic windscreen and front windows, new alloy front suspension arms and electric power steering.

The 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 has an upgraded EGR system, two-step variable valve-lift, improved variable valve-timing and engine idle-stop. The net result is a 3kW power improvement to 213kW and a reduction in average fuel consumption from 10.4L/100km to 10.0L/100km.

“The current engine already meets EU6, but this is about incremental improvements to improve Jeep’s carpark emissions numbers,” said Loo.

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The new model for the Grand Cherokee range — bringing the number to six — is the tough, more off-road focussed Trailhawk, last seen here in the MY 2013 Grand Cherokee as a limited run of 160 vehicles.

The Trailhawk will offer off-road fanatics an electronic limited-slip rear diff, unique Quadra-Lift air suspension (which gives the Trailhawk extra suspension travel off-road), underbody protection and a matt bonnet vinyl-wrap section.

The Trailhawk’s approach angle in the gnarly stuff is improved from 29.8 degrees to 36.1 degrees once its new detachable lower front bumper is removed.

The red recovery hooks on the front and rear (as seen already on the limited-run 2013 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and current Renegade Trailhawk and Cherokee Trailhawk are not a given for Oz.

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“We’re still looking into it, to see that if they meet ECE regulations — although the last one did," said Loo.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk will also come with 18-inch alloy wheels and taller-profile tyres better suited to off-roading than the rest of the WK2 range.

The premium luxury model in the range, the Summit, will be lathered with more leather and gets a boost in tech hardware. The dash and door panels are covered in Nappa leather and the seats in Laguna leather. Suede is used for the headlining.

The Summit adds LED fog lights to its new front fascia and has new chromed multi-spoke 20in alloys.

Its safety tech artillery now includes lane departure warning, parallel parking assistance and perpendicular parking assistance. The Summit continues with forward collision warning, blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control.

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The refresh can’t come at a better time for FCAA. Grand Cherokee sales have plummeted from June 2014’s heady peak of 1785 units to last month’s 364 sales.

To the end of July this year, the Grand Cherokee holds 6.0 per cent of the large SUV segment. In the same period in 2014, it commanded 15.8 percent of the sales category.

Loo said that the recalls have had some impact, but new players in the SUV market have hurt too.

“Buyers don’t see that some recalls have been quite minor, they just hear that it’s a recall. New competitors like the Ford Everest and Toyota Fortuner have also had an impact," he said.

In its five years in production, the WK2 Grand Cherokee has been subject to 14 recalls since 2013, the latest just two months ago.

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Written byPhilip Lord
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