Jeep Dishes on Trackhawk Debut as It Ponders Wrangler Unveiling
Jeep is spanning the performance gamut these days. On one end of the spectrum there is the emblematic Wrangler and its steadfast off-road prowess, with a next-generation model on the way. On the other is the upcoming Trackhawk, with all the on-road performance a juiced-up, tarmac-tuned SUV can give.
Both vehicles are highly anticipated and, while we may not know all of what we’re waiting for, we at least know how long we’ll have to bide our time.
Jeep brand chief Mike Manley told The Detroit News that a production version of the Trackhawk should make an appearance at the New York International Auto Show in April.
The automaker is also going to continue on with the Grand Cherokee SRT, even after it starts production on the new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. While Manley didn’t explicitly say so, the difference in performance required to rationalize keeping both in production confirms what we already known for months — that the Jeep Trackhawk will be Hellcat-powered.
“I don’t see any reason to stop our current Grand Cherokee SRT just because we’ve launched the Trackhawk, because they’re going to be very different vehicles,” Manley told the newspaper.
The SRT’s 6.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 produces a sizable 475 horsepower and 470 pounds-feet of torque. Comparatively, the Trackhawk’s almost assuredly supercharged powerplant is expected to be a slightly detuned version of the 707 hp engine found in the Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcats.
Unsatisfied with just spilling the Jeep-related beans this week, Manley decided to open up a few extra cans and begin spooning them onto the floor. “There is international demand for the vehicle, but the U.S. is going to get it first,” he said of Jeep’s Trackhawk, adding that it could arrive in showrooms as early as September.
However, he wasn’t quite as sure on when the company would wheel out the redesigned Wrangler for the public to ogle and pass judgement upon. Manley says Jeep is debating on when to showcase its most iconic vehicle, but hinted at the second half of 2017. This will be followed by the debut of the Wrangler pickup, which should appear in the middle of 2018.
[Image: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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As long as the Wrangler comes with round headlights and solid axles, everything should be fine...
Are the tires muddy or just a set of cheap Chinese whitewalls?