#AutoExpo2016: Jeep makes an entry into the Indian market with Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee will be sold with both diesel and petrol engines options in key metro cities to begin with. Prices have not yet been announced.
The Jeep brand arrives in India at a time of record sales and continued expansion into markets outside North America. Jeep recorded sales of more than 1.2 million units worldwide in 2015 – the highest in its history.
The Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV ever, and will be offered in two variants – Grand Cherokee Limited and Grand Cherokee Summit. Both will have a similar exterior appearance with minor differences. Both variants come equipped with Bi-Xenon headlamps with daytime running lights. The rear offers large tail-lamps with signature LED lighting, a rear aerodynamic spoiler and a wide window in the tailgate for greater visibility. The Summit variant will be fitted with 20″ alloys whereas the Limited variant will have 18″ alloys.
The Grand Cherokee SRT has a look that’s all its own. The front grille and lower ‘mouth’ area have a gloss black treatment and sport distinctive headlights. It is longer and wider as compared to the Grand Cherokee but shorter in height, that gives it a sporty feel. The Grand Cherokee SRT has 20″ polished aluminium wheels, and a rear spoiler provides downforce for improved handling.
The classic Jeep Wrangler Unlimited offers rugged and impressive exteriors and sits on 17″ wheels. It incorporates design elements to provide all-weather capability that testifies its off-road prowess. Removable tops and doors help turn it into the only open-air 4×4 vehicle in the market.
Inside, the Grand Cherokee Limited will feature dual pane sunroof, premium leather seats, Selec-terrain traction control, 5-inch touch-screen infotainment system, memory seat for the driver and 8 way power adjustable front seats. Along with the features in the Limited variant, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit will additionally get ventilated front seats and 8.4-inch touch-screen navigation and infotainment system along with rear DVD entertainment system.
The interiors of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT are race-inspired and sport exclusive Laguna leather upholstery. The car will also feature a Harman Kardon 19-Speaker sound system with active Noise cancellation. The leather wrapped steering will hold a SRT logo with paddle shifts positioned behind the wheel.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has washable interiors that encourages you to get dirty. It offers lockable storage space and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls. The Wrangler Unlimited is fitted with an Alpine Premium Audio system and comes with the Command-Trac Shift-On-The-Fly 4WD system to help manoeuvre rugged paths.
Both the Grand Cherokee Limited and Summit are powered with a 3.0L CRD Turbo V6 Diesel engine generating 240 HP and 570 NM of torque. The Grand Cherokee Limited is equipped with Quadra Trac II and the Grand Cherokee Summit gets the Quadra Drive II traction control which makes the cars capable of delivering legendary 4×4 performance and experience.
The Grand Cherokee SRT bears a 6.4L 470-hp HEMI V8 engine that feeds a Quadra-Trac Active On-Demand 4WD system. An eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters helps drivers go full throttle on the track, to reach a top speed of 258 km/h. The Launch Control button optimizes every possible setting for maximum acceleration off the line. The Brembo high-performance brake system (ABS) provides a stopping power of 96-0 km/h in 116 ft. The Grand Cherokee SRT will also have fuel saver technology.
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited comes with a 2.8L CRD Turbo Diesel DOHC I-4 engine powering the wheels through a 5-speed automatic transmission. It is capable of tackling rough off-road terrain with its Command-Trac Shift-On-The-Fly 4WD. Hill Start Assist (HAS) and Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ensures that drivers are gripped to the road. The Wrangler Unlimited will be ‘Trail-rated’, which represents a series of gruelling tests that prove its off-road capability on some of the toughest trails on the planet.
The Grand Cherokee comes standard with advanced, multistage driver and front-passenger airbags and supplemental side-curtain airbags. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) coordinates Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM). The Antilock Brake System (ABS), Brake Assist, All-Speed Traction Control and Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is activated when the system detects loss of traction. The Grand Cherokee SRT additionally features a Brembo high-performance braking system with a four-wheel disc antilock brake system (ABS) which provides the stopping power for the Grand Cherokee SRT.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited protects with the best-in-class safety and security features including standard advanced multistage front airbags. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) senses when the driver begins to over- or under-steer and applies individual brakes and controls the throttle as needed to help put the driver back on track. Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) determines when a rollover may occur and applies braking force to help reduce the likelihood of such an accident. A Brake Assist System and a Four-Wheel Disc Antilock Brake System (ABS) has been provided for improving vehicle control and decreasing stopping distances on both dry and slippery surfaces. The fuel tank features a 2.5-mm skid plate designed for safer and more secure off-roading.
