As the original mainstream luxury SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee deserves much of the credit for the SUV’s position as a status symbol. But as the market has been swelling with competitors in recent years—most of whom better the GC’s luxury content—the Jeep has lost much of its luster. At the New York auto show, Jeep is unveiling an all-new version that aims to return the Grand Cherokee to a place among the luxo-ute elite, while retaining the rough-rider attitude of the original.
Built upon the underpinnings of the Mercedes-Benz M-class, the unibody 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee wears cleaner sheetmetal that is still instantly recognizable for what it is. The traditional seven-slot grille has wider openings and is flanked by pinched headlamps, giving the GC a face resembling that of the Trailhawk concept. The transition from fender flare to side sheetmetal has been smoothed, resulting in a less cluttered profile, while the tapered side glass recalls the greenhouse on the Dodge Journey. Seventeen-inch wheels will be standard, with 18s and 20s optional.
The M-class architecture endows the Grand Cherokee with a claimed 146-percent increase in torsional stiffness over the outgoing model. The rear beam axle of the last generation disappears in favor of four-wheel independent air suspension that endows the Jeep with a 4.5-inch range of height adjustability, from a high of 11.1 inches of ground clearance for serious off-roading to a low of 6.6 inches in a parking mode intended to ease ingress and egress. For more details click here.
