Stellantis Group will cease production of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk this fall on the pretext that one of the world’s most powerful SUVs can not be electrified efficiently. There will be no next-gen Trackhawk, either.
The off-roading monster comes powered by a 6.2-liter turbocharged V8 with 717 PS (707 hp / 527 kW) and 875 Nm (645 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal. It needs 3.5 seconds to sprint 0-60 mph (97 km/h), covers a quarter of a mile in 11.6 seconds, and tops out at 180 mph (290 km/h). With credentials like these, the bulky and heavy Grand Cherokee actually pulls ahead of some entry-level modifications of the latest Porsche 911 (992).
Apparently, Stellantis had considered keeping the Trackhawk in the lineup, but ultimately decided that it would be less than viable in the light of environment protection laws growing stricter with each passing year. Aside from that, such a move would run afoul of the group’s dedication to near-complete electrification of the entire Jeep model range.
Having said that, the Trackhawk will be receiving something like a successor: a Grand Cherokee top spec powered by a turbocharged six-cylinder and an electric motor. Its projected power output of 525 PS (518 hp / 386 kW) is nowhere near the might of its predecessor, but it should still be enough for most uses. Later on, the corporation plans on installing the same powertrain on the Dodge Challenger and Charger, among others.
The latest Jeep Grand Cherokee debuted at the beginning of this year, bringing along a new architecture, larger dimensions and even more cabin luxury.