The '8' may have been dropped from the badge of the
hottest Grand Cherokee
this time around but make no mistake, under that bonnet resides a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 with a predictably 'supersize me' penchant for unleaded. Visually it's easy to spot the SRT - the two huge bonnet vents kind of give the game away. The front end is also unique - a black seven-slot grille differentiates it from the standard models, as do the bi-xenon headlamps.
6.4-litre Hemi doesn't need 'sound enhancement'
Hit the bright red starter button and you're greeted by a glorious sound of that Hemi V8 firing into life. Thankfully it sounds very natural, not like some of the synthesised and electronically manipulated engine notes you hear these days. Probably something to do with the two generously proportioned exhausts that protrude from the sportier rear bumper.
You get a slightly smaller steering wheel in the SRT too, which feels far nicer in the hands than the standard item, and has the paddle shifter mounted to it.
The standard Grand Cherokee air suspension is replaced with springs and an active damping system from Bilstein in the SRT variant, meaning it sits 25mm lower up front and 30mm lower in the rear. Rather than the usual multitude of off-road settings the SRT gains Sport, Track, Snow and Tow modes. Track mode disengages the traction control and fully closes the suspension's damper valves giving it the firmest ride and tightest body control. On the road this is almost too stiff - certainly for most B-roads. Naturally there is a degree of body movement - that's just physics - but the SRT can be chucked around nonetheless. In a bid to give it a more rear-driven feel the torque split is 30:70 front to rear.
OK, it's no Range Rover in here...
Coupling the Hemi V8 to the new ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox does bring the SRT up to date and makes it less agricultural than its predecessor. Like the engine it's not entirely digital or synthesised either. Yes, upshifts are crisp and quick, but the downshifts can be a little bit coarse, especially when being driven hard.
The real reason you want one is for that engine. To give it some green credentials first though, the built in Fuel Saver Technology alternates between a four-cylinder mode, shutting off half of the engine when less power is needed, for example when cruising on the motorway.
With all eight pots on song 468hp and 460lb ft is plenty to be going on with, even if much of the European competition makes more with a supermini's worth less cubic capacity and forced induction. It comes to something where a 5.0-litre 510hp supercharged V8 is described as 'a happy compromise' but in this company the new Range Rover Sport is a pleasing balance of SRT style brawn and modern brains. There's an unreconstructed charm in the SRT's pushrod Hemi though. And if, like the chap from SRT we met at the New York show, you're after suitably red blooded transport for towing your track car the Jeep is well up to the task. As mentioned above, it's even got an app for that, via the mode dial.
You can't argue a case, so don't bother trying
As it has for launch control starts. Which is as daft as the idea of running a 6.4-litre petrol V8 SUV in the UK. But equally amusing.
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE SRT
Engine: 6,417cc V8
Transmission: 8-speed auto, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 468@6,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 460@4,100rpm
0-62mph: 5.0sec
Top speed: 160mph
Weight: 2,360kg
MPG: 20mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 328g/km
Price: TBC