‘Project K’ is reportedly the code name for a Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat initiative

By Alexander Kalogianni June 22, 2015

Jeep-Grand_Cherokee_SRT_front — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Muscle car fans were amazed with the capabilities of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and the subsequent Charger variant when they hit the streets, burning copious amounts of rubber when doing so. Since then, the supercharged HEMI 6.2-liter V8 that powers them has been heralded as a masterpiece, with people speculating immediately on when it would make the jump to other power-hungry vehicles in the FCA lineup. Now, it seems that the rumors of a Jeep Grand Cherokee joining the Hellcat family have allegedly been confirmed.

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Red Vapor — The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to sources close to Motor Authority, FCA has greenlit “Project K,” which will put the 707 horsepower HEMI into a Grand Cherokee for 2017. Production mules are said to already be at work, cooking up staggering numbers like and under three-second 0-to-60 time and hitting 200 mph. The HEMI’s hefty output is sent to all four wheels by an eight-speed automatic, sources say.

As far as the name, we can only take guesses as to how it will be badged. Just tagging the name “Hellcat” at the end is the easiest way to go about it, but if that’s just reserved for the Dodge vehicles, it could be badged with something more Jeep-like. Cherokee’s more off-road offerings are labeled Trailhawk, so would this be the Trackhawk?

Some may wonder just what would be the point of having that much power shoved into a sport utility vehicle. Will it still retain its off-road ruggedness? Only time will tell, but we do know that the Grand Cherokee SRT and similar performance trucks like the Range Rover Sport show that there’s certainly a demand for a Hellcat-kitted SUV. Will it replace the SRT version altogether? Nothing is for sure, since we only have an unofficial source for any of this, but with this can of worms already open, it won’t be long until more info leaks out.

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Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

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