German tuner beats Jeep to the punch with 718-hp Grand Cherokee SRT

By Ronan Glon May 27, 2015

Industry rumors claim Jeep is gearing up to launch a range-topping version of the Grand Cherokee called Trackhawk. Scheduled to go on sale in about a year, the super-SUV will reportedly be powered by a Charger Hellcat-sourced supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine tuned to generate 707 horsepower and 650 foot-pounds of torque.

For those who can’t wait that long for a Jeep capable of beating a Porsche Cayenne in a straight line, German tuner GeigerCars has introduced a heavily-modified version of the Grand Cherokee SRT. The SRT’s 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine has been upgraded with a new ECU that tweaks the fuel injection and ignition settings, high-performance pistons and, last but certainly not least, a 2.9-liter Whipple supercharger.

As a result, the eight-cylinder pumps out 718 horsepower and 572 foot-pounds of torque, an increase of 243 ponies and 102 foot-pounds of twist over the stock SRT’s engine. The blown Grand Cherokee can reach 62 mph from when the stoplight turns green in 3.9 seconds — nearly a full second faster than stock — and go on to a top speed of 183 mph. Power is sent to all four wheels via the Grand Cherokee’s stock eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep’s Quadra-Trac SRT all-wheel drive system.

To keep the power in check, GeigerCars can install sport springs that noticeably lower the ride height, and bigger roll bars on both ends at an extra cost. Additionally, buyers concerned about the lack of grip can order 22-inch alloys wrapped by Z-rated Michelin tires.

GeigerCar’s hot-rodded Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT is on sale now in Germany. The go-fast package adds €23,900 (about $26,000) to the price of a stock SRT, which retails for €66,900 (roughly $73,000) on the other side of the pond. All told, German buyers can shell out about $100,000 to get something roughly equivalent to a Grand Cherokee Trackhawk before it’s even officially announced by Jeep.

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Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

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