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Jeep adds two new models to the 2017 Grand Cherokee lineup

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Lots of people expected Jeep to unveil a Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee Trackhawk at the 2016 New York Auto Show, but that apparently wasn’t Jeep’s plan. Some different Grand Cherokee-related news came out of the Big Apple instead.

The news concerned the 2017 Grand Cherokee Summit and previously-leaked 2017 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, that focus on luxury and off-road ability, respectively, instead of tire-shredding horsepower. Not quite as exciting as the mythical Trackhawk, admittedly.

Like the Cherokee and Renegade models that also bear that name, the Trailhawk has the most off-road aptitude of any Grand Cherokee model. It’s a fitting addition to the lineup, as the Trailhawk name was first used on a Grand Cherokee. It started out as one of the concepts Jeep unveils every year for the Moab Easter Safari, and then became a limited-edition 2013 model.

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The new Trailhawk will be a higher volume model, but adapts some of the previous version’s styling cues, including a blacked-out hood graphic and other details. Mechanically, it gets the top Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system, a specially-tuned air suspension system, Selec-Speed Control with hill ascent control, and skid plates. The Trailhawk stands tall with 10.8 inches of ground clearance, says Jeep.

Taking things in a different direction is the Grand Cherokee Summit. It aims for more luxury with features like a Laguna leather interior with Nappa leather-wrapped dashboard, center console, as well as door panels, Berber carpets, acoustic glass, and active noise cancellation to quiet the interior. Alternatively, you can make some noise with the 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system. The Summit is distinguished by a model-specific grille, LED fog lights, and 20-inch polished alloy wheels.

The Trailhawk and Summit will be offered with the same engines as most other Grand Cherokee models, including the 3.6-liter Pentastar gasoline V6, 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6, and 5.7-liter Hemi V8. The 6.1-liter Hemi will remain exclusive to the SRT model. Both new Grand Cherokee variants will be available this summer, and maybe that Trackhawk will show up too.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
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