2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: what's new for the 2008 model year
Jeep Press Release:
EXTERIOR
- Refreshed front fascia and grille
- New headlamps with High-intensity Discharge (HID) option
INTERIOR
- Available MyGIG™ Multimedia Infotainment System
- Available SIRIUS BackSeat TV™
- New instrument panel
- New cluster graphics
- New leather-wrapped parking brake handle with chrome rings
- Dark Slate Gray interior color
- Accent stitching for front and rear seats and center console
- New SRT-design steering wheel
- New bezel finishes
- Available heated rear seats
- New integrated rear seat headrests
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
- Red brake calipers
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: Four-wheel-Drive
SRT Performance in Quickest Jeep Ever
Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) organization has shown that it knows no boundaries with the creation of the first four-wheel-drive SRT vehicle, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. It’s the quickest, most powerful Jeep vehicle ever created, offering astonishing on-road and all-weather ability and power.
With a 0-60 mph time in under 5 seconds – in wet or dry conditions – it’s quicker than competitors such as Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5.
Powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 producing 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. of torque (569 N-m), the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 delivers a complete performance package, with exceptional ride and handling, world-class braking, race-inspired interior appointments and functional, performance-oriented exterior enhancements.
Design
The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s front fascia provides aerodynamic benefits by reducing lift and drag, while providing sufficient air flow to cool the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine. The front fascia also helps increase brake-system cooling through integrated air ducts.
The rear fascia incorporates an aggressive center cutout to accommodate dual 4-inch exhaust tips. Sill extensions result in another functional enhancement by creating downforce.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s SRT8’s cabin has been further refined for 2008 with softer surfaces and a richer look and feel, including a dark slate
gray interior color, accent stitching, new instrument panel and center console, a unique SRT-designed leather-wrapped steering wheel, and new cluster graphics and bezel finishes. Full instrumentation includes a 180-mph (300-kph) speedometer, tachometer and temperature gauges, all trimmed with a unique blue accent.
The MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment System is newly available for the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 for 2008.
Consistent with its performance attributes, the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT comes equipped with power-adjustable, deeply sculpted performance front seats complete with uniquely patterned performance suede inserts to hold occupants during aggressive maneuvering.
For rear-seat passenger comfort and convenience, the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 features new integrated head rests and available heated seats. Additionally, all-new SIRIUS BackSeat TV™ is available. SIRIUS Backseat TV features three channels of respected children’s TV featuring many of the most well-known kids’ programming, including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. SIRIUS Backseat TV operates via an in-vehicle satellite video receiver and two small roof-mounted antennas.
Engineering
SRT engineers created the first SRT vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive by creating a new transfer case. They used the front half of a Jeep transfer case, chosen for its capability and light weight, and mated it to the rear half of a heavier-duty case, chosen for its ruggedness and ability to house electronic full-time, four-wheel-drive system components.
Under normal driving conditions, 5 to 10 percent of torque is directed to the front wheels, but as much of the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8’s torque that’s needed can be directed forward when additional traction or stability is required. Remaining torque is sent via a heavy-duty driveshaft to a Dana 44 rear axle.
Providing horsepower and torque to the unique SRT four-wheel-drive system is a specially tuned version of the 6.1-liter SRT HEMI engine, which was developed by adding more displacement, increasing the compression ratio and redesigning the cylinder heads, intake and exhaust systems for better flow and increased engine speed (versus the 5.7-liter HEMI).
Power from the SRT 6.1-liter HEMI is sent through a special torque converter to an SRT-upgraded, five-speed automatic transmission with specially calibrated driver-selectable Auto Stick, which offers fully automatic or manual shift selection.
Chassis setup for the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 employs SRT-tuned dampers, unique sway bars and specially tailored spring rates and suspension bushings. Front suspension knuckles were redesigned to accommodate high-performance braking and steering systems. The ride height of the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is one inch lower than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which lowers aerodynamic drag as well as the center of gravity, and contributes to the vehicle’s stability and aggressive stance.
The braking system on the 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 features four-piston performance brake calipers developed by Brembo, finished in red. These calipers work with 360 mm x 32 mm vented rotors up front, and 350 mm x 28 mm vented rotors in the rear.
Product Highlights
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the quickest, most powerful Jeep vehicle ever
- Powered by the 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 producing 420 hp (313 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. (569 N-m) of torque, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s powertrain represents a higher level in HEMI performance, with approximately 90 additional horsepower – more than 25 percent more than the 5.7-liter HEMI
- Quicker than Porsche Cayenne Turbo, BMW X5
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the first Jeep SRT vehicle, offering on-road and all-weather ability and performance
- Specially developed four-wheel-drive system offers highly capable performance
- SRT performance: 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds, 0-100-0 in low 19-second range, 60-0 mph in approximately 125 feet
- All-season Goodyear Run Flat Tires
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 formula
- Functional, performance-oriented exterior design, featuring 20-inch SRT wheels, front and rear fascias with air dam and cooling ducts; race-inspired interior appointments that include deeply bolstered seating and comprehensive instrumentation; benchmark braking; and world-class ride and handling characteristics
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is part of a broad lineup of SRT vehicles developed under the credo, “Race inspired, street legal”
Safety and Security
- Active Turn Signals
- Adjustable Pedals
- Advanced Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
- Advanced Multi-stage Air Bags
- BeltAlert
- Brake Assist
- LATCH (Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHildren)
- Digressive Load-limiting Seat Belt Retractors
- Electronic Roll Mitigation
- Electronic Stability Program
- Energy-absorbing Steering Wheel and Column
- Enhanced Accident Response System
- Express-up/down Front-door Windows
- Four-wheel Brake Traction Control System
- Head Restraints in All Outboard Seating Positions
- Knee Bolsters
- ParkSense Rear Park Assist System
- ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera
- Rain-sensitive Wipers
- Remote Keyless Entry
- Seat Belt Pretensioners
- Sentry Key Engine Immobilizer Theft Deterrent System
- Side-curtain Air Bags with Roll-Detection System
- SmartBeam Headlamps
- Three-point Belts in All Seating Positions
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System with Warning Indicator
- UConnect Hands-free Communication System
Color Availability
- Bright Silver Metallic
- Black Clear Coat
- Inferno Red
- Steel Blue Metallic Clear Coat
Manufacturing Information
- 2008 Model year production start: July 2007
- Production location: Jefferson Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit
- 6.1-liter HEMI V-8 engine: Saltillo Engine Plant in Saltillo, Mexico
- Five-speed automatic transmission: Indiana Transmission 1 in Indianapolis
