Displaying items by tag: grand cherokee

Jeep gets the Grand Cherokee meatier and brawnier for 2014

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 02:06:32 +0000

Words by Jose Carlo R. Sapera | Photos courtesy of Chrysler Group LLC

Around two years ago, we witnessed the arrival of the latest generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. Its bold muscles and commanding stance stood out over all the previous models, making us go gaga over this hunky SUV. I even had a chance to drive the diesel version off-road last June on the slopes of Tanay, Rizal to prove just how capable it truly is. But fashion trends come and go, so Jeep put the Grand Cherokee through a fresh makeover for 2014.

The change begins with a pair of slimmer headlamps with bi-xenon and LED daytime running lights which look like they were borrowed from the Chrysler 300C's parts bin. More LEDs can be found on the new rectangular tail lights and almost everywhere else they can be stuck in. Then, the classic seven-slot grill is now body-colored, while a redesigned front bumper gives it a more chiseled jawline. Oh, extra chrome accents placed in almost every nook and cranny should also help give this facelift some sparkle.

The cabin was also blessed with updates such as a newly designed three-spoke steering wheel with paddle-shifters, electronic gearshift selector, and an 8.4 inch UConnect touch screen infotainment system on the center stack. Those who want a little something extra should go for the top-end Summit variant that features more leather color options, open-pore wood trim, and copper accents.

There are three standard engine options available in the US market: a 3.0L EcoDiesel V6, 3.6L flex-fuel Pentastar V6, and 5.7L MDS V8. All three are paired with a refined eight-speed automatic transmission that Jeep claims should help improve fuel economy. The V8 even comes with a cylinder deactivation feature to lessen fuel consumption by around 5%.

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee retains all of its off-road capabilities. It still has three 4x4 systems - Quadra-Trac I®, Quadra-Trac II®, and Quadra-Drive II® - but Jeep tweaked the Selec-Terrain system to make it drive on different conditions a bit better. The crawl ratio has also been increased from 29.9:1 to 44.1:1 for more climbing power.

For those who want to go extra fast, the SRT version - with its 470 horsepower 6.4L HEMI V8 - should fit the bill just fine. But this American muscle doesn't just go fast in a straight line; it's fitted with Bilstein adaptive damping suspension (ADS), aluminum lower control arms, and revised suspension to help it go around bends. The Selec-Track system even comes with Track Mode for better corner to exit response. As for the exterior, the Grand Cherokee SRT comes with a black-colored seven-slot grill, rear spoiler, LED daytime running lights on the bumper, and a new set of five-spoke alloy wheels.

Although we're pretty sure that the Grand Cherokee will do just fine in the market even without the updates, these improvements make it new again and a bit more desirable for another few years.

COTY 2012 - 2013 Test Fest Day 4: Battle of the high-rolling brutes

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 03:40:21 +0000

Words by Christopher Kho | Photos by Hans Gerald Chua and author

Now that we've finished a third of the Qualitative Tests, it's finally time to take on the big boys of the 2012 - 2012 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P). At the break of dawn, nine behemoths lined up at this year's official test venue at the Eton Centris, Quezon City last October 20, 2012. It was a tough battle between the Americans, Japanese, British, and surprisingly, the Chinese. Summing up all their values, we had more than P20 million worth of sheet metal to play with that day.

CATS Motors, Inc. returned with their luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and Dodge Durango Citadel. Also making their second appearance at testing this year is Honda, this time bringing the all-new CR-V 2.0 LX and 2.4 EX. And despite being a Japanese automaker, the Odyssey 3.5 V6 AT and Pilot 3.5 V6 AT that Honda brought with them were undoubtedly American. Meanwhile, all eyes were on the firenze red Range Rover Evoque. Priced at well above P5 million, this compact crossover was a toy we all couldn't get our hands off. But the real surprise of the day were the Great Wall Hover H5 and Wingle H5. First tested in 2010, the two Chinese utes came back after a fresh facelift and a new CRDi engine.

This is what the Kotse.com Crew has to say about the day's selection:

Jade Lu, Kotse.com Associate Editor: 2012 Great Wall Hover H5

It took me a second look to realize the shiny black SUV parked in front of us wasn’t a Chrysler. Far from it. The wide front grill and the solid muscular body may look like it came from an American garage, but don’t be fooled; it’s actually the new Great Wall Hover H5.

That’s right; the Chinese Manufacturer has really outdone itself with this year’s version of the Hover. The 2010 model has nothing on this, but it’s not just the outside looks that impressed us. The interior is just as well put-together. The harmonious black plastic and black leather seats all blend together into a classy cockpit fit for a successful businessman. Performance-wise, this big brute drives well. The brakes are a little on the hard side, but nothing major to be concerned about.

The Hover is overall a good SUV, especially knowing that a Chinese manufacturer built it. Good job, Great Wall! It’s cars like this that give us hope for the future of Chinese brands. However, priced at P1.2 million, it might take a lot of sales talk to get the public to opt for the Hover, given that there are similarly priced SUV’s from other more established brands.

Jose Carlo R. Sapera, Kotse.com Assistant Editor: 2012 Honda Odyssey 3.5 V6

I’m not really a fan of family vans, but the American-made Honda Odyssey flabbergasted me to the bones. It looks huge on the outside but feels like an Accord when you’re on the driver seat. The futuristic dashboard design looks really cool and driver-oriented at the same time. It features ceiling-mounted digital air conditioning controls at the back and a reverse camera to help you in backing-up.

On the road, the 3.5L V6 engine feels energetic, plus the ride is supple and quiet. I did experience sitting on all three rows, and was indeed impressed with its space and comfort. In fact, the third row seat is the perfect spot to relax inside this huge van. It can also fold flat easily to increase the luggage space. For P2.8 million, you get a long list of goodies, including a sunroof, module-type in-dash audio system with 2GB flash memory CD library, power-sliding doors and tailgate, and tons of airbags. This is one amazing van.

Hans Chua, Kotse.com Contributor: 2012 Honda CRV 2.4 EX AT

The all-new Honda CR-V exceeded my expectations. Its larger body profile and longer wheelbase gives it somewhat better proportions than the previous models. And despite the extra heft, the 2.4L i-VTEC engine had more than enough grunt to pull it to speed. Heck, I found the smaller 2.0L powerplant to be just as lively. Throttle response was also quite good with no delays. And did I mention that it's fuel efficient too? A whole day of city driving averaged 8.0 km/L, which is high for a crossover.

The suspension was ultra plush even when I drove it over some large potholes. But one thing I didn't like was the ultra-light steering that doesn't give proper road feedback and makes me feel disconnected. Overall, the CR-V 2.4 EX is really fun and relaxing to drive.

Its spacious interior and bigger cargo space is big a plus. I particularly like the dashboard's simple layout, decorated with dark silver accents that blends well with the black interior. And at P1.65 million, you also get a reverse camera, hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, dual zone air-conditioning, and Honda's Intelligent multi-information display (i-MID).

Leslie Sy, Kotse.com Online Expert: 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD

Given that the Grand Cherokee shares the same platform as the current Mercedes-Benz M-Class, I was sure it won't disappoint.

The test unit came with a 3.0L V6 CRD engine with variable geometry turbo that puts out 237 hp and 550 Nm of torque. It's a full-fledged off-road SUV with a high-tech Quadra-Lift Air Suspension system that gives it an extra 10.5 cm ground clearance. But in spite of it's suspension, it still has the ride manners of a more civilized crossover SUV.

The interior is quite luxurious and is now comparable to the likes of Lexus. A lot of leather, two-tone soft-textured dashboard, and tasteful wood trim are what you will find inside. The driver and front passenger are pampered with ultra-comfortable seats with build-in ventilation for heating and cooling.

Overall, the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is more than capable for whatever you have in mind, may it be the simple drive to the office, bringing the family around on a road trip, or hauling heavy cargo over long distances. It's a great luxury SUV for those with an active lifestyle yet still wants to bring the comforts of home.

Jeep Thrills: Off-roading made more fun with the Grand Cherokee and Rubicon

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 22:19:29 +0000

Words and photos by Jose Carlo Roberto R. Sapera

I must admit, driving off-road makes me somewhat jittery. There's always that fear of tipping over or crashing into solid rock. That's why most of the time, I take the passenger seat instead and just go on for the ride. But last month, I had to sum up the courage to get back on the driver's seat of a 4x4 when CATS Motors Inc., the official importer and distributor of the Jeep brand in the country, brought us to the slopes of Tanay, Rizal to experience the all-new Grand Cherokee and Rubicon on the rough stuff.

Early that morning, we arrived at Pranjetto Hills where we were briefed by no other than Beeboy Bargas of Land Craft 4x4 on the day's specially laid-out track and the pertinent features of the vehicles we about to wrestle.

After Beeboy's short spiel, I wasted no time and jumped behind the wheel of a brand-spanking-new 3.0L Common Rail Diesel (CRD) Grand Cherokee that’s said to have 241 horsepower with 500 Nm of torque under the hood. A quick jaunt on the main road confirmed that the Grand Cherokee diesel is indeed tenacious, not to mention its quick-responding five-speed auto box that made overtaking on provincial thoroughfares a breeze. But we're not here to blast through flat paved roads. So a few kilometers in, we veered off the tarmac and went off road to put this Jeep through its paces.

Underneath the Grand Cherokee's tough exterior is an even tougher chassis that's built to go beyond the limits. And with a quick flip of its Selec-Terrain System, ride height and drivetrain settings are automatically altered to suit the trail ahead. I switched to the “Rocks” setting for the rocky and bumpy trail that stood before us. This option splits the torque 50/50 between the front wheels and lifts the vehicle's height by a few inches to help clear obstacles.

For a large luxury SUV, the Grand Cherokee astonishingly felt right at home on the rough as it does on the road. It made crawling over bumps and ruts look easy, which gave me the confidence I needed to conquer the unfamiliar terrain. And thankfully, I didn't lose my lunch even on the steepest descents thanks to the Hill Descent feature that automatically slows the vehicle down while going downhill. Given my insecurities with off road driving, I took the “slowly but surely” approach. But after just a few minutes behind the wheel of the Grand Cherokee, I realized just how exciting playing in the mud could be.

Next up was Jeep Rubicon 3.8L SMPI. Compared with the Grand Cherokee, this Jeep is somewhat harder to drive given its size and weight. Still, I stepped up to the challenge and drove this monster on the track.

With 199 horsepower and 315 Nm of torque to play with, the Rubicon had no trouble powering over steep hills and large boulders. It comes with features such as the Electronic Sway Bar Disconnect to increase articulation on uneven ground and help you get out of sticky situations. You should also find the Hill Decent Control and Hill Start Assist control helpful when going up or down terrain. It absolutely destroyed everything that stood in its way.

The new 2.8L CRD variant of the Rubicon also made its debut on the hills of Tanay. The thought of getting to play with 200 horses and 460 Nm of torque in the dirt filled me up to my neck with excitement, but there were just too many people waiting in line for a test drive.

By the day's end, I realized that sitting behind the wheel of a 4x4 is far more exciting than being a spectator. Both the Grand Cherokee and Rubicon did exceed our expectations when it comes to off-roadability. And with its long list of features and aids, the off-roading experience is now made much safer and a lot more enjoyable for city guys like me.

With the Jeep’s extensive 75 years of rich off-road experience, it's no wonder that there’s more fun beyond the concrete jungle and asphalt roads.

For more information about the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Rubicon, visit any of Jeeps' authorized dealers in EDSA Greenhills, Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City, and Alabang or log on to www.jeep.com.ph.

Ferraris for Work, Jeeps for Fun: Alonso and Massa gets a pair of SRT8's

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:27:58 +0000

Words by Niky Tamayo | Photos courtesy of the Chrysler Group LLC

If your day job involves driving the fastest Ferraris in the most prestigious racing series the world has ever seen, you'd expect the perks to be among some of the best in the world. So, in a lead-up to the 2012 Formula 1 Season, Chrysler gave drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa a special pair of Jeep Grand Cherokees. While that may not sound like a very exciting prospect, consider that these are SRT8 models, equipped with a 6.4 liter 468 horsepower HEMI V8 and decked out in exclusive Ferrari Rosso Corsa paint and bespoke trim.

These might not be quite as quick as the new F2012, but the ability to scoot to 100 km/h in five seconds flat ensure they’re just about quick enough for anyone’s taste. The SRT8's are not one-trick ponies either, stopping shorter than a Subaru WRX STI and handling better than any SUV short of an X5M. These are the first two SRT8's in Europe, so Jeep figured it was a good idea to give them to a pair of special somebodies.

For those who might be wondering why hispanic drivers for an Italian racing team are receiving Germanic SUV's from an American manufacturer, then you should know that Jeep, a sub-brand of Chrysler, is now owned by the Fiat Group, which just happens to have a stake in Ferrari. And while Jeep is about as far removed from Formula 1 as any car manufacturer could be, the new SRT8 is hardcore enough to get a free pass.

Speaking of free passes, there’s no word if Felipe Massa’s unit has a “Fernando is faster than you” call button, but chances are good he’ll be too busy fighting over parking space with his 2011 arch-nemesis, Lewis Hamilton. The irony of this is that the McLaren star drives a Mercedes GL 320CDI, an SUV built on a platform shared with the Grand Cherokee. This is because, once upon a time, Mercedes owned Chrysler, which again, owns Jeep and is now owned by Fiat, which, in turn, owns Ferrari, which owns Felipe Massa.

Not that this should bother Massa too much, as Lewis’s GL doesn’t have Ferrari-red leather, carbon-fiber trim, bespoke 20-inch alloys or a big honking V8. But Ferrari owning you, body and soul?

Some of us wish we were that lucky.

The Jeep® Grand Cherokee has arrived

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:39:55 +0000

Words and photos by Christopher Kho

Nearly two decades since Jeep® invented the premium sport-utility vehicle (SUV) with the introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, CATS Motors Philippines, the exclusive Philippine distributor of the Jeep brand, finally revealed the face of the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee last March 7, 2011 at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City.

Brian Bradley, Chrysler Managing Director for Southeast Asia flew in the country, just so that he can personally introduce the Grand Cherokee's latest incarnation. The 2011 edition still delivers unbeatable on-road performance while maintaining Jeep's legendary four-wheel-drive capability. It now comes with an all-new Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system and Selec-Terrain™ system that allows it to match on- or off-road driving conditions. May it be rough mountainous terrain or urban city streets, the Grand Cherokee can conquer them all.

Made in America, the Grand Cherokee also features Jeep's classic seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches. Its new athletic and muscular profile is then complemented by a 3.6 liter V6 with a single exhaust, or by a more powerful 5.7 liter multi-displacement system Hemi (V8) with dual chrome exhaust tips.

Last January, Kotse.com has given a preview of the 2011 Grand Cherokee's features, equipment, and styling. Read more about what this premium SUV has to offer with our in-depth story by clicking on the link.

The 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee is now available at Chrysler's showrooms in Greenhills and Makati. The 3.6 liter V6 Limited and 5.7 liter V8 Overland are listed at P3.86 million and P4.18 million respectively. For more info, log on to www.jeep.com.ph.

The 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, go where regrets can't follow.

Check out the videos of the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee:

The 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee to arrive soon in the Philippines

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:52:00 +0000

Words by Christopher Kho | Photos courtesy of Chrysler Group LLC

CATS Motors Philippines, the exclusive Philippine distributor of the Jeep brand, has announced the release of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to be in February. Jeep promises to deliver the ultimate combination of on-road performance and 4x4 capability in the all-new Grand Cherokee.

Compared the previous model, the revised styling now has improved drag coefficient, better efficiency, and enhanced charm. However, it still features Jeep's classic seven-slot grill, trapezoidal wheel arches, and unmistakable muscular profile. Geometrically, it is 1.8 inches longer and 3 inches wider, increasing interior room even further. And with a much longer wheelbase, 4 inches of rear-seat legroom is added.

“Our all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is much more refined, focused and sportier than the model it replaces,” said Ralph Gilles, Senior Vice President, Product Design, Chrysler Group LLC. “It has classic Jeep Grand Cherokee styling with sculpted athletic exterior refinements for 2011.”

The Grand Cherokee is offered in North America with two engine choices. A new flexible-fuel 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine with variable-valve timing (VVT) delivers 290 horsepower and 353 Nm of torque that achieves a tested 6.8km/L in the city and 9.8km/L on the highway. The five-speed W5A580 transmission on the V6 includes an adaptive electronic control or Electronic Range Select (ERS) manual control with an electronically modulated torque converter clutch. A larger and more powerful 5.7 liter MDS V8 engine is also available and delivers 360 horsepower and 520 Nm of torque. It is mated to a 545RFE multi-speed automatic transmission. To optimize its fuel consumption, the MDS V8 is able to run on only four cylinders when power is not needed and seamlessly switch back to all eight when necessary.

The current model’s front and rear independent suspension is fitted with a refined Quadra-Lift air suspension system that can alter the ride height to suit variable on-road and off-road conditions thus providing the Grand Cherokee a cushioned premium ride. With the air dam removed, it now has a 34.3 degree approach and 29.3 departure angle. Also, an all-new traction control system called Select-Terrain adjusts differenttm parameters such as suspension, throttle control, and electronic stability control (ECS) to maximize grip on different driving surfaces. And to complete its “Go Anywhere” formula, three 4x4 systems are offered - Quadra-Trac I^®, Quadra-Trac II^®, and Quadra-Drive II^® - so power delivery is optimized in all four wheels.

“With the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee, Jeep has created the benchmark, premium SUV,” said Mike Manley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Unique innovations such as our new Quadra-Lift air suspension system and Selec-Terrain traction control systems separate Jeep from the crowd and take the new Grand Cherokee to the next level of 4x4 capability. The new generation of the iconic Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers the perfect blend of on-road refinement, superb craftsmanship, world-class design, improved fuel economy, innovative features and legendary, real-world capability.”

CATS Motors Philippines has not yet announced what engines are they offering with the 2011 Grand Cherokee and if a diesel version will be made available locally.