Inventor
of the Premium SUV Hits Sweet
Spot of Real-world Capability and On-road Refinement
Auburn Hills, Mich.,
Sep 1, 2009
- Nearly 18 years ago, Jeep invented the premium SUV segment with the
introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. More than 4 million sales
later, Jeep improves the formula and hits the sweet spot of real-world
capability and on-road refinement with the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand
Cherokee.
The all-new Jeep
Grand Cherokee delivers premium on-road performance
while maintaining the Jeep brand's legendary four-wheel-drive,
torque-on-demand two-speed transfer case and towing capability. It also
offers improved fuel economy (up to 11 percent) and a world-class
interior cabin.
The all-new
Quadra-Lift air suspension system delivers legendary Jeep
off-road capability along with the new Selec-Terrain system that allows
the driver to choose the drive system that best matches on- or off-road
driving conditions. New front and rear independent suspension systems
deliver premium on-road handling and comfort.
The all-new 2011
Jeep Grand Cherokee is built on a proven
rear-wheel-drive unibody platform sharing the same underpinnings as the
Mercedes-Benz ML.
Legendary
Capability
The Quadra-Lift
system features five height settings for optimum ride
performance:
- Normal Ride Height (NRH): 8.1 inches of clearance offers improved
fuel economy and improved aerodynamics during on-road driving
- Off-road 1: Lifts the vehicle an additional 1.5 inches for added
height in clearing obstacles (9.6 inches)
- Off-road 2: Delivers legendary Jeep off-road capability and
provides an additional 3 inches of height for 11.1 inches of ground
clearance
- Park Mode: Lowers the vehicle 1.5 inches from NRH for easy
ingress/egress. NRH and Park mode are driver-selectable, giving the
driver control over vehicle ride height
- Aero Mode: Lowers the vehicle .6 inches from NRH. Aero Mode is
controlled by vehicle speed and adjusts for optimal performance and
fuel economy
Quadra-Lift adds
up to 4.5 inches of lift span and is supported by
four-corner air springs that provide a cushioned, premium ride.
Quadra-Lift operates automatically, or may be controlled manually via
console controls.
In addition to
the Quadra-Lift air suspension, the all-new
Selec-Terrain™ traction control system lets customers choose the
off-road setting for an optimum experience on all terrains. This
feature electronically coordinates up to 12 different powertrain,
braking and suspension systems, including throttle control,
transmission shift, transfer case, Traction Control and Electronic
Stability Control (ESC).
Selec-Terrain's
control dial allows the driver to choose from five
driving conditions
in order to
achieve the best driving experience on all terrains:
- Sand/Mud: Traction control and Quadra-Lift operate with sensitive
response to wheel spin, and torque is tuned for optimal performance
- Sport: Provides enhanced on-road "fun-to-drive" capability
- Auto: Automatically adapts to any on- or off-road situation
- Snow: Vehicle traction and Quadra-Lift adjust for ultimate
performance over snow-covered roads
- Rock: Quadra-Lift suspension raises to maximum height (11.1
inches) while the transfer case, differentials, and throttle coordinate
to provide low-speed control
Selec-Terrain,
coupled with the
all-new Quadra-Lift air suspension, offers drivers an adjustable
suspension span that delivers legendary Trail Rated® performance.
The all-new
independent front and rear suspension features isolated
front and rear suspension cradles. Variable-rate rear springs deliver
improved on-road handling and comfort that complements the vehicle's
off-road capability. The new rear suspension allows the spare tire to
be stored inside the vehicle as opposed to underneath.
Go-Anywhere
4x4 System
The 2011 Jeep Grand
Cherokee offers three 4x4 systems (Quadra-Trac
I®,
Quadra-Trac
II® and Quadra-Drive® II).
Quadra Trac I
delivers full-time four-wheel drive without any switches
or levers to pull. The system provides smooth operation over a variety
of road conditions. This light-weight single-speed case is both proven
and highly efficient for enhanced fuel economy.
Quadra Trac II's
two-speed transfer case uses input from a variety of
sensors in order
to determine
tire slip at the earliest possible moment and take
corrective action. The system uses Throttle Anticipate to sense quick
movement in the throttle from a stop and maximizes traction before
slippage occurs. When tire slippage is detected, as much as 100 percent
of available torque is instantly routed to the axle with the most
traction.
Quadra Drive II,
with a rear Electronic Limited-Slip Differential
(ELSD), delivers industry-leading tractive capability. The system
instantly detects tire slip and smoothly distributes engine torque to
tires with traction. In some cases, the vehicle will anticipate low
traction and adjust in order to proactively limit or eliminate slip.
Selec-Terrain is
standard with Quadra Trac II and Quadra Drive II.
All 2011 Jeep
Grand Cherokees equipped with either of the off-road
groups are Trail Rated®.
Powertrain
The all-new 2011 Jeep
Grand
Cherokee is available with two leading engine options for North
American markets.
The 2011 Jeep
Grand Cherokee's standard engine is an all-new
flexible-fuel 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. The 3.6-liter Pentastar
V-6 engine is an all-new design featuring double overhead camshafts
(DOHC) and a high-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block in a
60-degree configuration. It features Variable-valve Timing (VVT) and
delivers 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 N•m) @
4,800 rpm. This all-new V-6 engine improves fuel economy up to 11
percent compared to the previous Grand Cherokee equipped with a V-6. It
is coupled with the proven W5A580, a five-speed automatic transmission
that delivers smooth shifts and optimum fuel economy. The five-speed
W5A580 transmission includes adaptive electronic control or Electronic
Range Select (ERS) driver-interactive manual control and an
electronically modulated torque converter clutch.
The all-new 2011
Jeep Grand Cherokee's larger fuel tank, with a 24.6
gallon capacity, combined with the V-6 engine's improved fuel economy,
delivers a range of approximately 500 miles on one tank of gas.
The available
legendary 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine delivers 360
horsepower (268 kW) and 390 lb.-ft. of torque (520 N•m) @ 4,250 rpm.
The HEMI also features VVT, which delivers performance and towing
capability, as well as fuel efficiency with the fuel-saving
Multi-displacement System (MDS). The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine is mated
to the 545RFE multi-speed automatic transmission.
The all-new Jeep
Grand Cherokee offers unsurpassed trailer-tow
capability of up to 7,400 lbs. on 4x2 models when equipped with the
HEMI V-8 engine.
For
international markets, the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be
available in left- and right-hand drive with either diesel or petrol
powertrains.
World-class
Interior Refinement
The all-new interior
is elevated
to that of its European competition and features rich materials and
elegant appointments, as well as more room for both passengers and
cargo.
An available
all-new CommandView® dual-pane panoramic sun roof
provides twice as much glass surface than a standard sun roof and
extends from the windshield to the rear of the vehicle. The front panel
may be opened rearward, providing additional light and fresh air to
first-row passengers. The rear panel, which is fixed, allows light and
open viewing for second-row passengers and comes standard with a power
sun shade.
Right-sized
Packaging
The vehicle's
114.8-inch wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than the model
it replaces and contributes to an overall vehicle length that is 1.8
inches longer than the prior model. The longer wheelbase creates more
interior room and gives passengers an additional 4 inches of rear-seat
knee and leg room. The vehicle also is 3 inches wider for improved
handling and packaging.
For better
access to the interior, front-door openings are 1.9 inches
wider and 2 inches taller. Rear doors open 78 degrees as opposed to 67
degrees on the current model.
Inside, premium
seating includes room for five passengers. For added
passenger comfort, rear seats recline 12 degrees.
Cargo volume
behind the second row provides an additional 6.8
cubic-feet of room (36.3 cubic feet total) compared to the previous
model. The well-appointed rear-cargo area includes a storage unit with
a rechargeable flashlight and new and improved grocery bag hooks on
both sides. The spare tire compartment includes removable dual storage
bins for secure storage of muddy gear or other items.
An all-new power
rear liftgate is available for effortless remote
up/down convenience.
Classic
Exterior Design
Every surface of the
all-new
Jeep Grand Cherokee is new and treated for aerodynamics. Aerodynamics
improve fuel efficiency and puts more fluidity into the design while
delivering a 7-percent improvement in drag compared with the current
model. The all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee Cd is approximately 0.37
compared with the 2009 Cd of 0.404.
The front
appearance includes Jeep's classic seven-slot grille, round
headlamps and trapezoidal wheel arches. The removable lower front
fascia delivers improved fuel economy, on-road performance and off-road
capability. The lower front fascia features a large chromed
appliqué (Limited and Overland models) that showcases available
tow hooks.
Seventeen-inch
wheels are standard and deliver off-road capability,
with optional 18-inch and all-new to Jeep, 20-inch wheels for 2011.
Taillamps wrap
from the rear quarter panel to the back of the vehicle
and create a solid form which creates more of an upscale appearance.
The treatment complements the front-end design and resonates with the
rest of the exterior.
Jeep Grand
Cherokee models equipped with a HEMI V-8 engine have
3.5-inch dual chromed exhaust tips, and those with the V-6 engine have
a 3-inch single exhaust.
The all-new 2011
Jeep Grand Cherokee's premium SUV on-road manners and
legendary Jeep ruggedness is achieved with more than 5,400 welds in the
body alone. Torsional stiffness is 146 percent stiffer than the current
Grand Cherokee and stiffer than the BMW X5 and Toyota Highlander for
improved durability and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
With more than
3,700 mm of arc welding and 100 m of structural adhesive
to augment welding, this marks a 53-percent increase in spot welds, a
42-percent increase in arc welds and a 38-percent increase in
structural adhesive.
Safety
The all-new 2011 Jeep
Grand Cherokee includes more than 45 safety and
security features. Standard safety features include Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), Hill-start Assist (HSA), Electronic-roll
Mitigation (ERM), four-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with
rough-road detection, four-wheel Brake-traction Control System (BTCS),
Passive Entry/Keyless Go, Remote keyless entry, express-up/down windows
for driver and front-seat passenger, seat-belt pretensioners,
Trailer-sway Control (TSC) and remote start which is standard on
Overland and Limited.
Other standard
safety features include full-length side-curtain air
bags which extend protection to front and rear outboard passengers,
seat-mounted side thorax air bags that enhance protection for the
driver and front passenger, and active head restraints which deploy in
the event of a rear collision.
The body
structure is all new and designed to achieve expected safety
performance in global markets (new roof-crush standards, side-impact
standards and Euro pedestrian impact).
The all-new 2011
Jeep Grand Cherokee will feature Uconnect™ Guardian as
a standard feature on all models (services provided by Hughes
Telematics).
Technology
Uconnect Guardian
provides
customers with the top five requested security features: Automatic
Crash Notification, Emergency Call, Roadside Assistance Call, Remote
Door Unlock and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance.
The 2011 Jeep
Grand Cherokee also features SIRIUS Travel Link. SIRIUS
Travel Link provides drivers with up-to-the-minute information about
gas prices, weather conditions, sports scores and movie listings. In
addition, the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee features SIRIUS Traffic,
which monitors traffic in 78 markets across the U.S. and continuously
displays conditions through the vehicle's navigation system. Together,
SIRIUS Traffic and Travel Link connect Jeep Grand Cherokee drivers and
passengers to the information they need while on- or off-road.
New
for 2011
- New Quadra Lift™ air suspension
system provides height control
and lifts vehicle up to 4.5 inches from park mode to a maximum ride
height of 11.1 inches to deliver legendary Jeep off-road capability
- Choice of three 4x4 systems –
Quadra-Trac I®, Quadra-Trac
II® and Quadra-Drive® II with Electronic Limited-Slip
Differential (ELSD)
- New Selec-Terrain™ system with
Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II
provides five selectable terrain settings to handle any driving
condition
- First application of company’s
all-new, flexible-fuel 3.6-liter
Pentastar V-6 engine featuring Variable-valve Timing (VVT), 280 hp (209
kW) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 N•m) @ 4,800 rpm – an 11 percent
improvement in fuel economy, 33 percent in horsepower and 11 percent in
torque
- Available 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8
generates 360 hp (268 kW) and
390 lb.-ft. of torque (520 N•m) @ 4,250 rpm – features VVT and
fuel-saving Multi-displacement System (MDS) technology with dual
exhaust for maximum fuel efficiency
- Uconnect™ Guardian standard on all
models and includes: Automatic
Crash Notification, Emergency Call, Roadside Assistance Call, Remote
Door Unlock and Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance
- SIRIUS Travel Link gives drivers
up-to-the-minute information
about gas prices, weather conditions, sports scores and movie listings
- SIRIUS Traffic monitors traffic in
78 markets across the U.S. and
continuously displays conditions through the vehicle’s navigation system
- Uconnect Phone wireless
Bluetooth® connection for cell phones
(and future MP3 players), enabling streaming music, and new USB
connection with digital technology, enabling voice search by song title
and artist for iPod devices
- Uconnect Navigation featuring
all-new Garmin navigation and
Uconnect Multimedia featuring SIRIUS Backseat TV™
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