2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee

And We Do Mean Grand

Words: Roger Meiners

Jeep® surprised the New York Auto Show this year with a very different Grand Cherokee for 2011. It has unit construction, all-independent suspension and a whole host of new features never before seen on a Grand Cherokee.

The new unibody platform shares the same underpinnings as the Mercedes-Benz ML. Elimination of the separate frame and body structure makes the Grand Cherokee 146 percent stiffer than the current model and stiffer than the BMW X5. More than 5,400 welds in the body alone contributed to this rigid structure. This gave Jeep engineers the freedom to design a world-class independent front and rear suspension system with isolated front and rear suspension cradles and variable-rate rear springs. The new rear suspension allows the spare tire to be stored inside the vehicle as opposed to underneath. This Grand Cherokee will have a grandly comfortable ride, especially with the new Quadra-Lift™ air suspension system.

Quadra-Lift adds up to 4.5 inches of ride-height adjustability that is supported by air springs on each wheel. Quadra-Lift operates automatically, or may be controlled manually via console controls. The Quadra-Lift system features five height settings for optimum ride performance. Settings can be varied for off-road, normal and aero performance. There’s also a park setting that lowers the vehicle 1.5 inches.

In addition to the Quadra-Lift air suspension, the all-new Selec-Terrain™ traction control system lets customers choose the off-road setting for the 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).

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s standard engine is a brand-new flexible-fuel 3.6-liter V-6. The 3.6-liter 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.

The engine will deliver 280 horsepower (209 kW) and 260 lb-ft (353 N•m) of torque at 4,800 rpm, an increase of 33 percent in horsepower and 11 percent in torque over its predecessor, while providing customers up to an 11 percent improvement in fuel economy. The available 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 Variable Valve Timing (VVT), a feature introduced on the Dodge Viper, which adjusts power and torque to fit the driving situation. The engine also features the fuel-saving Multi-Displacement System (MDS) that shuts off four of the eight cylinders when cruising. The formerly-available 4.7L V-8 is discontinued.

Completely new styling goes along with all the new features of the 2011 Grand Cherokee. “The Jeep design team’s mission was to completely re-design the Jeep Grand Cherokee and re-define the meaning of Jeep luxury,” said Ralph Gilles, Vice President – Design, Chrysler Group LLC. “New and existing customers will be delighted by the world-class attention to detail on both the exterior and interior. The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee confidently competes at every level of the full-size SUV segment, and in any market.”

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 four inches of rear-seat knee and leg room. The vehicle also is three inches wider for improved handling and packaging.

“We listened carefully to our customers and the market,” said Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President – Product Engineering, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee hits the sweet spot of premium on-road performance and legendary class-leading Jeep capability.”

The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will be built at the 2.7-million-square-foot Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit, which has been the site of Grand Cherokee production since its introduction in 1992.

In preparation for production of the all-new Grand Cherokee, JNAP is undergoing a 285,000-square-foot expansion to replace the existing body shop, which is part of Chrysler’s investment of approximately $1.8 billion in new vehicle programs. In addition, changes throughout paint and assembly operations will give the facility an all-new level of manufacturing flexibility for multiple product capability.