Jeep has introduced a 4,7-litre V8 powerplant into the Laredo derivative of its Grand Cherokee range.
Jeep has introduced a 4,7-litre V8 powerplant into the Laredo derivative of its Grand Cherokee range.
CARtoday.com reported in April that DaimlerChrysler SA had introduced 2,7-litre common-rail diesel and high-output 4,7-litre V8 petrol engines to the Grand Cherokee flagship. The launch of the two new engines coincided with a change in positioning for the Jeep brand within the DaimlerChrysler SA network.
“Moving South Africa’s top selling V8 powerplant into the Laredo is the next logical step in Jeep’s product line improvement,” Guy Franken, Chrysler and Jeep’s Marketing Manager, said.
The 4,7-litre SOHC (two valves per cylinder) powerplant produces 164 kW and 394 N.m torque.
The Grand Cherokee V8 Laredo’s engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and Jeep’s Quadra-Drive four-wheel drive system. Standard features on the V8 Laredo are: electric windows, air-conditioning, multi-function steering wheel, premium audio system with CD Player and safety features such as anti-lock braking system, four wheel disc brakes and front and side airbags.
“Customers are looking for more performance out of their SUVs. It was for this reason that we introduced the high-output Grand Cherokee Overland, and the same reason sees us replace the four-litre inline six with this muscular V8 powerplant,” Franken added.
Jeep claims that the Grand Cherokee Laredo V8 can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in 9 seconds and reach a top speed of over 200km/h.
The launch price of the model is R368 900.