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The Grand Cherokee was a spinoff of the smaller Jeep Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee’s origins date back to 1983 when American Motors engineers were designing a Cherokee successor. The 1989 show car foretold the basic design. The Grand Cherokee was the first Chrysler-badged Jeep product since AMC came up with the concept; the AMC engineers/designers behind the project, later Chrysler employees were eager for a late 1980s release date; however, then-CEO Lee Iacocca was pushing for redesigned Chrysler minivans, thus delaying the Grand Cherokee’s release until late 1992 as an Explorer competitor. The Grand Cherokee debuted in grand fashion at the 1992 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Then-Chrysler president Robert Lutz drove Detroit mayor, Coleman Young up the steps of Cobo Hall and through a plate glass window to show off the new vehicle. Production of the Grand Cherokee started shortly afterward in the purpose-built Jefferson North Assembly in Detroit, Michigan and has remained there since. 

The all-new 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 combines capability, utility and distinctive style with Street and Racing Technology’s balanced approach to performance, resulting in the quickest, most powerful Jeep vehicle ever created, and the ultimate performance sport-utility vehicle. Powered by a 6.1-liter HEMI producing 415 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque, the all-new 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s performance numbers include 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 19-second range, and 60-0 mph braking distance of approximately 125 feet.

To create the first SRT vehicle with full-time four-wheel drive, SRT engineers developed a drive system that was lightweight, yet robust and reliable enough to handle massive amounts of horsepower and torque from the 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8’s powertrain. Under normal driving conditions, from 5 percent to 10 percent of torque is directed to the front wheels, but as much of the 6.1-liter HEMI’s torque as needed can be directed forward when additional traction or stability is required. Remaining torque is sent via a heavy-duty driveshaft designed for the European Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel model, to a Dana 44 rear differential upgraded with a larger ring gear within new axle housing.Providing horsepower and torque to the unique SRT four-wheel drive system is a specially tuned version of the new 6.1-liter SRT HEMI engine. Inspired by the original family of HEMIs, the SRT 6.1-liter HEMI employs the namesake hemispherical combustion chambers that provide power and efficiency, while retaining classic HEMI visual cues including the orange-painted cylinder block and black valve covers. Engine breathing was increased with new higher-flow cylinder heads, a specially designed intake manifold and fresh-air induction system and exhaust headers with individual tubes encased in a stainless steel shell. All are unique to the 6.1-liter HEMI engine. Larger-diameter valves and reshaped ports in the heads allow for maximized air flow. The intake manifold was designed with larger-diameter and shorter runners for higher-speed tuning. Exhaust is routed through a large-diameter exhaust system with 4-inch chrome tips.