Chrysler is saying this is the fastest Jeep yet - and backing its claim with some pretty impressive numbers.
Try these for size: 6.4 litres, eight cylinders, 248km/h, 343kW and a ground-shaking 632Nm.
“This”, of course, is the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, based on the new Grand Cherokee launched in South Africa in February 2011 but with uprated suspension, some fancy body kit, 20” rubber and the latest version of Chrysler's big-inch Hemi V8.
It's 33kW and 60Nm up on its 6.1-litre predecessor but 13 percent less thirsty, says Chrysler, thanks to an active exhaust system that lets the Fuel Saver cylinder cut-off work more smoothly over a wider rev range, as well as an active intake manifold for bottom-end grunt and a high-lift cam for top-end power.
It drives via paddle shifters and a new Selec-Track system that recalibrates the stability control, adaptive damping, shift points, torque spread, throttle response and electronic limited-slip differential according to the driver's choice of Auto, Sport, Tow, Track or Snow settings.
All that gets laid down through 295/40 Pirelli PZero gumballs on seriously blingy 20” alloys, which Chrysler says will hang on to 0.9g on the skid-pan - a respectable number for a low-slung sports roadster, let alone a full-sized beetle-crusher.
Stopping chores are entrusted to high performance, anti-lock Brembo brakes (big advantage of the tie-up with Fiat) with bright red callipers (six-piston in front on 380mm discs, four-pot at the rear on 350mm platters, which are said to be capable of hauling this monster Jeep down from 100km to a standstill in 35m.
Bells and whistles include satellite radio with CD/MP3 player, faux-fibre trim, with a 19-speaker, 825-watt Harmann Kardon audio system (including a 250mm subwoofer) a two-piece tinted sunroof and a power-operated tailgate available to order.
Target price in the US is $39 300 (R266 500); Chrysler SA's Cleona van der Sandt says the parent company has not yet made them any promises about right-hand drive versions but if and when they are made available they will be coming to South Africa. As soon as we find out, so will you.