It’s been over a year since Chrysler entered into bankruptcy proceedings and emerged as a charge of the Fiat auto group. It has been a quiet year for Chrysler, with just two new vehicle releases in the past 12 months. That would be the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the “new” Ram pickup. Things are starting to pickup over at the Pentastar though, and we’re looking forward to more and more releases in the coming months.
One vehicle we are really looking forward to is the Cherokee SRT8. Rumored to have over 500 horsepower, these spy shots from GMotors [1] show the speedy SUV practicing with its BMW rival, the X5 M as well as hauling a large trailer.
[2]
Pictures: GMotors
At the height of the SUV craze, both GM and Chrysler opted to make high performance versions of their popular SUV’s. There was the Trailblazer SS from Chevy, and the Jeep Cherokee SRT8. This new SRT8 Cherokee is taking performance SUV to an all new level though. Rumors speculate that it will get the 6.4 liter HEMI engine from the Mopar catalog. With fuel injection, this engine makes around 520 horsepower.
[3]
Other modifications are sure to include a revised suspension system and bigger brakes. The SRT8 Cherokee will also get a more aggressive look including a lowered ride height and modified front fascia. It also appears to have lost its trademark center exhaust exits, opting for more standard exhaust tips at either end of the bumper. It is good to see Chrysler hasn’t abandoned its performance division, and we look forward to seeing the SRT8 on the street.