2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, possibly the most important Jeep (next to the Wrangler) in Jeeps line up, is being renewed as an all new model for the 2011 model year. The new model strives to make the perfect combination of off road capability and on road luxury.

Both the exterior and interior of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee are refined for more elegance, luxury, fuel economy, comfort, style, and everything else you could think of.

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

New for 2011 is the Quadra-Lift air suspension system. This system allows the driver to adjust the height of the jeep for more clearance while going off road, lower it for easy egress when parked, and it automatically adjusts the height of the vehicle to give it better aerodynamics at certain speeds. There are five height settings for the Quadra-Lift system:

Normal Ride Height (NRH): 8.1 inches of clearance offers improved fuel economy and improved aerodynamics during on-road driving
Off-road 1: Lifts the vehicle an additional 1.5 inches for added height in clearing obstacles (9.6 inches)
Off-road 2: Delivers legendary Jeep off-road capability and provides an additional 3 inches of height for 11.1 inches of ground clearance
Park Mode: Lowers the vehicle 1.5 inches from NRH for easy ingress/egress. NRH and Park mode are driver-selectable giving the driver control over vehicle ride height
Aero Mode: Lowers the vehicle .6 inches from NRH. Aero Mode is controlled by vehicle speed and adjusts for optimal performance and fuel economy

Quadra-Lift adds up to 4.5 inches of lift span that is supported by four-corner air springs that provide a cushioned, premium ride. Quadra-Lift operates automatically, or may be controlled manually via console controls.

Also new in 2011 is the Selec-Terrain traction control system lets customers choose the off-road setting for the optimum experience on all terrains. This system allows the driver to select the type of terrain they are on and the vehicle will adjust accordingly to give the best offroad performance possible.

The Selec-Terrain's control dial allows the driver to choose from five driving conditions in order to achieve the best driving experience on all terrains:

Sand/Mud: Traction control and Quadra-Lift operate with sensitive response to wheel spin, and torque is tuned for optimal performance
Sport: Provides enhanced on-road "fun-to-drive" capability
Auto: Automatically adapts to any on- or off-road situation
Snow: Vehicle traction and Quadra-Lift adjust for ultimate performance over snow-covered roads
Rock: Quadra-Lift suspension raises to maximum height (11.1 inches) and the transfer case, differentials, and throttle coordinate to provide low-speed control

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Terrain Selector

"Jeep invented the SUV segment and our all-new Grand Cherokee is the next step in the evolution of the SUV," said Mike Accavitti, Director – Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge Brands. "Jeep innovations including Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain traction control separate us from the crowd."

The all-new independent front and rear suspension features isolated front and rear suspension cradles. Variable-rate rear springs deliver improved on-road handling and comfort that complements the vehicle's off-road capability. The new rear suspension allows the spare tire to be stored inside the vehicle as opposed to underneath.

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a bevy of choices for the 4x4 system so that customers can pick and choose according to their own needs.

Quadra Trac I delivers full-time four-wheel drive without any switches or levers to pull. The system provides smooth operation over a variety of road conditions. This lightweight single-speed case is both proven and highly efficient for enhanced fuel economy.

Quadra Trac II's two-speed transfer case uses input from a variety of sensors in order to determine tire slip at the earliest possible moment and take corrective action. The system uses Throttle Anticipate to sense quick movement in the throttle from a stop and maximizes traction before slippage occurs. When tire slippage is detected, as much as 100 percent of available torque is instantly routed to the axle with the most traction.

Quadra Drive II, with a rear Electronic Limited-Slip Differential (ELSD), delivers industry-leading tractive capability. The system instantly detects tire slip and smoothly distributes engine torque to tires with traction. In some cases, the vehicle will anticipate low traction and adjust in order to proactively limit or eliminate slip.

The Selec-Terrain system is standard with Quadra Trac II and Quadra Drive II.

Of course the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will continue the traditional 'Trail Rated' moniker. Of course, to quality for that moniker the vehicle has to have exceptional offroad performance. Because of this only the Jeep Grand Cherokee's equipped with either the offroad group or the Quadra-List group will be trail rated.

To round out the off-road/on-road capability for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee are the available powertrains. Standard in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the new V6 Pentastar engine. This engine is brand new for this model year and contains a number of new advancements and technologies. 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. It features Variable-Valve Timing (VVT) and delivers 280 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,800 rpm. This all-new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine improves fuel economy up to 11 percent compared to the previous Grand Cherokee equipped with a V-6.

To improve range the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with a larger 24.6 gallon fuel tank. With the V6 this tank has a range of over 500 miles.

Of course if the V6 isn't going to be enough power for the customer, the new 5.7L Hemi is also available. The refined Hemi puts out 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. All of this power results in a towing capacity of up to 7400 lbs.

The exterior of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been refined to give it a more aggressive look and reduce aerodynamic drag. The new design improves the aerodynamic drag by 7%.

The front includes Jeep’s classic seven-slot grille, round headlamps and trapezoidal wheel arches. The removable lower front fascia delivers improved fuel economy, on-road performance and off-road capability. The lower front fascia features a large chromed appliqué (Limited and Overland models) that showcases available tow hooks.

While the exterior and the power capabilities have been refined, the customer is almost always swayed to purchase or keep looking by the interior of the car. Because of that special attention has been placed on the interior of the all new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

A twin sunroof is available that provides twice as much glass surface as the previous model. Inside there is premium seating for five, with doors that open wider to allow easier access to the vehicle. Like the Dodge Ram Megacab the rear seat now reclines 12 degrees to allow more comfort for the passengers in the rear.

Cargo volume behind the second-row provides an additional 6.8 cubic feet of room (36.3 cubic feet total) compared to the previous model. The well-appointed rear cargo area includes a storage unit with a rechargeable flashlight and new and improved grocery hooks on both sides. The spare tire compartment includes removable dual storage bins for secure storage of muddy gear or other items. As well as an all-new power rear liftgate available for effortless remote up/down convenience.

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