2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Not that many years ago, if someone told you that you could drive a Jeep that has over 700 horses under its hood, the reply could have been:  “Yea right, and pigs can fly.”  That day has arrived and this 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk can just about fly as it can take you and yours to 60 mph in a “blink” over 3 seconds.  No kidding!

This new Trackhawk can flat out perform and should be on display shortly with the friendly folks at RAM Country Mineral Wells located at 4011 US Highway 180 E in Mineral Wells, Texas or by calling the dealership at 940.654.3120 and be ready to take your expectations for a spin. If you dare.

This handsome and rugged looking Grand Cherokee has a supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16 value 6.2-liter iron block, plus aluminum heads with port fuel injection that grinds out 707 angry thoroughbreds.  That awesome engine is mated with an eight speed automatic transmission and a manual shifting mode that delivers an unbelievable 645 lb-ft of asphalt grabbing torque.  The JGC Trackhawk’s energy is somewhat like its sibling the Challenger Demon as it receives the Torque Reserve function to help the launching sensation.   With launch control engaged and the brake torqued, this system cuts fuel to the individual cylinders allowing the big engine to rev higher and the supercharger to build more boost which in turn delivers more excitement.  Just lift your foot off the brake and your Trackhawk’s four large Pirellis’s will squeal on all four tires and sound great doing it.

This Jeep just turns fuel into pure adrenaline, blistering quick and handling that is pinpoint.  Slowing down this monster machine are 15.7 inch aluminum-hat front rotors in the front and 13.8 inches in the rear with a six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers with a very noticeable coat of yellow paint.  This is one of the few exterior hints that the Trackhawk is a powerful vehicle.  Their heavy duty brakes will bring this 5200 pound Jeep to a halt at 168 feet from 70 mph.  The only other tell-tale that this Grand Cherokee is a different breed of a Jeep are the deleted fog lights that are replaced with an oil cooler and cold-air intake ports.

Also, a new rear design accommodates the quad exhaust that is responsible for releasing the sweet sounds of pure energy.  Other hints include a Trackhawk badge on the lift gate and a “Supercharged” script on the front doors.  On the inside Jeep placed Trackhawk logos on the sill-plates and seats.  The rest of the cabin is typical Grand Cherokee SRT with its sturdy comfy seats, upscale interior and large cargo areas.

Everything you need for communication, entertainment and safety is at your fingertips with Chrysler’s highly rated infotainment system. This new Trackhawk has all the “bells and whistles” that you would see and feel in a Grand Cherokee with its sleek sculptured lines and the wide and aggressive stance.  The “clincher” is the lean, lethal bar-room brawler’s abundance of horsepower that delivers so much fun and acceleration just becomes exhilaration.

Want to discover how that happens?  It is as easy as taking that short drive to RAM Country Mineral Wells and be prepared for an enjoyable experience.

New Details Revealed about 2018 Wrangler

Jeep’s recipe for the Wrangler is pretty simple. Always has been, always will be. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to learn that after scanning more than 300 pages of a leaked 2018 Jeep Wrangler owner’s manual, first published by enthusiast forum JL Wrangler and then reported on by Automotive News, the redesigned Wrangler JL is much the same as it ever was…only better.

Remember, there are two different Jeep Wranglers available for 2018. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is continuing to build to old one for now, called the Wrangler JK. The new Wrangler JL arrives in the first quarter of 2018, at which time the JK’s production line will be re-tooled for the new Wrangler-based pickup truck, perhaps arriving as the 2019 Jeep Scrambler.

With that as preamble, the 2018 Wrangler JL returns in 2-door and 4-door body styles with a choice between a fabric soft top, a removable hard top, and a new power sliding top with removable rear windows and both express and manual modes. Sport, Sahara, and Rubicon trim levels return, no doubt to be joined by numerous special-edition variants in the future.

Standard V6, available turbocharged 4-cylinder

A 3.6-liter V6 engine is standard, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox or an automatic transmission. The section of the owner’s manual discussing the Hill Descent Control system indicates that a 9-speed automatic will be available, but later the document appears to confirm that the automatic is, in fact, an 8-speed unit equipped with AutoStick manual mode and an AutoPark safety system. AutoPark appears to prevent vehicle rollaway accidents such as the one that claimed Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin.

As an option, buyers can select a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that requires premium fuel for maximum performance. Both power plants will include automatic engine stop/start in order to improve fuel economy, and drivers can turn it off if that is preferable.

Part-time 4-wheel drive is standard, and a new full-time 4-wheel-drive system is available, along with an electronic front sway bar disconnect system that improves wheel articulation. The Hill Descent Control system limits speed to between 0.6 mph and 5.6 mph, depending on the selected gear, and the new Wrangler JL is equipped with ready alert braking, which provides maximum stopping power in a hurry once the driver stabs the brake pedal. Rain brake support, which automatically dries wet brake pads in order to maximize stopping power in wet conditions, is also standard.

New safety systems

Dynamic Steering Torque technology also debuts in the new Wrangler. Based on input from the stability control system, the electric steering system delivers feedback intended to encourage the driver to input necessary steering correction actions, though in the absence of such corrective measures the system does not do so automatically.

A blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert is a new option for the 2018 Wrangler JL. Buried within the details of the owner’s manual, note that all Wranglers are equipped with event data recorders that preserve 30 seconds of information leading to a collision. This includes vehicle speed, whether the driver was braking or accelerating, and whether or not the seat belts were fastened. The data is recorded only for a “non-trivial crash situation.”

Additional updates for 2018 include a standard reversing camera, and upgrades such as rear parking assist sensors, keyless entry with push-button engine starting, a heated steering wheel, a 7-inch driver information display, and LED lighting all around.

Next-generation Uconnect infotainment

Infotainment systems include Bluetooth connectivity and display screens measuring between 5 inches and 8.4 inches across. Upper end selections include the latest version of Uconnect technology offering voice texting support for Android devices, Siri support for Apple devices, a Do Not Disturb setting, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection technology. USB ports are available to both front seat and rear seat occupants.

An Off-Road Pages system also debuts, supplying a litany of details related to off-highway driving. By referencing the Uconnect 8.4 display screen, you can see transfer case status, current latitude and longitude position, current altitude, various vehicle temperatures and pressures, steering angle in degrees, current pitch and roll angles, and more.

Sirius XM Guardian subscription services are also available for the new Wrangler. Highlights include automatic collision notification, SOS emergency calling, stolen vehicle location service, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot. Using the Uconnect smartphone app, owners can remotely start the vehicle, operate the horn and lights, locate the vehicle, send a destination to the navigation system, and more.

If this all sounds too sophisticated for a rough-and-tumble vehicle like a Jeep Wrangler, don’t worry. You’ll still be able to remove the top, ditch the side doors, and fold the windshield down for a true open-air driving experience like no other.

Jeep will build the 2018 Wrangler JL in Toledo, Ohio but you will be able to find it right here at RAM Country Mineral Wells at 4011 US Highway 180 E in Mineral Wells, Texas.  Call them at 940.654.3120 today!

About RAM Country Mineral Wells

If there’s one thing we want everyone to know it’s that at Ram Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep we are here to make your car buying experience a happy one. That’s what we want our customers to feel from the moment they walk into our showroom looking for the new or used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM vehicle of their dreams to the day they go to trade it in.

In addition to our lineup of high-quality vehicles that offers many choices for drivers with different wants and needs, there’s also our car service and repair center. We train and retrain to help ensure the vehicle you buy or lease from us continues to satisfy you for hundreds-of-thousands of miles to come. What’s more, we use certified Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM parts that are also available to the DIY-types out there. This way, you know you’re vehicle is being treated right, from start to finish.

Speaking of being treated well: Ram Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep takes one stressful part of the car buying experience and turns it in to a BIG positive. That’s thanks to our team of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM lease and loan specialists. Here to make sure all of your finance needs are met, they work hard crunching the numbers and ultimately provide an all-around pleasurable experience – some even go so far as to call it unmatched.

Of course, the best way to learn more about our commitment to you here at Ram Country Chrysler Dodge Jeep is to talk with us. Call us at 940.654.3120, send us a note online, or stop in to our showroom during regular business hours. We’re located at 4011 E Hwy 180 Mineral Wells, Texas and would love to answer any questions you might have.

RAM Country Mineral Wells