2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited on 2040-cars

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Jeep bringing two special-edition Renegades to the LA Auto Show

Few manufacturers do limited edition runs like Jeep, which has released everything from a 75th Anniversary Edition Wrangler to a Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Renegade. The automaker is revealing two new versions of the Renegade next week at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show: a 2017 Jeep Renegade Deserthawk and a 2017 Jeep Renegade Altitude. The off-road ready Deserthawk starts at $28,140 and builds on the bones of the already capable Renegade Trailhawk. The extra $1,495 nets you an exclusive Mojave Sand paint option, hood, and rear panel decals. It also comes equipped with rock rails and the towing package. Inside, the Deserthawk comes with black leather seats, Light Frost stitching and accents, all-weather floor mats, and a cargo tray mat. As it's based on the Trailhawk, the Deserthawk comes with four-wheel drive, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Renegade Altitude, like the other Jeep Altitude models, essentially means black on black on black. It comes with 18-inch gloss black wheels with gloss black accents on the front and rear badges, grille rings and tail lamp rings. The black theme continues inside with black cloth seats and black gloss trim. The Altitude also features what Jeep calls Metal Diamond door handles and shift knob. Standard features include a backup camera and a keyless ignition. All that black gloss will set you back at least $22,390. Look for the Renegade pair to arrive in dealers soon. The Altitude will be available later in November while the Deserthawk hits showrooms in January. Related Video: LA Auto Show Jeep Crossover Off-Road Vehicles jeep renegade

Jeep marks 75th anniversary in Detroit with special editions

It's been 75 years since the Jeep brand was founded. To celebrate the occasion, the sport-ute manufacturer has rolled out an array of six special editions – one for each model in its lineup. And they've each marked their debut here in Detroit. The 75th Anniversary Editions of the Wrangler, Renegade, Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, Compass, and Patriot are all decked out in green – though the exact shade differs between models, and they can be ordered in different colors for those who prefer. Either way, the bodywork is offset by bronze trim, mesh fabric interiors, and all the special-edition badges you could ask for. And in true Jeep style, they all offer some degree of open-airedness, even if that just means a sunroof. Of course, bringing back the Wrangler pickup and Grand Wagoneer – both of which are planned for this milestone year – would be agreeable as well, as would a Hellcat-powered Grand Cherokee SRT. But for now these special editions strike us as suitable a way as any to celebrate three quarters of a century of rock-crawling. Check 'em out in the gallery above of live images from the floor of the Detroit Auto Show for a closer look before they reach dealers in the first quarter of this year. THE JEEP® BRAND CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF LEGENDARY HISTORY WITH FULL LINEUP OF NEW SPECIAL-EDITION MODELS - New 75th Anniversary models available across entire Jeep® lineup - Special-edition vehicles feature unique available Jeep Green exterior, Satin Bronze wheels, Bronze and Orange exterior accents, unique interiors, open-air freedom and 75th Anniversary badging - Available in Jeep dealer showrooms first quarter 2016 January 6, 2016 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Born in 1941, the Jeep® brand celebrates 75 years of 4x4 leadership, military history, and open-air freedom and adventure in 2016. As a tribute to this diamond anniversary celebration, Jeep is creating distinctive, 75th Anniversary special-edition models of each vehicle in its lineup. "Jeep vehicles have defined the authentic SUV and set the benchmark for off-road capability and freedom since they were first produced in 1941," said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global. "Today, Jeep SUVs continue to deliver 4x4 leadership, as well as fuel efficiency, world-class craftsmanship and premium on-road dynamics.

Here's what it'll take to build a Jeep Grand Cherokee Hellcat

Let's get one thing straight: We want a 707-horsepower Grand Cherokee Hellcat to happen. Badly. The latest report from Motor Authority is encouraging; the bonkers SUV supposedly has a codename, Project K, and has been given the green light for production. Fingers crossed. You might be wondering why the Trackhawk isn't already a thing. Hellcat engines exist, SRT Grand Cherokees exist, so just combine the two, right? It's not quite that easy. Here, we outline what needs to happen, why it should be the quickest Hellcat vehicle out there, and why it won't come anywhere near 200 miles per hour. How To Build A Hellcat Jeep The first engineering problem is feeding the air-intensive beast that is the 6.2-liter supercharged V8. The first engineering problem is feeding the air-intensive beast that is the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8. Breathing is important on two counts: pulling in enough air for the combustion to put out 707 hp, and then cooling the various heat exchangers once the engine is up to temperature. Dodge did it with the Charger and Challenger, it can do it with the Jeep. This is one place where the Grand Cherokee's larger frontal area might be a boon, as it gives the engineers more surfaces through which to suck air. Once you generate the 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, it has to get to the wheels somehow. Jeep's current SRT all-wheel-drive system will at least need some beefing up to handle the torque. It could require a more complete re-engineering. We at least know the ZF-supplied eight-speed auto, used in the Dodge Hellcat models, is up to the task. The Hellcat engine should fit in the Grand Cherokee, as it's about the same size as the 6.4-liter currently in SRT Jeeps, but the Hellcat is taller because of its supercharger. The hood may need to be raised or at least resculpted for clearance, as well as to address those cooling needs. Quicker Than Everything, But Not Faster 200 mph? We're skeptical, from both a physics standpoint and a legal one. A reminder of the quick/fast distinction: quick is acceleration, fast is road speed. The Jeep's all-wheel drive will help put the Hellcat engine's power to the ground in a more manageable way than the Charger and Challenger do through just the rear wheels. That means better acceleration times than the Dodges (11.0 seconds in the quarter-mile for the Charger Hellcat, 11.2 for its Challenger sibling).