Jeep may be preparing to reenter the high-performance SUV arena as company leaders hint at the potential return of a V8-powered Grand Cherokee, including a possible Hellcat variant.
The current WL-generation Grand Cherokee has been on the market for roughly five years without a Trackhawk model, leaving enthusiasts wondering whether the supercharged era had ended. Recent developments suggest that may not be the case. Tim Kuniskis, known for championing V8 performance vehicles, has returned to lead the SRT brand and Ram. His reappointment comes as Stellantis signals renewed interest in HEMI V8 engines and performance-focused models.
Stellantis recently announced a $13 billion investment aimed at the company’s future product strategy. While specific models remain unconfirmed, Jeep leadership has indicated that performance options are not off the table. Jeep’s vice president of sales, Mauricio Lopez, described a wide range of product initiatives in development, adding that powertrain decisions are part of broader planning under the new SRT leadership.
Grand Cherokee chief engineer Joe Aljajawi has also acknowledged ongoing customer demand for a V8-powered option, reinforcing speculation that Jeep is evaluating the business case for a high-output variant. Evolving emissions regulations and increased domestic production flexibility may provide automakers with more room to reintroduce larger-displacement engines.
The performance legacy of the Grand Cherokee sets a high benchmark. The earlier SRT8 model delivered more than 470 horsepower from a 6.4-liter HEMI V8. Later, the Trackhawk raised the bar with a supercharged engine producing up to 707 horsepower between 2018 and 2021. That SUV could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds, aided by an all-wheel-drive system that translated power into consistent traction.
If revived, a new high-performance Grand Cherokee would likely aim to surpass those figures. Pricing could prove a challenge. The 2021 Trackhawk started above $90,000, and achieving comparable or improved performance within today’s cost environment may push future models closer to six-figure territory.
For now, Jeep has not confirmed a timeline. Still, leadership comments and renewed investment in V8 development suggest that the era of high-horsepower Grand Cherokees may not be over.
