Spy shots 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Grand Cherokee is being readied for a total change which will put an all-new model into production in January of 2010.

Chrysler is in another fight just for survival, and there is talk that it could sell Jeep to finance the rest of the group, but there has been no obvious cost-cutting on development of the new flagship over the past three years.

Despite the unfinished look of the car in our exclusive pictures, the next-generation WL is new from the road upwards.

It has a new mechanical platform which Chrysler plans to share with the upcoming replacement for the Dodge Durango and - despite the two companies' split last year - the next-generation Mercedes-Benz ML four- wheel drive.

The Benz will only get the basics from Jeep as its plan is to use the chassis from the American off-road specialist and then fit its own engines, suspensions and bodywork.

The only known casualty of the Grand Cherokee program is the Jeep Commander, which has been killed because of slow sales.

But Jeep intends to have a seven-passenger version of the Grand Cherokee next year, in addition to the five-seater which has done the job - including in Australia - through the life of the vehicle.

A Jeep insider says the styling of the newcomer is a lot like the Trailhawk concept, but with somewhat sharper lines. The connection can be seen through the door outlines in the test car, which also has a seven-bar Jeep grille peeking out from behind the disguise.

On the powerplant front, our soruces say Chrysler's new Phoenix V6 motor will be available in the Grand Cherokee in 3.3 and 3.6-litre displacements. A 4.7-litre V8 and Chrysler's signature 5.7-litre Hemi, also fitted to the 300C in Australia, are likely also in the cards.

And there is likely to be a Grand Cherokee hybrid, as Chrysler taps the joint development work with General Motors and BMW.

As usual, there will be rear and all-wheel drive systems in the Grand Cherokee, which is expected to have aluminium front suspension to cut weight and a towing capacity of more than three tonnes.

The WL is expected to be built a Chrysler's Jefferson North factory from January of 2010.