Ferrari team plays in Jeeps

Two specially prepared 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s — the most powerful and best handling Jeep vehicle ever — were recently delivered to Alonso and Massa at the Fiorano circuit in Maranello, Italy. The identical vehicles were custom-built vehicles with Ferrari input. Fiat owns both Ferrari and Chrysler/Jeep. Each SRT8 features an aggressive exterior look with an SRT-exclusive design, which adds classic Ferrari brand styling cues and the unmistakable Rosso Corsa signature colour.

The seven-slot Jeep front grille is painted matt black and features custom red inserts. An offset, black driver's stripe with a white accent customises the front and rear bumpers, bonnet, the entire surface of the roof and the rear spoiler. Additional details include a matt black painted dual-pane sunroof, carbon fibre mirror surrounds and a gloss black rear light bar with red accents on the Jeep logo. To complete the exterior trim, the Italian flag has been painted on the underside of the rear spoiler as a tribute to the Ferrari F150 Formula One car.

Ride height has been lowered 35mm and both vehicles ride on forged aluminium, 20-inch wheels painted black.

The cabin is enhanced by exclusive Ferrari Red leather inserts on the seats with sculpted bolsters. Also the door trim panels, the central armrest and the instrument panel boast leather. The leather-wrapped SRT8 steering wheel with mounted paddle shifters features red contrasting stitching. The instrument cluster features yellow dials which give the cabin a look of the GT cars produced in Maranello.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is powered by an 6.4-litre HEMI V-8 engine with fuel saver technology that switches off four of the eight cylinders when full power is not required, to ensure increased fuel economy. The HEMI V8 powertrain delivers 344kW and 624Nm of torque propelling the SRT8 model from 0-100kmh in under 5.0 seconds. It brakes from 100kmh-0 in 35m.

The Grand Cherokee SRT8  will be available here later this year.