The end for the eight: "Electrification is the way forward" for Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT as the days of thumping V8s come to a close

The days of thumping Jeep Hemi V8 engines appear to be drawing to a close, with the brand's executives saying "electrification is the way forward" for even its hardcore SRT models.

Speaking at the international launch of the new Grand Cherokee 4Xe plug-in hybrid, Jeep's global product marketing chief, Jeff Ellsworth, told CarsGuide that electrified powertrains will likely take the place of traditional V8 engines.

Asked whether the days of Jeep V8s were coming to an end, Mr Elsworth replied: "I’m not one to say yes or no, but there’s no doubt – and this isn’t just Jeep but in general – about what we’re able to do with twin-turbo and with electrification now.

"As much as we love (the V8). There is no replacement for displacement, but there is technology out there can deliver on it.

"We’ve still kept the V8 around in certain markets around the world, and in the USA in particular, but the reality is that the plug-in hybrid has become the more premium powertrain.

"We still love that engine, we’re going to hold onto it. It’s there and it will stay there for as long as it makes sense, both financially and compliance wise.

If you think that sounds like there's unlikely to be too much investment in new V8 engines, we'd agree. Mr Ellsworth won't be drawn on it directly, but the Stellantis Group recently pulled the covers of the Hurricane engine family.

The new 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six petrol engine will be offered in two guises, Standard Output and High Output. In standard guise, you can expect around 300kW and 610Nm. But in High Output? Those numbers are expected to grow to 375kW and 645Nm.

That's more than the the 344kW and 644Nm on offer by the current 6.4-litre Hemi V8 – though less than the bananas 522kW and 868Nm on offer from the supercharged 6.2-litre from the Trackhawk.

While Mr Ellsworth was coy on what secrets the new all-new Grand Cherokee SRT might be hiding, he did suggest the model would welcome electrification for the first time.

"I’m not one to divulge that. But at the end of the day, electrification is the way forward," he said. "But right now we have nothing to confirm."