2013 Jeep® Grand Cherokee – Exceptional Luxury With Jeep’s Legendary Off-Road Capability

August 31, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -  The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee continues to deliver class-leading capability with refinement and features that consumers appreciate on the road, and off. Since its introduction, the current generation Jeep® Grand Cherokee has become the most awarded SUV ever.

For the 2013 model year, Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit models have new standard features that raise the bar even further in terms of luxury. These include standard Front Park Assist, power folding outside mirrors and headlight washers. The highly regarded Overland Summit interior is now available with black or saddle colored Nappa leather seating with Saddle accent stitching. A Saddle leather interior is also available for 2013.

Color choices for the 2013 Grand Cherokee line include Deep Cherry Red Pearl Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Brilliant Black Crystal Clear Coat, Mineral Gray Metallic Clear Coat, True Blue Pearl Coat, Maximum Steel Clear Coat, Winter Chill Pearl Coat, Black Forest Green Pearl Coat and a new Bright White. Jeep Rugged Brown is exclusive to Overland Summit.

Grand Cherokee Trailhawk
For the 2013, Jeep announces the production version of the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk first seen as a concept at the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk shows that even the most awarded SUV ever, and the most capable Grand Cherokee ever, can up its game.

The 2013 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is available with a V-6 or V-8 engine and includes the following capability-enhancing equipment:

• 18-inch Goodyear Silent Armor tires with Kevlar reinforcement
• Rock rail body protection
• Rear Electronic Limited-slip Differential (ELSD, V-8 only)
• Quadra-Drive II (V-8 only)
• Quadra-Lift air suspension
• Selec-Terrain traction control system

The Trailhawk is easily recognized with new signature red Trailhawk and Trail Rated badging and tow hooks, black-surround headlamps and a unique grey on the grille surround, side mirrors rear light bar, 4x4 badge and five-spoke 18-inch aluminum wheels. A black hood decal with red accent stripe helps reduce glare from the sun which can help the driver in extreme off-road situations.

Trailhawk-specific interior touches include black leather and performance suede seats with red accent stitching and Mopar slush floor mats front and rear.

The 2013 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is available in Bright White, Brilliant Black, Mineral Gray, Maximum Steel and Deep Cherry Red

Legendary 4x4 Capability
The combination of Grand Cherokee’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system and the Jeep Selec-Terrain traction control system lets customers choose the 4x4 setting for the optimum experience on all terrains. Selec-Terrain electronically coordinates up to 12 different powertrain, braking and suspension systems, including throttle control, transmission shift, transfer case, traction control and electronic stability control (ESC).

The Jeep Selec-Terrain’s control dial allows the driver to choose from five driving conditions in order to achieve the best 4x4 performance. Torque management to the drive wheels for maximum grip is achieved through the following settings:

• Sand/Mud: Traction control and Quadra-Lift operate with sensitive response to wheel spin, and torque is tuned for optimal performance
• Sport: Provides enhanced on-road "fun-to-drive" capability
• Auto: Automatically adapts to any on- or off-road situation
• Snow: Vehicle traction adjusts for ultimate performance over snow-covered roads
• Rock: Quadra-Lift air suspension system raises to maximum height (10.7 inches) and the transfer case, differentials, and throttle coordinate to provide low-speed control

The Jeep Grand Cherokee also offers the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, which features five height settings for optimum ride performance:

• Normal Ride Height (NRH): 8.1 inches of clearance offers improved fuel economy and improved aerodynamics during on-road driving
• Off-road 1: Lifts the vehicle an additional 1.3 inches for added height in clearing obstacles (9.4 inches)
• Off-road 2: Delivers legendary Jeep off-road capability and provides an additional 2.6 inches of height for 10.7 inches of ground clearance
• Park Mode: Lowers the vehicle 1.5 inches from NRH for easy ingress/egress and roof rack loading. NRH and Park mode are driver-selectable, giving the driver control over vehicle ride height
• Aero Mode: Lowers the vehicle .6 inches from NRH. Aero mode is controlled by vehicle speed and adjusts for optimal performance and fuel economy

Quadra-Lift adds up to 4.1 inches of lift span that is supported by four-corner air springs that provide a cushioned, premium ride. Quadra-Lift operates automatically, or may be controlled manually via console controls. With the front air dam removed, and the available Quadra-Lift air suspension system, the Jeep Grand Cherokee features a 34.3-degree approach angle, a 29.3-degree departure angle and 23.1-degree breakover angle.

Front and rear independent suspension features isolated front and rear suspension cradles. Variable-rate rear springs deliver uncompromised on-road handling and comfort that complements the vehicle’s off-road capability. The rear suspension allows the spare tire to be stored inside the vehicle.

Go Anywhere Jeep 4x4 Systems
The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers three 4x4 systems (Quadra-Trac I®, Quadra-Trac II® and Quadra-Drive II®).

Quadra-Trac I delivers full-time four-wheel drive without any switches or levers to pull. The system provides smooth operation over a variety of road conditions. This lightweight single-speed case is both proven and highly efficient for enhanced fuel economy.

Quadra-Trac II’s two-speed transfer case actively manages torque and uses input from a variety of sensors in order to determine tire slip at the earliest possible moment and take corrective action. The system uses Throttle Anticipate to sense quick movement in the throttle from a stop and maximizes traction before slippage occurs. When tire slippage is detected, as much as 100 percent of available torque is instantly routed to the axle with the most traction.

Quadra-Drive II, with a rear Electronic Limited Slip Differential (ELSD), delivers industry-leading tractive capability. The system instantly detects tire slip and smoothly distributes engine torque to tires with traction. In some cases, the vehicle will anticipate low traction and adjust in order to proactively limit or eliminate slip with the ability to transfer up to 100% of available torque to one wheel.

Selec-Terrain is standard with Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II.

3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 Engine
The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee features the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. This flexible-fuel 3.6-liter V-6 engine is standard and delivers 290 horsepower (216 kW) and 260 lb.-ft. (353 N•m) of torque at 4,800 rpm.

4x2 models have a rating of 17/23 city/highway while 4x4 models achieve 16/23.

Jeep Grand Cherokee offers trailer-tow capability of up to 5,000 lbs. on models equipped with the Pentastar V-6 engine.

Legendary 5.7-liter V-8 Engine
The available legendary 5.7-liter V-8 engine with fuel-saver technology delivers 360 horsepower (268 kW) and 390 lb.-ft. (520 N•m) of torque at 4,250 rpm. The 5.7-liter V-8 also features VVT, which delivers performance, towing capability and fuel efficiency. The fuel-saver technology seamlessly alternates between smooth high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power from the 5.7-liter engine is requested. This optimizes fuel economy when V-8 power is not needed, without sacrificing vehicle performance. The 5.7-liter V-8 engine is mated to the 65RFE automatic transmission that allows the driver to choose between six-speeds when shifted in manual mode.

4x2 models have a fuel economy rating of 14 mpg/20 mpg city/highway rating. All 4x4 models have fuel economy ratings of 13 mpg/20 mpg city/highway.

Best-in-class trailer-tow capability of up to 7,400 lbs. is available with the 5.7-liter V-8 engine.

Safety and Security Features
Jeep Grand Cherokee includes more than 50 safety and security features and is an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick.

Standard safety features include electronic stability control (ESC), electronic roll mitigation (ERM), four-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS) with rough-road detection, four-wheel brake traction control system, remote keyless entry, express up/down windows for driver and front-seat passenger, seat-belt pretensioners, Trailer-sway Control and remote start, which is standard on Limited and Overland and available on Laredo models.

Other standard safety features include full-length side-curtain air bags, which extend protection to front and rear outboard passengers, seat-mounted side thorax air bags that enhance protection for the driver and front passenger, and active head restraints, which deploy in the event of a rear collision.

Connectivity and Infotainment Features
The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers customers an array of infotainment technologies for driver safety and passenger enjoyment. The features enable drivers to safely communicate, navigate and select entertainment options using advance voice recognition controls. Passengers can stay entertained with a multitude of features, including SIRIUS Satellite Radio™, Uconnect® Navigation, Uconnect Phone and Uconnect Web.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
Sporting a unique front appearance with a fully chromed grille and fog lamp bezels, and riding on 20-inch bright, polished aluminum wheels, the Overland Summit model is the Jeep Grand Cherokee to a higher level of indulgence and refinement for drivers seeking the ultimate personal driving statement in a premium sport-utility vehicle.

New features for 2013 include headlight washers, power folding side view mirrors and Front Park Assist. An all-black Nappa leather interior color choice is now available with accent stitching done in Saddle, and black Berber floor mats feature a black binding.

The award-winning Black lower and New Saddle upper interior trim, along with saddle-color Nappa heated and ventilated leather seats – with perforated inserts, accent piping and unique stitching – and Berber floor mats with Black and Chestnut accent binding, is still available.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee features unique Black Olive burl real wood trim blended into the instrument panel. The distinctive polished trim wraps into the upper panels of both the front and rear doors surrounding passengers with the highest levels of craftsmanship. The wood trim is also used on the standard, leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel.

Also standard on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit is the Advanced Warning System and Adaptive Cruise Control group, which consists of Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-path detection systems.

In addition to the exclusive Rugged Brown exterior color, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit is also available in Mineral Gray, White Gold and Brilliant Black.

Jeep Brand
Built on more than 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models are sold outside North America - and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 120 countries around the world.