DETROIT -- For months, Fiat Chrysler executives accidentally have been saying "Track-hawk" when they meant to say "Trailhawk" -- the off-road-ready versions of some Jeeps -- before correcting themselves.
We may now know why.
At the Detroit auto show last week, Jeep brand head Mike Manley revealed that the off-road brand will put a 6.2-liter, supercharged, Hellcat engine into a Jeep Grand Cherokee "before the end of 2017."
Manley made his declaration during an interview with journalist and racing driver Brian Makse.
"Trackhawk" is a name that would fit that vehicle nicely. Jeep isn't saying whether the name will be used, but it did trademark the name "TRACKHAWK" in July 2014 -- along with "TRACK HAWK" -- about the same time Dodge rolled out its Hellcat-powered Challengers and Chargers. At the time, speculation was rampant that FCA might drop the 707-hp, supercharged, V-8 Hellcat engine into a version of its Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.
Even if the Hellcat is slightly detuned to better accommodate the Grand Cherokee's full-time all-wheel drive, the supercharged motor still would outperform the 475-hp, naturally aspirated, 6.4-liter V-8 currently in the Grand Cherokee SRT. That engine allows the big SUV to do 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
No word on pricing from Manley, but the current Grand Cherokee SRT starts at $66,490 including delivery and is Jeep's most expensive vehicle.
