Dodge Durango SRT and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

SUVs are becoming the mainstream of today's motoring and while it was meant to carry the whole family for everyday trips, it can be downright boring because why do men get married and ended up with family cars that are boring than what they had when they were single. Perhaps there is a better solution for men who got married by accident but going for the family car that is as fun as what they drove when they were single.

2018 Dodge Durango SRT

2018 Dodge Durango SRT interior

This might do the trick. Behold, the new Dodge Durango SRT and SRT really means all business because when you see SRT, all you think about V8 Dodges on steroids and it is. It's a family car on steroids and when you let loose with its 6.4L HEMI V8 engine, "Hey, how about those Republicans?" It maybe rude to say it during a conversation at the dining table but because this is the Durango SRT, this muscle SUV is ready to paint the town red, literally.

From its beefy front face, Viper-inspired bonnet, red and black interior that smells like it came from a red state, and the huge monitor that comes with a performance mode screen that displays G-forces, braking distance, reaction times, and everything that your SUV can't do because of such boringness this SUV doesn't have, the Durango SRT is all about American football, basketball, and stock car racing with the hint of nachos, pizzas, and fast food vittles that can irritate the next neighbor or two. I mean come on, this is how good old American boys love to do in their weekends and this SUV fits to such expression.

Believe it or not, the Dodge Durango SRT has the similar expression you'd expect from the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT because like the said one, the Durango SRT is powered by the 6.4L HEMI V8 engine mated to an 8-speed AT. This engine produces 475HP and 470lb-ft of torque and with this output, it can get from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds, which is as fast as a high-powered German sports saloon but with enough grunt to unleash 8,700lbs of towing capacity.

It maybe a muscle car but this 62,995 Dollar (plus OTR costs) SUV on steroids can handle almost everything because this is the first Dodge SRT vehicle to come with performance-oriented four-wheel drive system and with that, not only you can handle this behemoth like a boss but you can handle any kind of weather condition like it never happened.

While all sounds nice for a V8 muscle SUV with seating for six people, it can be downright crazy to drive and when you set the drive mode on TRACK, the Durango SRT will drive you as mad as today's news and public affairs. Like your granny spending the whole day watching Mad Mad-esque films no one heard of, setting the Durango SRT on TRACK tightens the suspension damping and steering gradient feel, resulting to uncanny dynamics that will enrage drivers to the verge of hypertension. How uncanny was that? Driving an SUV on track days can be downright crazy and in the Durango SRT, while it can be decent to drive on normal roads and not bad to drive on any weather conditions, especially when its snowing in the northern extremities of America, it can lose your sanity or your arms when you twist this car through the bends.

However, that Durango SRT is the least of the problems because somewhere out there lies a more crazier American V8 crossover that can irritate the smartest people as if they got smacked by some fat teenager girl doing a stage dive at the concert.

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk interior

This is the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and by the looks of it, it can irritate even the European high-performance crossovers with such output. 707HP from its Hellcat V8 engine, 645lb-ft of torque, 180mph of top speed, this is a Hellcat made for those who are feeling under the weather and they can't take the Dodge Challenger Hellcat or Charger Hellcat on a rainy or snowy day and thanks to performance-tuned all-wheel drive, you can drive it anytime, anywhere no matter the weather condition.

That sounds nice but you need to be brave because driving the Trackhawk has the same experience as an EXPERT-level 600-combo song that has some bits to hold, bits to tap, and so many to tap that are too fast to lock on with your eyes. It's going to end up slipping on GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, rather than GREAT or PERFECT because with the performance-oriented 4WD and the supercharged Hellcat V8 engine, the dynamics will end up on the GOOD side and when you engage all the hero buttons around you, you'd better get some painkillers ready because there are times this can can understeer in 911 Turbo levels and resorting to brutal driving style won't cut it because the dynamics can bite you real good like dog with rabies.

Apart from the crazy dynamics and the fact that it can seat up to five people, the TRACKHAWK is downright expensive with prices start at 85,900 US Dollars, which is as expensive as a European sportscar, and that's a shame really because while it was labeled the most powerful SUV in the world, it doesn't carry enough people than the Durango SRT. 

But still, despite the price difference, these American high-performance SUVs are capable of painting the town red with their deep Republican view against the opposition, raw V8 grunt, and practicality common to most SUVs. So, which one will you pick?

Photo: FCA US LLC

Second-generation Jeep Compass

This is the new Jeep Compass and while this is basically a Jeep, it's smaller than today's Cherokee and it is willing, able, and ready to take on the world's noteworthy compact crossovers you name the rest, especially homegrown ones like the Chevrolet Trax. Although this is as smaller than today's Jeeps but bigger than the Renegade, is the Compass worthy enough to be TRAIL RATED?

2017 Jeep Compass

2017 Jeep Compass

Not yet at the moment because before you can determine if this Jeep is certified TRAIL RATED like the rest of the Jeeps, you need to dig deeper on what the new Jeep Compass is. First, let's look at the design and while almost everything looks vaguely similar to today's Cherokee, noteworthy for its styling that looks like one of the baddies from Pikmin or so they say, the front looks like it came from today's Grand Cherokee, so for that Jeep that's smaller than the others, it has some of the Cherokee DNA implanted on the new Compass. Job well done, Jeep.

2017 Jeep Compass

On the inside, it still looks like every other Jeeps of today so the new Compass isn't a big deal for ordinary drivers everywhere. Although what you called above average, the interior boasts some nifty features fit enough for today's drivers and it's surprisingly roomy enough for your estate sale stuff. With a certain optional extra, the cargo floor can be moved up or down to keep boot space well organized for the most demanding schedules of today.

2017 Jeep Compass

Now, we're back at the main question and if the new Compass is capable enough to bore the TRAIL RATED certification only the best Jeeps has to offer, Can be a no and a yes, I believe. In a normal Compass, it feels like it only works on your grocery trips, fetching kids from school, city trips, and pretty much about it, but in the Trailhawk variant, which is a certified TRAIL-RATED Jeep, it's good enough for the harshest regions, great open spaces, running around town, and relaxing Sunday drives on America's finest, thanks to Jeep's Active Drive Low system with 20:1 crawl ratio and low range. Couple that with the Selec-Terrain Traction Control System and Hill Descent Control, and this Compass is a new dimension in compact four-wheel drive crossovers.

Power comes from the 2.4L Tigershark MultiAir 2 engine with 9-speed automatic delivering 180HP of power output, 175lb-ft of torque, and a ton of towing capacity for the Compass, which sounds very moxie for a crossover of that size. Handling-wise, the Jeep feels pretty much like a Dodge Dart and it's very docile indeed for an American car and with over 70 optional safety and security features combined with the latest technology and contemporary engineering, this Compass is all about watching its occupants while dealing with today's road situations by any means necessary.

The Compass starts at 20,995 plus on-road costs, which makes it one of the most reasonably priced crossovers in America, although it is two grand more than its smaller cousin, the European-engineered Jeep Renegade. Whether if you're going around town or playing rough on a quiet Sunday drives, there's a Renegade that will match your preference. What to like about the new Compass is its pricing, features, styling, and offroad capability on the Trailhawk variant but what's not to like about it is the interior above average for first-time buyer as well as its Dart-like behavior that is, again, above average.

Photo: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

Forza Horizon 3: A Wooden Opportunity

I only have two barn finds left two find and I've been given two choices; one that won't take me a lot of time to wait but can be downright slow or the other that is a gorgeous keeper to drive but takes a lot of time to wait before it's restored. Truth be told, I've gone for the first choice.

Care to see what that is? Let's find out...

That super rare barn find in question is a Ford Super Deluxe, one of the post-WWII Fords ever made in history, and this one's woody in terms of appearance. If by woody, it IS woody just by looking at the wooden sides that make it very unique for a vintage post-war car in America. Historians told that this is known to be the last of the all-wood-bodied cars before the steel transition at the end of the 1940s and although as extinct as the dinosaurs from prehistoric times, this fossil unearthed from the barn is a clear reminder of why we love cars as much as our grandparents do in their time.


Although it is a slow car, with only 90 horses produced on a big V8 engine, it's a car worthy to take on an adventure if you have free time away from your festival duties, All it needs now is to play yourself a nice song from your grandma's music collection to soothe yourselves but not so much.

Having enjoyed myself driving the classic woody wagon, I spent some extra time at the festival driving one of these bad boys I mentioned here.



See this Willys Jeep I drove? I made it to look like how an owner-type jeep behaves, only this time in offroader duties, just like old times huh? Driving a war machine used for American troops during the second world war and reemerged into a commoners' favorite that takes on all shapes and sizes.

As I recalled, this machine originated the Jeep name although there are some puzzles about the origin of the Jeep word via this car, although it was claimed from the slurring of the letters GP, the military term for General Purpose while others say it came for a character named "Eugene the Jeep" from the Popeye cartoon strip.

With driving now, explanation later, I took this little owner-type jeep I made myself for a spin around a rainforest on a misty day to see how adventurous and thrilling a classic jeep can be. Things get a little muddy out here...



Man, I love a good adventure driving post-war classics out on the Australian open roads and while I'm having a blast driving these American post-war classics, I still have some unfinished business to do because the journey continues...

Forza Horizon 2: The Last Barn Find!

Horizon intellectuals told that the final barn find is located at the heart of Southern Europe and what heart of Southern Europe I was talking about? Nope. You're wrong because the heart of Southern Europe and everything in Forza Horizon 2 is the Horizon Festival of course!

Upon my investigation, my witness instincts told me that the final barn find in the game is located less than two miles to the Festival, depending on your navigational skills, and this final barn find is none other than the mythical Lamborghini Miura, the car that gave birth to the supercar craze.

This is it! The last barn find and I'm on my way to complete my barn find collections in FH2! Isn't it awesome! I've finally got ten out of ten barn finds scattered all over the Southern European landscape! It sure is one heck of a ride out there.

There's no need to tell me what in the world is the Lamborghini Miura because this is the mythical sportscar from Lamborghini first introduced the supercar trend. It's styled by the now-bankrupt Bertone and it's powered by a 4.0L V12 engine mounted sideways to keep it compact just like a Mini. When production ended in 1972, over 760 units were made and such numbers is what you called "exclusive".

With the final barn find unearthed and now in my hands, I decided to drive this one for a road trip back to where it all started: Castelletto! Remember, in a road trip, you have a lot of decisions; follow the path from your GPS or take chances by yourself. Since I'm more of a risk-taker in FH2, I decided to take my chances as I cross my way to Castelletto.




Now that we arrived back to where it all started, our journey to the Horizon Finale continues.

Forza Horizon 2: Driving the Grand Cherokee SRT

Two years ago in the original Forza Horizon on the XBOX 360, I've driven the current-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and this muscle car in SUV's clothing makes me feel like I'm donning a stetson and imagining the Colorado location as my Wild West where the Grand Cherokee loves to have a duel with the other cars. It may have sacrificed its mobility for the sake of added speed, this car has some cowboy's honor on it.

With the arrival of its facelifted ego, every Forza Faithful in the world were wandering when will the folks from T10 be featuring the facelifted Grand Cherokee SRT, even last year's FM5 didn't made the cut because they've just featured a previous-generation SRT8 with the 6.1L HEMI V8 in it. Until now...



Here it is, folks. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. It's part of FH2's Mobil 1 Pack and although it looks the same as the pre-facelifted model that I drove in the original Horizon two years ago, some big changes have been occurred on the inside. Of course, it has some updated interior design in it but the biggest change of all is its gearbox. The pre-facelifted model has a 5-speed automatic gearbox but the 2014 model added three more gears so it's now an 8-speed automatic. 8 gears overall! That's about how many legs an octopus have or so I thought.



For a high-performance version of Jeep's flagship SUV, it's still behaves like a normal Grand Cherokee and all that beef jerky that I just ate for recess, this car still tastes like that old-timey Texan treat. That glorious HEMI 6.4L V8 engine sound, now that's beef jerky stuff and this sound can't get even more delicious. Yes. I just said that but since we're in FH2 and this is Southern Europe, there's no jerky but driving the facelifted Grand Cherokee SRT on FH2 tastes like fried calamari and nougat for lunch. Geez, why am I saying that? Is it because my mouth's full of chewy stuff?! Anyway, never mind about that but this hi-po SUV loves to chew through any road it crosses, be it tarmac, gravel, or dirt alike.



Although it feels the same as the pre-facelifted GC SRT8 that I drove two years ago, the latest Grand Cherokee SRT still has some cowboy's honor even in the world where beef jerkies aren't existed in Europe. Now that I spent several hours evaluating this car, I have a road trip back to the festival and I'll be using this car for the ride. Be advised: This SUV doesn't wait to go and...you guessed it...the Grand Cherokee SRT needs to go like Nina Needs To Go. Anyone knows where the nearest restroom is? I really need to go.

Forza Horizon 2 - Barn Find #04: Ferrari GTO

Now this is what my big plans for the Willys Jeep looks like. I decided to turn the vintage jeep into something more reminiscent of the Filipino equivalent of hot rods that were built in the shed; an owner type jeep. Like hot rods, owner-type jeeps were made from the shed and apart from the steel bodywork they've made, they're using old parts from old cars, mostly sedans, hatchbacks, or whatever. Although while owner-type jeeps look like offroaders, they feel like cars and they don't do off-roads unless if necessary.

Well, there's more to it than that, anyway, want to show how it's made? Huh? What's this? I've picked up a BARN FIND RUMOR? Involving an abandoned Ferrari 288 GTO?



The barn find in question was marked between San Giovanni and Montellino, my next stop for the Horizon Festival, and after venturing through the forest full of trees, I have discovered that the 288 GTO barn find is just 3.6 miles from the Horizon Festival. Just like the rest of the barn finds discovered (so far, it's been three barn finds discovered), if you found it, wait for a couple of minutes or hours until you get the notification that the 288 GTO's restored and then rush to the nearest hub to claim it.






Such a timeless supercar, isn't it? Anyway, the GTO name, derived from the legendary 250 GTO Le Mans racer, was used for Ferrari's berlinetta that was produced from 1984 to 1985 with a total of 272 units produced. Originally, that car was used to compete in the Group B Race series but when they found out that Group B racing was ceased to exist, it never got a chance to race one and as a matter of fact, all 272 cars are made to be road-legal. It was powered by a 2.9L turbocharged V8 engine that produces 395HP of power and 366lb-ft of torque. It's 0-60 was in the upper 4-second range and flat-out, it can do 189mph. It may not be as quick as the legendary F40, the first supercar in the world to break the 200mph barrier, but it's still an impressive car to drive if you're in the mood for savoring that Ferrari nostalgia you've been longing for since...the beginning of time probably.

Speaking of impressive, the road trip to Montellino's on and it's time for me to use that barn find I've recently discovered. See you later!

Forza Horizon 2: Barn Find #03: Jeep Willys MB

When you've encountered a third barn find rumor on Forza Horizon 2, then you'll notice that it was marked somewhere within the vicinity of San Giovanni in western Italy. Recon suggests that it's a few yards near the East Saint-Martin Speed Trap so the barn find in question is nearby.



For recon purposes, I've used the brand new Renault Sport Clio 200 EDC, part of the Mobil 1 Car Pack. You can use any car you want to find the barn find in question but feel free to use whatever means necessary in order to get that treasured machine. Remember, the barn find is located near the East Saint-Martin Speed Trap but if you're new, it's going to take a lot of time until you spot one. If you found one, you'll have to wait for a few minutes until a notification flashed to your screen, meaning that your barn find is now ready for pickup and can be usable in-game.






I've never driven an offroad vehicle that was born for military use by the US Army several decades ago but hey, I just remembered. This military vehicle was once originated the Jeep name although there are some puzzles about the origin of the Jeep word via this car, although it was claimed from the slurring of the letters GP, the military term for General Purpose while others say it came for a character named "Eugene the Jeep" from the Popeye cartoon strip. No one knows what is the true origin of the Jeep term from this vehicle but it doesn't matter because having a machine born from the age of Allies vs. Axis Powers is a collector's item in FH2. Drive it, race it, customizing it, the rest is all up to you to turn this war-born machine into one of the coolest offroaders you can drive through the entire Southern Europe.

Do I have big plans for this Willys Jeep? You'll find out soon in a later post...

Jeep Cherokee KL

The Cherokee is known to be one of the most vital tribes in Native American history whose first known center was in the southern Alleghenies and who presently live in North Carolina and Oklahoma. The Jeep Cherokee, on the other hand, is a legend in the history of Jeep SUVs since its inception in 1974 and for almost four decades, the living legend takes on various forms despite its retirement from the mid-2000's and the advent of the Liberty crossover. Now, with the Liberty already discontinued, Jeep announced that they would bring back the Cherokee name as their newest crossover which uses the underpinnings of the Dodge Dart.

2014 Jeep Cherokee

Despite being a Dodge Dart underneath it (or rather else the Alfa Romeo Giulietta on it), the brand new 2014 Jeep Cherokee is still the legend even though it's now a crossover that slots below its luxurious big brother, the Grand Cherokee. There is now a brand new 2.4L MultiAir Tigershark engine 4-cylinder engine as seen on the Dodge Dart as well. The new engine on the new Cherokee develops 184HP of power and 171lb-ft of torque and it's mated with the brand new 9-speed automatic transmission which helps the new Cherokee to attain 31 HWY MPG of fuel economy and at one tank, it can do about 490 hwy miles. Not bad though, not bad. Putting a small engine on an offroader sounds a bit of an off-topic but when you want more, there's an optional 3.2L Pentastar V6 engine which develops 271HP of power, and 239lb-ft of torque.

With the new V6 engine that is more powerful than the old V6 engine and when equipped with the Trailer Tow Group, it provides the best-in-class towing capacity of up to four and a half tons, which makes it...just another one of the crossovers suitable for caravanners going out for a holiday and since Summer's almost over and fall starts, might as well keep it for next summer but in case of day offs, the brand new Cherokee's worth the wait to have your weekends covered.

2014 Jeep Cherokee

The standard Cherokee is front-wheel drive, much like any other crossovers you know, but unlike any other, it can be offered with an optional 4WD powertrain and if you're opted for the more off-road focused Trailhawk model with the standard Active Drive Lock 4x4 system with 4-Low and rear locker, it behaves just like the big boys. You can get muddy and dirty with this one and that's more like it. In today's history, most of the SUVs have gone the way of becoming luxurious coaches. Range Rovers, Land Cruisers, Suburbans, they maybe off-roaders by their appearance but they're not comfortable at doing it. This new Cherokee isn't. It has all of the right gadgets and all of the right chemistry that makes this crossover well-honed in the tough off-road world. It doesn't feel like you're walking on thin air but more importantly, it feels like you're walking on custard. Talk about science but remember the good old custard rule; never stop.

The brand new Cherokee is worth a tough mudder's dream come true because it retains its TRAIL RATED attitude that most Jeeps had but I'm afraid that there is a downfall to the revived legend and let me explain what I'm on about...

2014 Jeep Cherokee

Chrysler promised the enthusiasts that the new Cherokee will have a much modern design but for you, me, and everyone else in the world, look at this mess. I just don't like the way Chrysler designed the front view of the new Cherokee and look at these slanted headlamps, this is as hideous as the bad piggies from Angry Birds but more importantly, this is the kind of crossover you REALLY don't want if you have kids five and under because if it does, it will make kids crying about there's a monster in the house, even at nighttime. If you had kids, you may probably not want to have this on your next camping trip or see someone having this because kids might think there's a giant bulborb waiting to eat them. Bulborb, eh? That's Pikmin stuff but yes, the new Cherokee is as scary to look as the monsters from Pikmin, particularly the Bulborbs, the Snagrets, the Blowhog variations, the Mamuta, the Smoky Pogg, you name the rest of the monsters that the Pikmin face against.

Why, oh Why? This new design really is like the equivalent of several enemies from Pikmin and it seems that my feet's starting to feel the frills right now because that thing made me as nervous as someone working from 9 to 5. And then there's another downside. When you drive this on the normal roads, this is as catastrophic as dropping a refrigerator from stairs in case you are dismantling your own bro cave. Also, if you drive one of these in, let's just say, at a children's party, or at the country club, the hospital, the shopping mall, or any points of interest, it's not pretty to look and feel at because when bystanders looking at it, they would rather just panicked right now because they might think one of the monsters from a video game came out to eat them.

2014 Jeep Cherokee interior

Happily however, if you ignore the exterior design and the jump on the interior, it's worth redeeming. You can have a sat-nav, a personalized instrumental cluster, buttons at the steering wheel, and if you wait long enough when this year's fall TV shows taking a break before coming back next February, you can have a special wireless charging pad that lets you charge your gadgets without the wires. That is worth the conventional one and while the tech savvy Cherokee provides more than that, there are 70 available Safety & Security features such as the new Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, ParkSense front / rear Park Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Cross Path Detection, standard 10 airbags with standard full-length side-curtain & side thorax airbags, new LaneSense Lane Departure Warning, and new Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go. See? Maybe the new 2014 Cherokee, despite its ugly looks, is redeeming after all.

So...what's good about the new Cherokee? It's the gizmos, the new engines, the offroad capability inherited from most Jeeps, and best of all the pricing. With prices start at 22,995 Dollars for the Sport model up to 29,495 Dollars for the Trailhawk model, that makes it great value. What's bad is the design that looks like the enemies from Pikim, the 9-speed gearbox's too much, and it's not pretty to drive on the streets.

Available colors: Brilliant Black, Deep Cherry Red, Bright White, True Blue, Billet Silver, Anvil, Granite, Eco Green, Mango Tango, and Cashmere.

Photo: Chrysler Group, LLC.

Forza Horizon: The Jeep Wrangler accepted the invitation...

Trail-rated to enter the party

Our road-mauling friend, the Jeep Wrangler, just got an invitation to Forza Horizon courtesy of the November Bondurant Car Pack! Perfect, because some parts of Horizon involves on off-road, this is the perfect time to show how the Wrangler is capable of even though this has a Pentastar V6 engine on the front.

Glad that I drove one of these again...

Forza Horizon: Cowboys and Grand Cherokees...

This ranch sure knows how to tame this!

By the moment I drive the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, I feel like I'm the sort of idiot who wears a stetson and some racing overalls, ready for some bullriding at the bar. Better yet, this is like an Irish bar fight! Wait, am I saying that loud, am I? Never mind...

Gotcha my little beauty!

...but still, I'm more than happy to take the wheel of the all new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. It maybe the heaviest of the SRT family, probably because this is a crossover made for those who are living in a western ranch and wearing stetsons for everyday lives but with the 6.4L HEMI V8 you get from the Charger SRT8, it packs a punch. It would be perfect enough to make some trouble in Colorado, if you are engaging in a playground game in Horizon. With the added weight, that makes it perfect to ram your rivals while you're shouting "get out of the way!" and makes you want to play dirty thanks to its 4WD layout.

Grand Cherokees are made for tackling any type of terrain whether if its asphalt or dirt and this, the SRT8, does really want to pull everything it got to have the massive V8 engine do the work for itself. This was made for the hairy-chested drivers, those who are brave enough to get down and dirty with this one and if you are noob for this one, well I'm sorry. You'd better off with an everyday car.

The out-of-towner

I drove the previous model in FM3 and FM4 and I gotta say that the SRT8 version of Jeep's flagship Grand Cherokee kinda sacrificed its handling for the sake of added acceleration and power. This is somewhat a muscle car in a SUV's clothing, if you know what I mean. Now, with this new version I'm driving, I'm getting a totally new difference. This is "riding cowboy" to a whole new level. Better get my stetsons on because this new Jeep SRT8 is a bulky high-performance crossover that sure loves to wrestle anyone that stands on its way.

Forza Motorsport 4 - 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Heavyweight contender

Debuted at the 2005 New York International Auto Show as a 2006 model, the SRT8 version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee transformed the SUV into a sport utility muscle car, combining the thrills of a muscle sports car and the versatility of a sport utility vehicle into one clever package.

It was powered by a 6.1L HEMI V8 engine that generates about 420 hp (310 kW) of power. It comes with upgraded Brembo brakes, a special transfer case, an electronic all-wheel-drive system and interior and exterior updates. It is the fastest naturally-aspirated production SUV when it was launched.

The one with...Pentastar V6 engine

Upon trying out Forza Motorsport 4's May Top Gear Pack, I have even got a chance to drive something a bit more highbrow. Last time, I've already tried the new 300C SRT8 and I wouldn't blame anyone who bought either the new 300 SRT8 or the new Charger SRT8 because they are all epic but overall, it's a lot if you're on benefits. This one came from Chrysler Group LLC and this is more of a hardcore...or is it?

Ready to frag n00bs!

The Jeep Wrangler, the one with the new 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, finally on Forza Motorsport 4. Time to put this Pentastar-powered Jeep to work!

Jeep Wrangler turned Top Gear Test Track
into Call of Duty...

This updated version of the Jeep Wrangler comes with the all new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 Engine which provides more fuel efficiency, improved on-road driving dynamics and refinement, more power and more torque. It is extremely quiet, constructed with a high-pressure, die-cast aluminum block fitted with cast-iron bore liners and aluminum cylinder heads. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine was made to meet global standards and it is Euro 5 compliant. 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds, 0-100mph in 20.6 seconds, and flatout in 129mph thanks to its manual transmission offered on this game. The 3.6-liter V-6 engine is manufactured at the Trenton engine plant in Michigan (USA).

When you're driving the Jeep Wrangler on Forza 4, you'll never know what's exactly is this Pentastar V6 engine just by hearing on it but in terms of driving feel, this situation is like this; if you're playing an XBOX 360 game that is too easy, you'll get bored. If you're playing an XBOX 360 game that is too hard, keep trying and when you get there, the results will be more rewarding. That's what this is. THIS IS CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS or CALL OF DUTY MW3!

For a thriller minute, this First Person Shooter beats Tetris but we can't just leave it there, can we? Let's deliver this one to the tamed racing driver. Some say he's getting obsessed with women wearing racing swimsuits and he's one of the Level 5 ESPers.

Okay, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon did it in 1:39.048, personal best for this car. No doubt about it, the 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine really made it a different kind of animal. Overall though, this updated Wrangler is more rewarding, just like that Call of Duty game. This Jeep was not made for n00bs but for vets who like to frag n00bs.

Jeep Wrangler frag the Top Gear Studio

Hennessey HPE800

Hennessey HPE800

Texas-based tuner, Hennessey, famous for their Ford Raptor-based Velociraptor and the all-original, Exige-based Venom GT, revealed their modified version of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, called the HPE800.

Despite the naming, the HPE800 improves the V8 engine to have 7.0L and 805HP of power output. It is capable of doing 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and top speed of 130mph. The transmission system's been tuned as well and it comes with 15.1-inch Brembo brakes that you can see it behind its monstrous 20-inch mags.

It is limited to 24 units available with the starting price of a hefty 235,000 US Dollars.

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12/santa-you-ride-has-arrived-hennessey.html

New Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Chrysler's Street & Racing Technology are very adamant that this all new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the most technologically advanced, highest performing Jeep ever made. I surely believed that this Grand Cherokee on steroids would only be fit for cowboys but it wasn't made to be more rodeo-oriented. I wasn't sure that this new model exceeds expectations against the BMW X5 M but it surely is a very difficult explanation to tell.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 interior

The exterior design looks similar as the Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 but because this is the SRT8 version, it gained muscular aero kits from top to bottom in order to create a meaner sport utility vehicle with meaner looks to scare away the predators at the dark. If you see the SRT8 badge at the back, that's how it goes "Nah-Nah-Na-Na-Nah".

In the interior, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is backed by a SRT-exclusive seats, SRT-exclusive steering wheel, carbon fiber inserts, and a 6.5-inch navigation system complete with Electronic Vehicle Information Center which provides real-time information on the Grand Cherokee SRT8. It also provides telemetry and data such as 0-60 mph times, eighth- and quarter-mile times, 60-0 mph braking distances and lateral acceleration figures. For sound quality, it has a Harman Kardon 7.3 Surround Sound System with 19 High-Performance, High-Efficienct GreenEdge Loudspeakers to bring out the best sound experience inside the Grand Cherokee SRT8.

The new SRT8 Grand Cherokee is powered by the 6.4L HEMI V8 engine that creates 465 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 465lb-ft of torque at 4,200rpm. It even comes with a Fuel Saver Technology for cylinder management to provide better fuel economy and to accumulate EPA estimated MPG of 12 city/18 hwy. It is armed with a 5-speed paddle shift transmission. As a 4WD, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 comes with the Quadra-Trac SRT full-time all-wheel-drive system that tackles against various road conditions like tarmac, gravel, and snow. It comes with the Selec-Track rotary control that allows the driver to switch through five different modes such as Auto, Track, Sport, Snow, and Tow.

There is an optional Luxury Group Package to provide more luxury to the interior but it can also provide features such as adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning and Blind spot Monitoring. There are 45 Safety and Security features you can find it on the new Grand Cherokee SRT8.

Available in four exterior colors such as Deep Cherry Red Pearl, Black, Bright Silver Metallic, and Mineral Gray Metallic.

My comment:
This is the best Jeep for enthusiasts but it's not as good looking as the regular Jeep Grand Cherokee. However, it's less expensive than the BMW X5 M because the Grand Cherokee SRT8 starts at $54,470 while the BMW X5 M costs $86,400.

Honestly, they messed up with this new model. Well, initially it's a thoroughbred sports utility vehicle but it doesn't. It takes moments to figure out how does the Grand Cherokee SRT8 and the result is that this SUV is not merely a 4WD thoroughbred and it's more complicated than a medium-sized woman.

Photo: Chrysler Group, LLC.

Jeep Wrangler Modern Warfare 3

2012 Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty MW3 Edition

After the success of the Jeep Wrangler Call of Duty Black Ops edition, the collaboration between Jeep and the Call Of Duty series gets even further as the Jeep Wrangler Call Of Duty MW3 was unveiled.

To be released this November, the same month when COD: MW3 will be released, this special Jeep Wrangler will be available in 2-door and 4-door variants. It is available in two colors such as Black and Bright Silver and it includes special Call of Duty badges on the side view and a special Call of Duty spare tire cover.

We sure know that the 2012MY Jeep Wrangler will be featured on the incoming COD: MW3 video game this early November and this will be major PWNage to frag more noobs!

Further reading:

http://www.netcarshow.com/jeep/2012-wrangler_call_of_duty_mw3/

One day at Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge Of Renton

Because of my overall enthusiasm over the 2011MY vehicles offered from Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep, I spent some time visiting Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Renton earlier and what I checked are these;

1) The Chrysler 200 sedan

I was impressed from the Super Bowl Ad featuring Eminem that carries Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" concept, so I found out how good the Chrysler 200 really is. I have to keep that in mind that the 200 is Chrysler's debutante that replaced the dull Sebring sedan, despite this is the Sebring's minor change model. The front looks like the Kia K7/Cadenza while the back looks like the Buick Regal/Opel Insignia. This new design really rocked me. The interior made it somewhat premium, premium enough to satisfy me. The Uconnect feature's not so bad either.

2) Chrysler Town and Country minor change

For 2011MY, Chrysler's Town and Country minivan garnered a minor change. It will soon arrive in Europe as the Lancia Grand Voyager (except in U.K. where the Chrysler brand remains). What I miss is the Swivel n Go function that the latest model ditched. It's a shame that rotating seats are not in their agenda but still the new Town and Country looks more of an Americanized Toyota Alphard minus the ottoman. If the new Town and Country reached to the Philippines soon, maybe we're going to love this luxury minivan even further. I bet celebrities would love to relax inside the Town and Country but it's much more expensive than the Hyundai Grand Starex.

3) Dodge Durango

Where has it been after its two year disappearance? Major major... The 2011MY Durango from Dodge returned after its two year demise. It's now based on the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the downzising makes it obvious that the Durango is now a crossover utility vehicle. Tough on the outside, luxurious on the inside. I'm impressed to see the new Durango improved even further. I hope CATS Motors bring this car soon!