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Body styling, interior finishes, the power plants redefine the Grand Cherokee and guarantees that it is here to stay, not for a short time, bu for a very very long time.
Zimoco Zimbabwe, who are the distributors of Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and Jeep, launched the new “off-road warrior”, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that can aptly be described as “the ultimate blend of legendary capability and on-road refinement”, last week.
This new beast was launched at the spectacular “Wild is Life” animal sanctuary that is located a few kilometres from the Harare International Airport. Put simply, this was a top-class event to launch a top-of-the-range vehicle.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with the quadra-lift air suspension system that gives the owner total control of his/her suspension system as it allows the driver to easily raise his/her vehicle up to 104 additional millimetres from the park mode to a maximum 270mm of ground clearance.
Speaking at the launch, Zimoco Zimbabwe general manager Mr Nicholas Lumsden said: “The Jeep brand is built on 70 years of heritage and is the authentic SUV with class leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys.
“There are many new features that have been added to this model. To name a few — the new quadra-lift air suspension that provides height control, panoramic sun-roof, more than 45 safety and security features, premium audio system with nine speakers, all new 3,6 litre pentastar V-6 engine that can average 800km on one tank of fuel. The list of improvements is endless,” said Mr Lumsden.
He added: “Also available is the legendary 5,7 litre V8 engine for those who require more power and in another four months, the diesel powertrain will be on the market.”
The managing director for Jeep/Chrysler Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Trent Barcroft, who graced the occasion, described the Jeep Grand Cherokee as the vehicle that “gives the driver the freedom to live the life he/she wants”.
Indeed, one can live the life he or she wants because the pentastar 3,6L V6 engine infuses the Grand Cherokee with 210kW, while increasing fuel economy by about 11 percent. The state-of-the-art design incorporates dual overhead camshafts and structural refinements that allow it to operate quietly while it turns on the power.
This new warrior is fitted with the selec-terrain vehicle management system that tailors traction performance to expertly tackle whatever the road sets before it. It automatically adjusts and co-ordinates 12 vehicle management systems, all with a simple turn of a dial.
The manufacturers of the Jeep Grand Cherokee say this new “off-road warrior” is “about being polite and powerful within the confines of every incredible instant. Grand Cherokee’s power plants, each infused with Variable Valve Timing (VVT), may speak quietly but they always command a great deal of respect.” – The Sunday Mail
Bongani Ndlovu