2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee news, pictures, and information

	Vital Stats
Engine : 3.7 L., 6-cylinder Power: 210 hp Torque: 235 ft-lbs Engine : 4.7 L., 8-cylinder Power: 305 hp Torque: 334 ft-lbs Engine : 5.7 L., 8-cylinder Power: 357 hp Torque: 389 ft-lbs Engine : 3.0 L., 6-cylinder Power: 215 hp Torque: 375 ft-lbs
5-speed Automatic

Four-wheel-drive Systems
Quadra-Trac I®
Jeep Grand Cherokee customers who want the assurance of full-time four-wheel drive without any switches or levers to pull will find that Quadra-Trac I® is ideal. The system is available on Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped wîth the 3.7-liter V-6 engine and provides smooth operation of the vehicle over a variety of road conditions.

The NV140 transfer case splits torque 48/52 percent (front/rear) for nearly even distribution of engine power. The single-speed transfer case has been designed to rigorous Jeep durability standards while offering smooth and quiet operation. The use of the Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) wîth the NV140 transfer case makes the 4x4 system extremely competent in most driving situations.

Quadra-Trac II®
The Jeep Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II® 4x4 system gives customers the benefit of the NV245 two-speed active transfer case and BTCS.

The NV245 transfer case is the same used in the Quadra-Drive II® system. It takes input from a variety of sensors to determine tire slip at the earliest possible moment and takes corrective action. The system also uses Throttle Anticipate – sensing quick movement in throttle from a stop – and takes steps to maximize traction before tire slippage occurs. When wheel slippage is detected, up to 100 percent of the available 375 lb.-ft. of torque is instantly routed to the axle wîth the most traction.

Torque is transferred to the individual wheels as needed by the BTCS to maintain traction in changing road conditions. When the system senses tire slip, it modulates brake pressure to the slipping wheel, which directs torque to the tires wîth the best traction.

Quadra-Trac II features an electronic shift mechanism for ease of use. The transfer case offers a low range for off-road situations and includes a neutral position for trouble-free towing behind another vehicle.

Quadra-Drive II®
The Quadra-Drive II® Jeep 4x4 system offers customers the ultimate in off-road capability. It combines the NV245 full-time transfer case wîth Electronic Limited Slip Differentials (ELSD) for best-in-class tractive performance. The system instantly detects tire slip and smoothly distributes engine torque to the tires wîth traction. In some cases, the vehicle will even anticipate low traction and adjust to proactively limit or eliminate slip.

The heart of the system is the NV245 active transfer case. This transfer case includes a center differential coupled wîth an electronically controlled clutch pack, varying it from a completely open state to completely locked and infinite possibilities in between. The 4-Low gear ratio is 2.72:1.

A key component in the Quadra-Drive II system is the ELSD – an -first application front/rear/center and the benchmark for automatic traction differentials. The ELSD uses electronically controlled clutch packs to automatically and instantly vary from slip to lock at each axle. This maximizes traction when needed without any of the on-road drawbacks normally associated wîth such a robust 4x4 system.

All components of the system work together, continually monitoring needs, to provide smooth and automatic application of the components for best-in-class tractive performance while improving the day-to-day on-road driving experience. For example, the ELSD releases the clutch packs in the front axle during turns to allow differentiation and prevent crow hop.

Engines
3.0-liter Common Rail Turbodiesel
The 3.0-liter common rail turbodiesel (CRD) engine produces 215 horsepower (160 kW) @ 3,800 rpm and 376 lb.-ft. of torque (508 N•m) @ 1,600 rpm. The engine offers up to 30 percent improvement in fuel economy compared wîth traditional gasoline engines, class-leading torque, outstanding towing capacity (7,400 lbs.) and class-leading driving range (approximately 450 miles). Clean diesel technology also reduces CO2 emissions by an average of 30 percent. Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped wîth the available 3.0-liter CRD will be built until the end of the 2008 calendar year.

3.7-liter SOHC V-6
The 3.7-liter V-6 engine provides the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee wîth a powerful standard engine that delivers efficiency, durability and smooth operation. It produces 210 horsepower (157 kW) @ 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N•m) of torque @ 4,000 rpm. A sophisticated Electronic Throttle Control system tailors throttle response to pedal movement based on operating conditions and maintains a consistent vehicle speed on rolling grades when cruise control is active. An exhaust gas recirculation valve helps increase fuel economy.

4.7-liter SOHC V-8 (FFV)
The Jeep Grand Cherokee's available Flexible-fuel Vehicle (FFV) 4.7-liter V-8 engine offers better fuel economy, power and torque than the previous generation 4.7-liter high-output engine. This V-8 engine incorporates electronic throttle control, two spark plugs per cylinder, increased compression ratio, improved cylinder-head port flow and a new combustion system. The result is 305 horsepower (227 kW) @ 5,650 rpm, a 30 percent increase, and 334 lb.-ft. (453 N•m) of torque @ 3,950 rpm, a 10 percent increase compared wîth the previous generation 4.7-liter V-8 engine. It also delivers a more than 5 percent increase in fuel economy. This FFV engine also gives customers the ability to use up to an 85 percent concentration of ethanol (E85) to fuel their vehicles.

New 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8
The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee's new 5.7-liter HEMI engine produces 357 horsepower (266 kW) and 389 lb.-ft. (527 N•m) of torque, providing better fuel economy, improved idle quality and overall refinement. The HEMI's new Variable Valve Timing (VVT) improves fuel economy in two ways. First, it reduces the engine's pumping work by closing the intake valve later. Second, it increases the expansion process of the combustion event. This allows more work to be transferred to the crankshaft instead of being rejected out of the exhaust port as heat. Essentially, VVT improves engine breathing, which improves engine efficiency and power.

The HEMI® engine's fuel-saving Multi-displacement System (MDS) seamlessly alternates between smooth, high-fuel-economy four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand. This optimizes fuel economy when V-8 power is not required, without sacrificing vehicle performance or capability.

Suspension Steering Systems and Transmissions
The short- and long-arm (SLA) independent front suspension on Grand Cherokee gives the driver a greater sense of precision and control and more precise §teering, while also reducing vehicle weight and head toss, all without compromising the vehicle's off-road performance. The five-link rear-suspension geometry, including a track bar, improves lateral stiffness to match that of the front suspension for optimum handling.

The 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee's standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP), helps the driver maintain vehicle directional stability in severe maneuvers on any type of surface. Signals from sensors throughout the vehicle determine the appropriate brake and throttle adjustments which give the vehicle directional stability. Rack-and-pinion §teering gives the driver more precise §teering, providing quick response during all types of maneuvers.

Available wîth the 3.7-liter V-6 engine is the W5A580, a five-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth shifts and optimum fuel economy. The 3.0-liter CRD engine is mated to the W5J400 five-speed automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The 4.7-liter V-8 and the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engines are mated to the 545RFE five-speed automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The W5J400 and the W5A580 have been refined for higher-quality shifts while giving Grand Cherokee class-leading towing capacity of 7,400 lbs. All transmissions feature Electronic Range Select driver interactive shift control. The shifter provides fully automated shifting when in the 'drive' position. The driver also can manually select each gear by simply moving the shifter left and right from the 'drive' position. This gives the driver control to precisely match any on-road or off-road requirement.

Jeep Trail Rated®
The Jeep Grand Cherokee's four-wheel-drive systems are Trail Rated®. The Jeep Trail Rated badge on the 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee shows that the vehicle has been designed to perform in a variety of challenging off-road conditions identified by five key consumer-oriented performance categories: Traction, Ground Clearance, Maneuverability, Articulation and Water Fording.

Jeep Trail Rated is a unique methodology used by Jeep Engineering to measure and predict off-road performance for all Jeep vehicles today and into the future. Through a combination of natural and controlled field tests, Jeep Trail Rated provides a consistent measurement of off-road performance for all Jeep vehicles. Only Jeep vehicles are Trail Rated.