There was once a time when there was scarcely a Chrysler product that wasn't a Jeep Wrangler or a Ram worth recommending to a normal person. And then the new Grand Cherokee debuted. An immediate hit with an exterior that was Jeep-tough yet refined with performance to match. For 2014 there's no dramatic redesign, just a slight improvement to keep it fresh.
It's been some time since Chrysler has had a big hit and they're not risking anything. You like the old Jeep Grand Cherokee, you'll like this one. You may not even be able to tell the difference.
The bigger news is Jeep is adding a 3.0-liter diesel engine paired with an 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission, which should help carry the new GC to 30 MPG highway.
These are early photos which leaked early courtesy of a nice leak from VW Vortex who also has the full press release, which reveals the 3.0-liter V6.
This engine, we assume, is the same MultiJet II made by VM Motori and sold in Europe in the CRD Jeep. It's a 60-degree, 24-valve turbodiesel, which puts out something like 237 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque over there. It'll be available with the Limited, Overland, and Summit models and paired with the 8-speed transmission, which is available across the range.
More details tomorrow when the car debuts.