It's been over a year since the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was unveiled at the New York Auto Show, but it's still not scheduled to go on sale 'til next month. Here it is circling a parking lot.
One of many recent sightings as Chrysler gears up to sell it's most convincing vehicle yet that shows the automaker is still in the business of making vehicles, the new Grand Cherokee will have to compete both with crossovers like the Cadillac SRX that Ray's Mom reviewed and big boy SUVs like the Chevy Suburban. While its sharper looking and more refined inside than ever, the ace up the Jeep's sleeve will remain off-road ability.
Based on the same platform as the current Mercedes ML, the Grand Cherokee uses a relatively novel air-suspension system to alter ride height anywhere from 11.5" of ground clearance for off-roading to dropped-on-the-ground for easy entrance and exit. It'll also come with a trick driving mode system called Selec-Terrain that alters the throttle response, traction control, shift points, transfer case, suspension height and stability control to optimize performance in sand or mud, for enthusiastic on-road driving, snow or even rock crawling.
Full details of the 2011 Grand Cherokee are here.