If you haven’t been following our sister publication, Fiat-Chrysler Authority, now is the time. Why? Because FCA has some of the most interesting product portfolios we’ve seen in sometime. Said portfolios includes Jeep and its upcoming Grand Cherokee Hellcat.
Now that we’ve gotten our FCA publication plug out of the way, here’s what we’ll be discussing today, our dear readers: Should Chevrolet or GMC be readying some sort of Grand Cherokee Hellcat rival?
Jeep has promised the Grand Cherokee Hellcat by 2017 at the latest, and the SUV has already been spied completely uncovered performing acceleration and braking tests. We highly, highly doubt Chevrolet or GMC wants to chase Jeep down this particular rabbit hole, but there’s most definitely a market for it.
If Jeep were a standalone automaker, its sales figures would push it towards the top of the chart. If that’s not a competitor to Chevrolet, and more specifically GMC, we don’t know what is.
However, there is a bit of an ace up General Motors’ sleeve, even more specifically, up Cadillac’s. We’ve heard through the grapevine that Cadillac has been tossing around the idea of an Escalade-V. What would power a Cadillac Escalade-V? The 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V8 engine.
The LT4 would still be down roughly 57 hp at the crank, but it would be a formidable challenger. Again, it’s highly unlikely GMC or Chevrolet graces us with a souped up SUV, but GMC did it once before, remember?
Talk to us in the comment section below, and voice yourself in the poll, too.
Comments
Well, would people want a new Acadia with the 6.2 L LT4 with AWD?
But GMC should consider a Wrangler rival or Chevy should consider bringing back the Blazer
I’d say yes and give it to GMC . But it would have to be a true off-road SUV . Don’t just dress it up as a wanna be with chrome skid plates and satin chrome badges . Maybe Chevy can take it on with their new ” Blazer ” ?!
Yes Grand Cherokee but no on the Hell Cat.
The numbers sold will be small, the price too high and the future too limited.
We already have a mid size RWD coming and a simple TT V6 would make a nice Denali package and not cost too much and be even better on the CAFE.
The Tomahawk is a limited model with a limited future.
Lt4 powered Trax! 🙂
Ultimate Sleeper. No one would believe that lump could move.
I would love to see an LF4 AWD Acadia, but that of course would line up more with the 6.4 SRT8 GC, not the Hellcat.
The Hellcat GC will make headlines but not due anything else to progress the brand. The more they give the middle finger to the EPA the closer they are to signing their death certificate. It’s like they don’t care if they are around more than 5 years longer.
Sean I’m assuming your talking about the GMC Typhoon when you say they already did it once? I would love to see a 2nd Generation of the Syclone and Typhoon! Look at the Amazing Performance they got out of those BadAss Machines with early 90’s technology, just imagine what they could do with today’s technology???
There’s a few routes I think GM could/should take here. One would be ignore the Grand Cherokee and go for a Wrangler rival in 2 and 4 door and conventional 4WD, a shifter and transfer case.
Second would be to either bring back the Blazer or move something into the class to compete with the Grand Cherokee, again with conventional 4WD. I don’t like AWD because the front wheels are not needed 8 months out of the year.
Now on something like a Hellcat Grand Cherokee AWD makes more sense, it’s a lot of power for some people and it’ll never see the off-road, hell it’ll barely see a road period.
I really love the Tahoe and Suburban though and I’d really love to see that lineup continue, so I think a big focus should be on improving it. Also I think the Tahoe could be the prime candidate for a Hellcat Grand Cherokee fighter. But maybe if they’re trying to build it for the classy element like FCA is trying to do with Jeep then maybe use the Yukon as the fighter.
I think doing a high performance SUV is a waste of resources but if GM made the decision to do it then only the Escalade V-Sport make sense.
Forget about a Hellcat rival. Just bring back a true off-road mid-sized SUV like a new Trailblazer for the North America market with the latest in engine choices and technology.
I think either GMC or Cadillac can bring out a true RWD based SUV that slots above the Acadia and XT5. Theres a market for high end suvs with alot of power. Im just not sure which powerplant it would use, LT4, LSA, LS7?
If they really wanted to get exclusive maybe they could put the TTV8 thats coming for the CT6 and put it on the Caddy version. GM really needs a performance SUV. Seems like GM is always late to the game but when they show up they kill’em.
Maybe instead of an expensive 650 horsepower LT4 supercharged 6.2L V8, the solution might be an updated LS7 7.0L V8 with direct fuel injection and cylinder deactivation to give low end torque while having the capability of running as possibly a V4 to increase overall fuel mileage.
Sounds good to me. We had 2 TrailBlazer SSs and enjoyed them a lot. Thought a GMC Envoy might have been a bit better. It was available as a Saab Aero as well. Bring it on!
Going after the Jeep Hellcat would be cool. -not too sure if it’s worth the small reward- if GM decides to,probably Chevy would be the one since they are more of the performance division of GM compared to GMC.
But GMC definitely needs their own vehicle already such as a Hummer type vehicle or a Jeep Wrangler fighter.
It’s 2016 and GMC is still just Chevy’s with a little different sheet metal. Times have changed, it’s time to make GMC a bit of it’s own division.
This type of car isn’t my area but I’d generally say that GMC needs more non-truck vehicles and needs to lead instead of follow.
I’d also make GMC cars even more reliable. Buick reliable. Because then being like JEEP becomes sillier, which Consumer Reports lists second from the bottom.
(It’s amazing to me that if GMC became even a little more reliable… it could surpass Acura. Imagine THAT ad campaign.)
How is jeep going to keep from rolling over or even take a stiff corner with anymore power. My tj rubicon scares me at 55mph on some curves.
On the other hand my 15 Z06 takes even the turns at the glen with no lean or wabble. It is just plain fun.
I had a great time with my 75 full size blazer. The small block 400 was excelent as was handaling properties. Bring back that truck and my rubi would have to go.
I don’t understand the appeal of an extreme horsepower SUV. Center of mass is just way too high. Sales volume is way too low. As a halo brand, it makes some sense, but I’m not sure the halo effect is enough to justify the engineering required to make a good product.
If the product engineering is not there, the Trackhawk seems damn scary to me, and not in a good way.
Trailhawk makes sense with Jeep’s heritage, Trackhawk does not.