Once upon a time, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 laid claim to being the fastest SUV on the planet, offering 0-60 times of under five seconds and a top speed in excess of 155 mph. Since then, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5 M and X6 M have nabbed the title away.
Jeep doesn’t look to be content with that scenario, however, and our sources within the company have confirmed that a new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is in the works and could be on sale by the first half of next year.
The prototype seen here was caught testing alongside a BMW X5 M SUV and this is clearly the rival that Jeep is targeting most. Like the previous generation, the new SRT8 model will resemble the regular Grand Cherokee on which it’s based but will adopt a more aggressive design for its front fascia. A lowered ride height and beefier brakes will also feature.
