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Historian John Dalberg's oft-quoted dictum that "power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely" can be sprinkled liberally across the automotive spectrum. Anyone familiar with an early Saab 900 Turbo (RIP) will attest to this. Here though, it takes on a grisly significance. This is the Hennessey HPE800 Twin Turbo Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.
That 800 in the moniker stands, naturally, for how many horses have been strapped under the Santa-spec red bonnet. 805bhp, to be precise, that ride shotgun with 823 torques to give a 0-60mph time of 3.1 seconds. That's fractionally, fractionally faster than a Ferrari 458 Italia. Mr Hennessey tells us it'll do the standing quarter mile in 10.9 seconds, travelling at 130mph.
TopGear drives the new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
That massive 6.4-litre V8 gets rebigulated to 7 litres, treated to two turbos and mated to an upgraded transmission and torque converter. It also gets 20in wheels, much leather and Alcantara, a Brembo brake system, lowered sports suspension and a carbon fibre lip spoiler.
Says Mr Hennessey: "This vehicle is designed for the performance minded driver who live in Aspen or Moscow and wants to be the fastest in all weather conditions."
Or indeed, the driver who enjoys plastering looks of sheer surprise across supercar owners at the lights. Yikes. Just 24 will be built, with prices starting from £150,000 ($235,000).
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
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billybobjoe commented on this article
at 01:53 pm on 21 December 2011
If it weighs about the same as the ordinary one (~2.3 tonnes) that's impressive acceleration. I wouldn't like to know how fast you could go round a corner in it though.....
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SAXO commented on this article
at 02:12 pm on 21 December 2011
daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam'
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Sir_Blighty commented on this article
at 02:15 pm on 21 December 2011
Well it may suit someone in America with just huge straight roads but american marketing guru's haven't heard about this strange Urban myth.. Corners.. I wonder how many premiership footballer should get one.. By By premiership!!
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Jagfire commented on this article
at 02:17 pm on 21 December 2011
beat that ferrari (i dont like it whats the point)
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jg99gt commented on this article
at 02:38 pm on 21 December 2011
Nice. Great color. To be honest it was made to go off road not just be the " fastest in all weather conditions". Use the suspension from the Ford Raptor (small 3" lift) with some 33" mudders, a police style grill guard, with a full skid plate kit. This truck would be unstoppable.
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