One of Jeep’s Core Models Might Be Getting Its Mojo Back

As part of Stellantis’s portfolio-wide electrification shift, Jeep started pulling V8 power from its Grand Cherokee lineup as early as 2021 with the discontinuation of the Hellcat-powered Trackhawk.

While the 5.7-liter Hemi managed to survive for a few more years, it wasn’t safe for long. The brand eventually axed that engine option, too, dropping the remaining V8 from the two-row model in 2023 and then the three-row come 2024.

Stellantis

Of course, nowadays, nothing in the car industry stays dead for long — especially if it’s under the Stellantis umbrella. Ram has already made a Hemi about-face with its 1500 pickup, and it sounds like Jeep could soon be doing the same with its Grand Cherokee.

A Hemi sounds like it’s in the cards

The news comes courtesy of a report from The Drive. Earlier this week, the outlet had the opportunity to sit down with current Grand Cherokee lead engineer Joe Aljajaw.

Stellantis

While he remained pretty cryptic when asked directly about possibilities for the Hemi V8, he did seem to suggest that the engine’s return was in the cards. Along with telling the publication to “stay tuned,” he added that “I would say for the Grand Cherokee customers that we are listening to you.”

It makes for a pretty solid public admission ahead of a potential launch, considering the current holes of the Grand Cherokee lineup. As The Drive observes, there’s a glaring shortcoming when it comes to the SUV’s towing capacity.

That’s because, even with the option of the trusty Pentastar V6 and a fresh turbo four, it still doesn’t have the edge at the hitch. Rated for a max towing capacity of 6,200 pounds, Jeep’s 2026 Grand Cherokee is short by some 1,000 pounds compared to its V8-powered predecessor.

Stellantis

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Jeep has made subtle hints to get fans excited. When the Wrangler 392 was confirmed for a return, CEO Bob Broderdorf suggested that the brand already had several other irons in the Hemi’s fire.

Opening the door for more V8 power

To that end, with the possible return of a Hemi option to the Grand Cherokee could also come the revival of the even more potent Trackhawk.

Without getting too ahead of ourselves, the conditions are shaping up to be pretty optimal for a new iteration.

Ram

For one, the model’s 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 continues to live on in the Dodge Durango. Given that the two SUVs share a production facility, Jeep could just as easily drop the more powerful mill into the Grand Cherokee if and when it adds the 5.7-liter option back to the lineup.

Moreover, Stellantis has given the SRT division the green light to act across brands from Chrysler to Jeep. It’s already yielded a Ram TRX resurrection for the brand, so it’d be reasonable to expect a similarly fire-spitting monster with a seven-slot grille.

Stellantis

Ultimately, though, it’s the current administration’s curtailing of emissions regulations that really opens up the possibility of more potent V8-powered Grand Cherokees. After all, in the absence of the EPA to stand in its way, Jeep hasn’t just renewed the Wrangler 392; it’s enjoyed a full-on renaissance with special-edition Moabs and Willys models aimed to make eight cylinders more accessible.

Hopefully, the brand extends the same treatment to the Grand Cherokee in due time. At the very least, the SUV is due for an SRT option, as the 6.4-liter Hemi has managed to escape most of the drama of its sibling.

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