That trick diff, combined with the lower center of gravity, pays dividends out on the road. The 4xe's eLSD allows the transfer of 100 percent of torque to any wheel, and for torque to be sent to either side of the vehicle exclusively. That's plenty, but torque is the real star here, especially how it's delivered. Dedicated heating and cooling loops for the battery system keep that performance available across all conditions, allowing the powertrain to consistently put down 375 hp in total. available from the hybrid system, with instantaneous delivery of torque from a stop. The 4xe sprints from a stop to sixty in six seconds, nearly one second faster than the V-8 Grand Cherokee. The end effect of all that complexity: some astonishing numbers. Much of the front structure was constructed with aluminum to cut weight, and Jeep's engineers routed the front axle through the oil pan to lower the vehicle's center of gravity more than two inches compared to its ICE counterparts. Steel skid plates button up the whole package, protecting the batteries and powertrain. The powertrain mates to an 8-speed transmission with a two-speed transfer case. A separate generator/motor applies torque to the front axle and replaces the starter. It pairs that mill to a motor behind the engine, integrated with the transmission, which replaces the torque converter. ![]() So the batteries under the floor do not cut into passengers' rear legroom, nor does the powertrain force any other awkward ergonomic concessions.Ībout that powertrain across all trims, the Grand Cherokee 4xe leverages the 2.0-liter direct-injection inline-four borrowed from a handful of other Jeep products, including the recent Wrangler plug-in hybrid. Rather, the Grand Cherokee's new platform was designed to accommodate everything from the hybrid drivetrain to the traditional naturally aspirated V-8. That's possible because the 4xe was not conceived as an afterthought. Instead, the 4xe offers a different character to its all-gas brethren, which may fit some buyers better than the ICE alternatives. Instead, the 4xe offers Grand Cherokee buyers a legitimate alternative to its V-6 and even V-8 trims, but with none of the concessions forced by most hybrids. This hybrid system detracts nothing from the baseline excellence set by the Grand Cherokee's ICE trims. The 4xe is something else, but foremost it is a Jeep Grand Cherokee with no caveats. ![]() It is, and has always been, merely an appliance for moving sentient hunks of meat from one location to another. Our most famous hybrid - the Toyota Prius - doesn't conjure images of daring, excitement, or any real desirability. Early hybrids (even the clean-sheet designs) and the framework they established within our culture did little to combat that narrative. One even called the 4xe more capable off-road than any gas-powered Grand Cherokee ever built.Īnd this is an important distinction, one which resonates far beyond the scope of a single hybrid SUV.Ī hybrid badge is so often shorthand for boring, cut-rate, or de-contended, a visual indicator that the vehicle is less exciting and charismatic than the equivalent gas vehicle. "This is the most capable Grand Cherokee every made," was a common refrain during the presentation, echoed by Jeep's product manager and its engineers alike.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |