Steve’s 1998 Jeep_® Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

Engine Type 5.9 Liter V8 w/SMFI*

Engine Size 360 cid/5899 cc

Horsepower 255 @ 4000 RPM

Torque (lb-ft) 350 @ 3200 RPM

Wheelbase/Width/Length 105.9"/70.7"/177.2"

Transmission Four-speed automatic

Curb Weight 4232 pounds

Fuel Capacity 23 gallons

Tires (F/R) P225/70R16

Brakes (F/R) Disc (ABS)/disc (ABS)

Drive Train Front-engine/all-wheel-drive

Vehicle Type Five-passenger/four-door

Domestic Content 84 percent

Coefficient of Drag (Cd.) 0.45

EPA Economy, miles per gallon

city/highway/average 13/17/14

0-60 MPH 7.0 seconds

Payload 1150 pounds

Towing capacity 5000 pounds

Sequential multi-point fuel injection

Specifications II

When Chrysler took a bunch of journalists (myself included) to test the new Jeep Wrangler on the famed Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains recently, I was amazed to see several Jeep Grand Cherokees, each carrying a family of four, were scheduled to join us. They were only slightly modified with skid plates and larger tires, and each pulled a small off-road trailer. The trip took its toll on those Grand Cherokees, but only in the form of superficial scrapes, scratches and dents. True to the Chrysler top brass claim, "Any vehicle named Jeep must be able to handle the Rubicon trail."

OUTSIDE - Grand Cherokee comes with new names this year. The Laredo is the entry-level model, followed by the TSi. Two Limited models are differentiated by what comes under the hood. And other than the wire mesh behind the grille, the 5.9 Limited looks much the same as the Orvis model did last year. New exterior features on the 5.9 Limited include a pair of functional louvers cut into the hood, a beautiful set of five-spoke alloy wheels and a restyled roof rack. It's available in three different colors: Bright Platinum, Stone White and a new color, Deep Slate. The standard tires on the 5.9 Limited model are Goodyear Wrangler all-terrains, sized 225/70R16 and a full-sized spare tire with a matching alloy wheel is also standard. They provide excellent grip both on and off-road, and are relatively quiet on the highway.

INSIDE - Although it's quite capable of handling the rough stuff, this Grand Cherokee has luxury squarely in its sights. The seating is ultra-plush - maybe a bit too soft - but comfortable. The dashboard is stocked with all the necessary gauges and controls, which are simple to read and reach. Bird's eye maple wood trim wraps the shifter handle, sweeps up the dash, and cuts across the top of each door panel. The Limited version of the Grand Cherokee 5.9 is loaded with nearly every available feature. Some of that standard equipment includes climate control, a full length center console, sun roof, power windows, door locks, mirrors and front seats, leather upholstery, and a high powered AM/FM/cassette/CD system.

ON THE ROAD - The news for 1998 is that Grand Cherokee is more powerful than ever before. Joining the inline six-cylinder and the 5.2 liter V8 is a 5.9 liter (360 cubic-inch) V8 that develops a healthy 245 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque in stock form. That's 25 horses and a whopping 45 more lb-ft of torque than the 5.2 liter (318 cubic-inch) V8. Chrysler claims a nearly 25 percent reduction in exhaust back pressure from a new, larger exhaust system. Also new is an electric cooling fan and a 150 amp alternator. The acceleration is surprisingly quick, 0-60 mph in just over seven seconds. The throttle action, however, is a bit "touchy," so the vehicle jumps quickly while pulling away from stoplights until you're used to the feeling. It can haul a 5000-pound trailer with the optional tow package, but curiously, even with more horsepower and more torque, the 5.9 liter version is rated to tow 1500 pounds less than the 318.

BEHIND THE WHEEL - Underneath Grand Cherokee is a combination of sedan and truck. It uses a unit body platform, which allows the floor to be low, and makes entering the vehicle easier. It also is supported by coil springs to give it a soft ride. The truck components underneath are the front and rear solid axles, certainly tough, but not nearly as responsive as the vehicle would be with independent front suspension. Its all-wheel-drive system is called Quadra-Trac, and essentially needs no input by the driver, unless a low transfer case range is necessary, where a floor-mounted lever is the control. This year, to aid steering responsiveness, a torsion bar inside the power steering system has been added. With over eight inches of ground clearance, it will handle relatively serious off-road maneuvers without ruining the undercarriage. Braking duties are handled by disc brakes at all four wheels, with a standard anti-lock braking system (ABS).

SAFETY - Dual airbags, ABS and side-impact protection are standard.

OPTIONS - The towing package adds $245, while skid plates and tow hooks cost $209 extra. Our tester had a $40 engine block heater.

1998 Jeep® Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

Combines Performance and Legendary Capability

Auburn Hills, Mich. ­ The throaty growl of the exhaust system hints at the power brewing under the hood of the new 1998 Jeep® Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited. But it's behind the wheel that you will appreciate this new model's sophisticated performance, smooth handling and legendary Jeep capability. Powered by a stock 245 horsepower 5.9-liter V-8 engine, Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited is the fastest Jeep vehicle ever with a 0-60 mph time of 7.3 seconds, yet it retains the authentic four-wheel drive off-highway capability that is the hallmark of Jeep vehicles. "The Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited combines exceptional performance and handling with Jeep off-highway capability for a higher level of excitement in the compact sport-utility segment," said Craig Winn, Jeep Platform General Manager.

Powertrain

The 5.9-liter V-8 engine produces a stock 245 horsepower (183 kW) at 4,000 rpm and 335 foot-pounds of torque (454 N*m) at just 2,800 rpm. Also new on the 5.9 Limited is the 46 RE transmission, high strength output shaft on the 249 transfer case, electric engine cooling fan and high output 150 amp alternator.

Legendary on- and off-highway handling is achieved with the combination of a standard Track-Lok rear axle, on-demand four-wheel drive Quadra-Trac® transfer case and Quadra-Coil® suspension.

Interior Features

Luxury is reinforced throughout the interior with leather trimmed door bolsters and armrests, as well as leather covered console armrest, transmission, transfer case and parking brake levers. Rustic Bird's Eye Maple woodgrain accents are used throughout the vehicle including instrument and door panels and the automatic transmission PRNDL bezel. Unique to the 5.9 Limited are heated, 10-way, adjustable power front seats with 100 percent leather trim and premium calf's nap grain seat inserts. The 60/40 folding rear seat includes a fold-down armrest. Also unique is the spare tire cover with storage pockets. Among the list of features on the 5.9 Limited is at-your-fingertips steering wheel mounted stereo system controls for the new 180 watt sound system amplifier with 10 speakers in 10 locations, including the 4 speakers housed in the soundbar at the rear headliner.

Exterior

Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited is positioned at the top of the Jeep line-up with distinctive exterior features that give it a more sophisticated look, and accent the power of the 5.9-liter V-8 engine. Unique features include a front grille with an argent mesh insert, louvered hood, large chrome exhaust tip, body colored sill molding and chrome badging for the "5.9 Limited" on the side and "5.9 Litre V-8" on the rear of the vehicle. Unique to the 5.9 Limited are new 16" Ultra Star sparkle silver aluminum wheels with Jeep insignia center caps. The P225/70R16 Wrangler HP, vertical serrated blackwall tires provide exceptional on- and off-highway handling. A full-size spare with matching aluminum wheel are standard. Every 5.9 Limited is equipped with a power sunroof and a unique sleek, contoured black roof rack that provides the ease of one-hand operation. The 5.9 Limited's three exterior colors are bright platinum, stone white and new for Jeep, deep slate. Production of the 1998 model year Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited begins in the fall at Chrysler Corporation's Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit, Mich. The vehicle will also be assembled in Graz, Austria and sold in overseas markets as the 1998 Grand Cherokee LX.

1998 Jeep® Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited:

Flagship of the Jeep Brand

Auburn Hills, Mich. ­ Jeep®, the go-anywhere, do-anything name in sport-utility vehicles, now offers customers even more power, luxury and innovation to take them where they're going ­ quicker than ever before. The new 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited combines the performance of a 245 horsepower (183 kW) 5.9-liter V-8 engine with more luxury and authentic Jeep capability. "The 5.9 Limited offers our customers a vehicle that is unique to the Jeep brand and the sport-utility segment," said Martin Levine, General Manager ­ Chrysler/Plymouth/Jeep/Eagle. "The more powerful V-8 engine, added luxury features and Jeep capability positions the Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited as our flagship vehicle for the Jeep brand." Known as the gold standard in the compact sport-utility segment ­ a segment Jeep invented and continuously refined throughout the last five decades ­ Jeep again raises that standard with the introduction of Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited. "The outstanding overall performance of Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited is unmatched in the sport-utility segment with a 0-60 mph time of 7.3 seconds, exceptional handling and legendary off-highway capability," noted Levine. Levine added, "The Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited delivers on the Jeep brand promise of adventurous, rugged and versatile vehicles. But it also provides a higher level of excitement, luxury and performance of the 5.9-liter V-8 engine plus new exterior and interior features." Unique exterior features include a mesh grille, hood louvers, large chrome exhaust tip, chrome badging, 16" Ultra Star aluminum wheels and body colored sill moldings. Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited's unique interior features include premium calf's nap grain leather seat inserts, Rustic Bird's Eye Maple woodgrain trim, a 60/40 rear seat with fold-down armrest, leather covered console armrest, transmission, transfer case and parking brake levers. The award-winning Grand Cherokee model line includes the Laredo, TSi, Limited and 5.9 Limited models. The 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited will be available at dealerships in the fall of 1997.