2006 Jeep® Grand
Cherokee — Off-road Prowess, On-road Refinement, Right-sized Package
Since its
introduction in 1992, the Jeep® Grand Cherokee has revolutionized
the sport-utility market. With best-in-class tractive
capability and best-in-class power, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is designed, engineered
and built to master every imaginable day-to-day driving condition, whether
on-road or off-road.
All-new from
the ground up in 2005, for 2006 the Jeep Grand Cherokee expands the lineup
with the addition of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland — the most luxurious
Grand Cherokee ever — complementing the
“True to
its Jeep heritage, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is designed to be the most capable
4x4 in its class,” said Jeff Bell, Vice President – Jeep, Chrysler
Group. “The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers the best of all worlds. It has
three full-time 4x4 systems and three superior engine offerings. The Jeep
Grand Cherokee provides power with the 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI®, the
4.7-liter V-8 and the 3.7-liter V-6 for improved fuel economy. The Jeep Grand
Cherokee is the real thing.”
Jeep Grand
Cherokee
The 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo is powered by a 3.7-liter
SOHC V-6 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. It produces
210 hp (157 kW) at 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N•m)
at 4,000 rpm. The Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 includes Quadra-Trac
I® full-time four-wheel-drive system as standard.
Standard
features on the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo include ESP with roll mitigation,
brake assist, brake traction control system, rack and pinion steering, four-wheel
disc brakes with ABS, tire pressure monitor system (TPM), one-touch up/down
windows, air conditioning, 17-inch Sparkle Silver finish wheels and tires,
eight-way power driver seat and front driver and passenger adjustable lumbar
support, vehicle information center, 60/40 split-folding rear seat with folding
outboard head restraint and retractable cup holders in seat cushions, Sentry
Key® engine immobilizer system and remote keyless entry, cargo
storage with reversible load-floor and water-resistant storage compartment,
and AM/FM stereo with CD, changer controls and new auxiliary input jack.
Optional
equipment includes Quadra-Trac II, off-road package,
SIRIUS Satellite Radio, DVD-based navigation radio, UConnect
TM , power sun roof, power adjustable pedals and heated cloth
seats. Colors options on the vehicle include Black, Bright Silver Metallic,
Deep Beryl Green, Dark Khaki, Inferno Red, Light Khaki, Midnight Blue and
Stone White.
Jeep Grand
Cherokee Limited
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 model
features a 4.7-liter SOHC V-8 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission
and the Quadra-Trac II four-wheel-drive system.
The 4.7-liter V-8 is the mid-range engine in Grand Cherokee. The engine produces
235 horsepower (176 kW) at 4,500 rpm and 305 lb.-ft. (414 N•m) of torque at 3,600 rpm.
In addition
to Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo standard features, the Limited model features
leather interior trim, unique 17-inch machined face aluminum wheels, SmartBeam™
headlamps, ParkSense TM , TPM with display, adjustable roof rack crossrails, power adjustable pedals with memory, rain-sensing
automatic wipers, Jeep memory system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, electrochromic
interior rearview mirror, eight-way power driver and four-way power front
passenger seats, AM/FM stereo with six-disc in-dash CD with MP3 capability,
Boston Acoustics six-speaker premium sound system with 276-watt digital amplifier
and HomeLink® universal garage door opener.
Optional
equipment includes Quadra-Drive II®, 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine,
17-inch aluminum chrome clad wheels, DVD-based navigation radio, ParkSense,
power sun roof, trailer tow package, off-road package, which includes skid
plates and tow hooks, and side air bags.
Jeep Grand
Cherokee
New for 2006 is the addition of the Jeep
Grand Cherokee Overland model. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland features a
5.7-liter HEMI engine. The engine produces 330 horsepower (246 kW) at
5,000 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. (509 N•m) at 4,000
rpm. The Grand Cherokee Overland also includes Quadra Drive II, the ultimate
four-wheel-drive system.
The Jeep
Grand Cherokee Overland carries unique platinum accents that are placed throughout
the entire vehicle. Platinum details can be seen on the front grille, bodyside
and beltline-moldings, 17-inch platinum-clad wheels, roof rack side rails,
lift gate light bar, side-view mirrors and rear bumper.
Other features
standard on the Overland model include standard leather and real wood steering
wheel, wood door and console trim bezels, side air bags, ParkSense,
TPM, trailer tow group, DVD-based navigation radio, SIRIUS Satellite Radio,
two-tone seats with ultra-suede and leather-trimmed seats with accent stitching,
leather-wrapped center console armrest and “Overland” logo embroidered on
front seat backs.
Available
optional equipment includes a rear DVD player, off-road package and engine
block heater.
The 2006
Jeep Grand Cherokee features three different four-wheel-drive systems.
Four-Wheel-Drive
Systems
Quadra-Trac I
For Jeep Grand Cherokee customers who
want the assurance of full-time four-wheel drive without any switches or levers
to pull, Quadra-Trac I is the right system. The
system provides for smooth operation of the vehicle over a variety of road
surface conditions.
The NV140
transfer case splits torque 48/52 percent (front/rear) for nearly even distribution
of engine power. The single-speed transfer case has been designed to rigorous
Jeep durability standards while offering smooth and quiet operation. The use
of the Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) with the NV140 transfer case makes
the 4x4 system extremely competent in most situations.
Quadra-Trac II
The Quadra-Trac
II 4x4 system for Jeep Grand Cherokee gives the customer
the benefit of the NV245 two-speed active transfer case and BTCS. Quadra Trac
II is standard on 4.7-liter V-8 engine and is offered as a new option for
2006 on the 3.7-liter V-6 engine (late availability).
The transfer
case is the same one used in the Quadra-Drive II system. It takes input from
a variety of sensors to determine tire slip at the earliest possible moment
and takes corrective action. The system also uses Throttle Anticipate—sensing
quick movement in throttle from a stop—and takes steps to maximize traction
before tire slippage even occurs.
Torque is
transferred to the individual wheels as needed by the BTCS to maintain traction
in changing road conditions. When the system senses tire slip, it modulates
brake pressure to the slipping wheel, which directs torque to the tires with
the best traction.
Quadra-Trac II features an electronic shift mechanism for ease-of-use.
The transfer case offers a low range for off-road situations and includes
a neutral position for trouble-free towing behind another vehicle.
Quadra-Drive
II
The Quadra-Drive II Jeep 4x4 system offers customers the ultimate in off-road capability.
It combines the NV245 full-time transfer case with Electronic Limited Slip
Differentials (ELSD) for best-in-class tractive
performance. The system instantly detects tire slip and smoothly distributes
engine torque to the tires with traction. In some cases, the vehicle will
even anticipate low traction and adjust
to proactively limit or eliminate slip.
The heart
of the system is the NV245 active transfer case. This transfer case includes
a center differential coupled with an electronically controlled clutch pack,
varying it from a completely open state to completely locked and infinite
possibilities in between. The 4-Low gear ratio is 2.72:1.
A key component
in the Quadra-Drive II system is the ELSD — an industry-first application
front/rear/center — and the new benchmark for automatic traction differentials.
The ELSD uses electronically controlled clutch packs to automatically and
instantly vary from slip to lock at each axle. This maximizes traction when
needed without any of the on-road drawbacks normally associated with such
a robust 4x4 system.
All components
of the system work together, continually monitoring needs, to provide smooth
and automatic application of the components for best-in-class tractive
performance while improving the day-to-day on-road driving experience. For
example, the ELSD releases the clutch packs in the front axle during turns
to allow differentiation and prevent crow hop.
The 2006
Jeep Grand Cherokee offers three engine options.
Engines
3.7-liter,
SOHC, V-6 Engine
The 3.7-liter V-6 engine provides the
2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a more powerful base engine that is efficient,
durable and smooth. It produces 210 horsepower (157 kW) at 5,200 rpm
and 235 lb.-ft. (319 N•m) at 4,000 rpm.
4.7-liter,
SOHC, V-8 Engine
The 4.7-liter V-8 is the mid-range engine
in Grand Cherokee. The engine produces 235 horsepower (175 kW) at 4,500
rpm and 305 lb.-ft. (414 N•m) of torque at
3,600 rpm. Dual knock sensors enable improved engine calibration for both
fuel economy and power output.
The engine
has improved NVH characteristics, realized through the use of composite valve
covers, structural improvements to the air box and resonator and improved
dampening of the heat shields.
5.7-liter
HEMI V-8 Engine
The modern HEMI engine has been engineered
to deliver outstanding performance and reduced noise, vibration and harshness
(NVH), resulting in a highly refined powerplant.
The engine gives the Grand Cherokee best-in-class power, while 90 percent
of the engine’s peak torque is available from 2,900 rpm through 5,100 rpm
for excellent performance. The engine produces 330 horsepower (246 kW) at
5,000 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. (509 N•m) at 4,000
rpm.
Fuel economy
has also been improved, but not at the expense of HEMI performance. Chrysler
Group has developed the Multi-Displacement System (MDS) that deactivates four
cylinders when the V-8 is not needed. Chrysler Group is the first manufacturer
to offer fuel-conserving MDS in an SUV.
The Chrysler
Group MDS seamlessly alternates between smooth, high fuel-economy four-cylinder
mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power from the 5.7-liter
HEMI engine is in demand. This optimizes fuel economy when V-8 power is not
needed, without sacrificing vehicle performance or towing capability.
As a result,
consumers will experience estimated fuel economy gains of up to 20 percent
under various driving conditions. Improved fuel economy is realized without
any change in the customer’s driving experience.
Some of the
significant technologies enabling MDS include the speed of electronic controls,
the sophistication of the algorithms controlling the systems and the use of
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC). The HEMI is able to transition from eight
cylinders to four in 40 milliseconds.
This 5.7-liter
HEMI V-8 engine with MDS has completed over 6.5 million customer-equivalent
miles through Chrysler Group’s development and durability testing.
The HEMI
engine that powers the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee uses aluminum cylinder heads
with hemispherical combustion chambers, creating outstanding airflow leading
to high power and torque. Dual ignition (two spark plugs per cylinder) increases
peak power and torque, reduces exhaust emissions, increases fuel economy and
provides a smooth idle. The combustion system has been refined and the engine
uses direct-mount accessories for quieter operation.
The Jeep
Grand Cherokee is produced at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in
Jeep Trail
Rated®
The Jeep Trail Rated badge communicates
that the vehicle has been designed to perform in a variety of challenging
off-road conditions identified by five key consumer-oriented performance categories:
Traction, Ground Clearence, Maneuverability, Articulation
and Water Fording.
Jeep Trail Rated is and industry-leading methodology established by the Navada Automotive Test Center (NATC) and Jeep Engineering to objectively measure and consistently predict off-road perforance for all Jeep vehicles today and into the future. Through a combination of natural and controlled field tests, as well as computer-simulated environments, Jeep Trail Rated provides a repeatable and consistent measurement of-off-road performance for jeep vehicles. Only Jeep vehicles are Trail Rated.