Malignant Rumors: The SRT8 Super Jeep Returneth

Car and Driver is under the impression that Jeep engineers are crazy enough to create a second-generation of their hi-po SRT8 Grand Cherokee. The basis? No one will confirm or deny anything (good enough for me!).

According to their contacts, SRTs come out in the opening years of a newly-released model. That means a preview this year would make for a prime 2012 SRT8 Grand Cherokee.

With Chrysler woes and reorganization, we shouldn't expect anything super-new with the power plant. Look for is a stroked version of the current 6.1 liter engine (at 6.4 liters), still naturally aspirated, and putting out over 500 horsepower / lb-ft.

Everyone's screaming that to go big, it'll have to best the BMW X5M's 4.0 second sprint to 60 and its 555 under-hood steeds, and I agree (even though "between 505 and 525 hp" would be a HUGE increase). For comparison, the old SRT8 Grand Cherokee hit 60 in the mid 4s.

With mega output, an established reputation, an old M-Class platform underneath, and a target dead in its sights, this new high performance stormer will likely be a kick when it officially comes out. Expect more info as it's released.

By Phil Alex

Via: C&D

*Outgoing 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Shown in the Photos

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2012 Dodge Durango SUV Pictured in U.S. Patent Drawings

A Carscoop reader dropped these patent drawings of an unnamed Dodge SUV model in our mailbox last night. We performed a search of our own and can confirm that the images are indeed authentic.

And while there's always a possibility that we are wrong here, but from what we can tell by comparing the drawings to the latest scoops from around the web, it appears that the SUV - Crossover - CUV (take your pick) featured here is the 2012 Dodge Durango, or whatever else the Chrysler Group decides to call this model.

If you follow the jump and click the respective links, you'll see that the so-called 2012 (or 2011) Durango seen in the spy shots shares many styling cues with the vehicle pictured in these patent drawings.

These include the pronounced arches on the front and rear fenders, the shape of the window frames and the exhaust pipes. Even though under cover, the shape and styling of the headlamps and tail lights also imply that this is the same vehicle.

It is believed that the new Dodge CUV will make use of a lengthened version of the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee's platform, which itself is derived from the latest Mercedes-Benz ML.

That said, the Dodge model will most likely be offered with the same 3.6-liter Pentastar and 5.7-liter V8 churning out 280HP and 360HP respectively, found on the 2011 Grand Cherokee.

Thanks for the images 'AC' - Spy Photo Links: Insideline & Caranddriver

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