[TIME]

You may have read that Jeep will be debuting a new special edition Montreaux Jazz Festival Grand Cherokee.

Automakers will typically rely on special editions to increase interest for an ageing model. The typical thinking is pack it with content, add a special badge and watch the sales and margins increase. Is this what Jeep is doing with the Grand Cherokee? I think so.

We already know the Grand Cherokee redesign has been pushed back from 2017 to 2018 and now 2019 in order for FIAT to use cash earmarked for Jeeps to float other new products from FIAT and Alfa Romeo.

How does this relate to the Trawkhawk? Well I don't think its a surprise that we first began hearing news of a Trackhawk Grand Cherokee featuring the Hellcat motor right around the same time we started hearing rumblings that FCA was deferring CapEx for new models. The other two Hellcat cars are also quite long in the teeth as well. Sure the Challenger and Charger had recent styling updates, but the bones of both cars date well back to the 90's...

 

[BlackHawk]

It's unfortunate they had to keep pushing the date of the next gen model like they did, going to be interesting to see how interest in it declines as the years go by leading up to it finally ending its production cycle.

 

[TIME]

It's unfortunate they had to keep pushing the date of the next gen model like they did, going to be interesting to see how interest in it declines as the years go by leading up to it finally ending its production cycle.

benefit is we get to see things like track hawk. double benefit if they're extending the cycle out to 2019, a 3 year run instead of maybe 1 or 2...

 

[BlackHawk]

Indeed, and that's a good timeline for them to follow to run the initial Trackhawk, seeing how it does, using that as part of the framework for the next generation model.

 

[TIME]

Indeed, and that's a good timeline for them to follow to run the initial Trackhawk, seeing how it does, using that as part of the framework for the next generation model.

Yes perhaps if it exceeds expectations they introduce it sooner in the next production run...

 

[BlackHawk]

Indeed, and then there's competition which should also be up for consideration as i'm sure that could make for more of a push with a next generation model.