Three Middle East premieres from Chrysler group
More power, more sound, more off-roading, more prizes!
By Shahzad Sheikh
Chrysler group has one of the largest stands at the show and on it are three debuts for the region including the 6.4-litre V8 HEMI-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, 2012 Challenger SRT8 also with the 6.4 engine and the all-new Chrysler 300C. Plus a free concert tonight and giveaways…
Chrysler 300C
The 300C retains the 5.7-litre V8 but is otherwise totally overhauled inside and out. Alongside it Chrysler is showcasing a V6-powered 300S Dr Dre edition, especially flown in for the show despite being a US-market car, to gauge interest and reaction. The cool saloon uses Beats speakers throughout the car.
Dodge Challenger 392
It may look familiar and still inherently desirable and superbly retro, but the ‘392’ Challenger has been tweaked and even gets paddle shifts inside. The mighty V8 delivers 470bhp and 470lb ft of torque.
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Jeep’s Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the daddy – hitting 100kph from standstill in 4.8 seconds and able to go from zero to 160kph and back to a stop in around 16 seconds, covering the quarter mile in about 13. It has a top speed 257kph. This thing will be challenging the likes of far more expensive metal like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X6 M for performance bragging rights.
Read Fraser’s verdict on this and the entire SRT8 range here.
Wrangler gets Pentastar
Meanwhile the 2012 Jeep Wrangler finally gets the new and highly-acclaimed 3.6-litre V6 Pentastar engine with a new five-speed automatic transmission thereby addressing some of the only criticisms of this excellent off-roader.
Free Music Concert tonight and giveaways
There’s also lots of giveways on the show stand including chances to win Dr Dre Beats Solo headphones, Call of Duty MW3 games and Al Jaber Optical Vouchers. To find out more and for a chance to win a brilliant coffee-table Jeep book, click here now.
Also on the Chrysler stand just for tonight, Emirati Hip-hop group ‘Desert Heat’ will be performing songs from their new album tonighting at 6.45pm. Desert Heat consists of two Emirati brothers, Salim Dahman (known as ‘Illmiyah’) and Abdullah Dahman (known as ‘Arableak’).
Klause Busse, Head of Interior Design, Chrysler Group LLC
We were given a guided tour though the Chrysler group products by when the fascinating Mr Busse – here’s a couple of short vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCiFANyizow?rel=0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w897rVkE1-k?rel=0
