Images: Autoblog.com

Our pals at Autoblog were able to scoop some great pictures of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 prior to it’s release at the New York Auto Show in April. The one that you see here is wearing a mask to protect it’s secret new nose, but other than that and a little blackout paint it would appear that it’s a ready for production vehicle, especially since it is pulling a loaded trailer!

When it debuts in New York we expect to see the new 6.4-liter HEMI V8 under the hood. It’s reported to make around 470 horsepower and will be backed by a 5-speed transmission with paddle shifters, a first for the Cherokee SRT8. It will also have  new adaptive damping suspension, massive 14-inch Brembo brakes and 20-inch alloy wheels wearing with Pirelli’s all the way around.

We’ve reported quite a bit lately on the new ZF transmissions making their way into the Chrysler camp, but those transmissions were intended for the smaller front wheel drive cars as well as the new Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. We assume that it’s just a matter of time until something like that blends into the Cherokee.

While we love a good muscle truck as much as the next guy, Chrysler is clearly not aiming this vehicle at the off road crowd, but more the type of people that are currently driving BMW, Audi, and ironically even Mercedes SUV’s. We say, fight it out and let the best truck win!