Automakers are constantly coming up with ways to entice buyers to spend just a few extra dollars on feel-good features or aesthetic extras that increase profit margins by more than you might think. The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Night Edition is just the latest in a long line of shameless option packages that admittedly look cool, despite their questionable value for the consumer.
Then again, if you’re among those willing to pony up for the Grand Cherokee’s $64,870 MSRP, you probably don’t mind paying a premium price for some Glossy Black accent pieces or a limited edition color option.
The roof, rear spoiler, front grille bezels, B and C pillars, and side window surrounds all come painted in the aforementioned Gloss Black, while badging on the hood and liftgate get a Satin Black finish. New lightweight five-spoke “5Ten 20-inch wheels also come finished in the aforementioned Satin Black, highlighting the Grand Cherokee’s huge Brembo brake kit. Buyers can choose between Velvet Red, Billet Silver, and Granite Crystal paint options for their “stealthy” 475 horsepower SUV.
Pricing hasn’t been set yet, though it will likely be revealed at the Night Edition’s official launch at the L.A. Auto Show in a couple of weeks. Why Fiat-Chrysler designers decided the Grand Cherokee SRT needed a “stealthier” look is beyond us, as there’s absolutely nothing subtle about the HEMI rumble, aggressive stance, and massive brake setup. A more interesting approach might be a true “sleeper” edition, stripped of the SRT body cladding, wearing smaller wheels that mostly-hide the Brembo brake package, and featuring a more modest amount of badging.
But where’s the extra profit in that?