Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ)

Production period:	1993 to  1998
Body versions:	station wagon
Motors:	Petrol engines: 4.0–5.9 litres(130 – 177 kW) Diesel engine: 2.5 Liters (85 kW)
Length:	4488 – 4500 mm
Width:	1760 – 1795 mm
Height:	1684 mm
Wheelbase:	2690 mm
Empty weight:	1750 – 1933 kg

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is an Off-road vehicle the Upper middle class of the automotive group Stellantis, under the automobile brand Jeep is produced and sold. The Grand Cherokee for Europe was at Magna Styer in Austria made.

History

The Grand Cherokee actually came from the smaller one Jeep Cherokee developed. Its origins go back to 1983 when the engineers from AMC constructed a successor for the Cherokee. The prototype „Jeep Concept 1 “from 1989 anticipated the basic construction. The AMC engineers wanted to present the car in the late 1980s, but the then CEO Lee Iacocca prioritized revised Minivans the Chrysler Corporation, through which AMC was taken over in 1987. This delayed his performance and he now became the first jeep with a Chrysler emblem. He should be with that Ford Explorer compete.

In 1992 the first Grand Cherokee was on a large scale at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit presented: The then Chrysler President Robert A. Lutz drove the Mayor of Detroit Coleman Young the levels of Cobo Hall up and through a glass window. Production of the Grand Cherokee began a little later in the „Jefferson North Assembly “plant in Detroit.

All-wheel drive

4x4 drive was initially automatically switched on as Command trac. He fell with the SE- Equipment line according to the model year 1996 from the offer. The „Selec-Trac “system, on the other hand, offered the option of driving either temporarily or continuously with all-wheel drive. Both systems already existed in Cherokee. Only with the Grand Cherokee was there a permanent all-wheel drive with „Quadra-Trac “. As standard, it was in the equipment Limited and most special models and on request in Laredo. Until the end of 1993, there was only a block rear wheel drive for the six-cylinder versions Laredo and from 1994 also in Limited and from 1997 also for the 5.2-liter V8 – versions.

The ZJ models were built from 1993 to 1998. The models with V8 were on the list of „10 best cars “of the magazine „Car and Driver “in 1993 and he became Truck of the year the magazine Motor trend. The model won the highly regarded award three times in total 4x4 of the year the magazine Petersen's 4-wheel & off-road, namely in 1993, 1996 (after the introduction of the new project) and 1998 for the Limited 5.9.

On request there was one Up Country-Package with stronger gas pressure shock absorbers and other reinforced chassis components.

In 1995 Chrysler increased the torque of the 5.2-liter V8 engine from 386 to 407 Nm. With the model year 1996, the model received some minor cosmetic changes to the grille and bumper, which was now equipped with integrated fog lights. In the interior, the driver and front passenger airbag were now available as standard, the dashboard was given a softer shape and higher quality cover fabrics were available. Furthermore, switches and buttons have been revised and now have a more modern effect. The analogue odometer also gave way to a digital. At the same time, the „Grand Cherokee “emblems on the front fenders from AMC were replaced by Chrysler. The AMC inline six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 4.0 Liters was also revised; Although he lost some power, he gained maximum torque and smoothness.

Equipment variants

• base (1993 – 1995): The simplest model had fabric seat covers and a manual 5-speed gearbox. 1994 in SE renamed, electric windows and central locking were not yet part of this basic equipment of the ZJ. They only became series in 1995. The high price led to weak customer interest and thus to small quantities and this in turn to the discontinuation of the basic model, which is rare today.

• Laredo (1993 – 1998): This was the formerly middle one, 1996 for base Model with additional plastic panels and aprons on the body, electric windows, central locking, cruise control and five-spoke aluminium rims.
• Limited (1993 – 1998): It was the top model. His plastic aprons were painted in the body colour. It had a leather interior and, if desired, a sunroof, heated mirrors, electrically adjustable and heated seats, a key card (Keyless Entry), On-board computer and aluminium rims in a special design. From 1996 it offered even more luxury, such as a memory driver's seat, the remote control of the radio from the steering wheel and a progressive power steering.

Special models

Limited 5.9 (1998)

The Limited 5.9L was manufactured in limited quantities and only in model year 1998. Driven with the 5.9L Magnum V8, which also comes from the Dodge Durango R / T and later from the Dodge Dakota R / T was known, this model produced 183 kW (245 hp). It accelerated from 0 to 100 km / h in 7.3 s, making it the fastest SUV of the year. It was built only 14,286 times worldwide. His rarity and performance ensure that he is very sought after. The additional equipment also includes:

• functional air outlets on the bonnet
• Grill with fine-meshed grille inserts
• special aluminium wheels with five spokes
• Tires without white inscription
• a higher quality premium audio stereo system from the Infinity-Gold series, with 180 W power and ten speakers, four of them on a speaker console at the rear
• Seat covers made of soft calf leather
• Leather door panels
• Automatic lever, lever for the handbrake and countershaft lever with leather knob
• Wooden imitation cladding around the automatic selector lever base
• a spare wheel cover made of leather with various pockets
• a middle armrest at the back
• a lower roof rack that removed the carrier's squeaking noises
• Plastic planking outside in car colour
• Thresholds

and for additional performance increase

• a stronger 46RE gearbox with reinforced output shaft
• a Dana 44A differential (aluminium housing) with lock
• an electric fan
• Alternator with increased performance
• High-performance exhaust system with three-inch tubes (7.6 cm diameter) and a large polished end piece made of stainless steel.

It was only available in the exterior colours Deep slate (Black metallic), Forest Green PG 8 and Bright Platinum Metallic (Platinum silver) and also in Canada deep amethyst (violet-blue metal) and white.

Grand Wagoneer (1993)

Only in model year 1993 was there a particularly well-equipped version with a 5.2-liter V8 engine, the last jeep to be called Grand Wagoneer wore. He had the equipment of the Limited and side decorations made of wood imitation film and special „Grand Wagoneer “emblems. It was the most expensive car in the model range and was only built in limited numbers.

Orvis Edition (1995 – 1997)

The Orvis – available 1995 – 1997 – was an equipment package for the Limited, in the exterior colours Moss Green Pearl coat) or – less often – Light Driftwood was available with red and gold side trim strips (1995). Green lacquer accents on the wheels (suitable for the green car colour) and special „Orvis “emblems were the only external identifying features, along with that Up Country-Suspension package, the one Raising of the vehicle by one inch, two special towing hooks at the front and rear, protective plates for the gearbox, petrol tank and the underside as well as stronger gas pressure shock absorbers and off-road tires. Except for the windshield and the front side windows, the window panes were tinted dark. The interior was very different from the original model and included two-tone green-brown leather seats with red edges and „Orvis “emblems. This equipment package made the car – the most expensive Grand Cherokee version by 1997 when fully ordered –.

TSi (1997 – 1998)

The sporty TSi-Modell (1997 – 1998) had plastic planks in the body colour with indigo blue stripes in the lower body area similar to that of Eagle talon. The TSi package contained 16 ″ aluminium wheels with five spokes, 225/70 R 16 tires, sports suspension and more direct steering, seat covers made of perforated leather and a first-class sound system. The 5.2-liter V8 engine was available at an additional cost. The TSi was in the price between Laredo and Limited.