As a long-time enthusiast of the Hellcat family and proud owner of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, I’m reaching out to the community with a concerning observation about my 2018 model’s performance. Like many of you, the allure of the Trackhawk lies in its monstrous 707 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. The feeling you get when you grab that Trackhawk Key Fob and ignite the supercharged engine is second to none. However, my experience suggests that the raw power promised on paper might not be fully translating to the road.
Initially thrilled with my new Trackhawk, I couldn’t help but notice a peculiar plateau in power during wide-open throttle acceleration, especially beyond 75 MPH. While acknowledging the Trackhawk’s heft and less-than-aerodynamic profile, I expected a more relentless surge of power. My brother, driving his 6.4L JGC SRT, even commented that my Trackhawk didn’t feel significantly faster during rolling pulls above 60 MPH, a sentiment I unfortunately had to agree with.
Driven by this suspicion, I began utilizing the performance pages’ dyno screen to scrutinize the power output during launch mode and wide-open throttle runs. The results, as captured in the snapshot below, raise serious questions about whether my Trackhawk is truly delivering the advertised horsepower.
Dyno screen snapshot showing Trackhawk horsepower readings during different drive modes, highlighting a power cap around 600HP.
Analyzing the dyno readings, a couple of points stand out:
- Baseline Test: A wide-open throttle pull in normal drive mode with Echo mode engaged predictably capped horsepower around 500 HP, as expected in this setting.
- Track Mode Discrepancy: More alarmingly, subsequent wide-open throttle pulls in Track Mode, whether manually shifting with paddles or in automatic mode, consistently plateaued right around the 600 HP and 600 lb-ft torque mark. Pull after pull yielded similar results, falling significantly short of the promised 707 HP.
- Environmental Conditions: The ambient air temperature was a moderate 82°F, and my location is close to sea level, conditions that shouldn’t drastically impact horsepower output.
For comparison, my previous 2015 Charger Hellcat routinely displayed power figures exceeding 700 HP on the performance pages during wide-open throttle acceleration. This stark contrast fuels my concern that there might be an issue hindering my Trackhawk’s performance.
Currently, my local Jeep dealer is investigating this matter, but they haven’t yet pinpointed a solution. Before considering a trip to the drag strip, I’m determined to resolve this potential power deficit. It’s crucial to ensure the Trackhawk lives up to its Hellcat pedigree and the expectations that come with its price tag.
Therefore, I’m reaching out to the Trackhawk community: Are any fellow owners experiencing similar power limitations? If you are observing dyno readings above 700 HP on your Trackhawk’s performance pages, please share a snapshot. Your insights will be invaluable as I navigate this issue with FCA and seek to unlock the full potential of my Trackhawk. Let’s ensure that when we grab our Trackhawk key fobs, we’re truly unleashing the beast within.
