In seven months we've put a little more than 17,000 miles on our 3.0L diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's been a road test unlike any that Diesel Power magazine has ever done because we've been modifying the Jeep every step of the way as we learn about the new V-6 diesel engine.
Of course we know some of you will be shocked to even read that a diesel-powered Grand Cherokee is available. That's because the 3.0L Jeep is only sold in 45 states. Sorry California, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont-your emissions laws don't permit this amazing Jeep on your dealers' lots. However, according to Chrysler, the diesel Grand Cherokee will be available in all 50 states by 2010. In the meantime, allow us to give you a taste of what is possible right now.
The Fourth Diesel OptionWe debuted our diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee in "Diesel Jeep Buildup" (Feb. '08), and then took it on the road in "Baja 1000 Road Trip" (Mar. '08). For those of you not familiar with our project, we took an '08 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 16 miles on the odometer and had Diversified Creations in Brighton, Michigan, bolt on a 4-inch Superlift suspension lift; an ARB Bull Bar front bumper; a Warn winch; and a full complement of 4xGuard front, rear, and belly skidplates. We then drove the Jeep to Colorado where 4XGuard bolted on a set of Side Guard HC rocker guards. When we got back to Los Angeles, we installed a set of new 285/70R17 BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tires mounted on 17x8 Hutchinson Rock Monster DOT-legal beadlock wheels. We've been off-roading the Jeep ever since.