Jeep Cherokee XJ Trackhawk Render Makes For an Odd Mopar Hero
Based on a 1989 XJ, a 20-year-old graphic designer in Mexico whipped up a cool mashup for fun, and it’s actually really cool!
In the sleepy town of Hermosillo Sonora, Mexico, marketing student Abimelec Arellano brought a 1989 “Trackhawk” to life with realistic marketing ads and renderings. Now, before anyone starts a relentless Craigslist hunt, it’s not real. It’s just the workings of Arellano’s active and brilliant imagination. The renderings are what he pictured a 1989 Jeep Cherokee XJ would look like if it actually existed.
Written in an opinion-heavy piece on Jalopnik by David Tracy, the fake track-ready XJ is something that’s both brilliant and, dare he say, “blasphemous.”
“This time-travelling nonsense brings you this today: the 1989 Jeep Cherokee Trackhawk,” says Arellano on his Facebook page. “Back in ‘89 there were no Hellcats, no launch control and no YouTube videos but people liked silly graphics, stock investments, aviators and videogames were just a thing, and for that and many more reasons I think the spirit of the current Cherokee Trackhawk fits perfectly in the era. It’s the perfect ‘80s rocket-wagon.”
Arellano was motivated to create this noteworthy mythical beast was simple: today’s Hellcat-driven Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. It’s most definitely a force to be reckoned with on the track (hence the name Trackhawk), since the hellish cat makes a hysterical 707 hp from the 6.2 liter V8, boasting a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. Which is even more impressive when the weight of the SUV, 5,363 lbs, is taken into consideration. So, the 4×4 family-wagon can carry the groceries and still smoke competition at the track in the same day. It’s a car that’s got some serious identity issues, and Tracy’s got some serious opinion on that front.
“The XJ is a dual solid-axle off-road beast, and thus deserves large sidewalls, tons of wheel travel, heaps of ground clearance, and as much unpainted plastic body protection as possible,” says Tracy. “A street-oriented XJ isn’t something that I can, in good conscience, get behind, no matter how fun it looks.”
Tracy makes a strong point, though. While Arellano stated he imagined the Trackhawk of yester-year being powered by the Li’l Red Express powertrain, it’s hard to shake the dangerous image of driving a car with a solid front axle (and thus severe lack in good turning radius or steering capability). Though, in all fairness, that wouldn’t be the case with the workings of a Li’l Red Express. Using the powertrain of that particular truck is poetic in the sense that the makeup of the very limited and equally loud pick-up consisted of a parts salad from other Dodge trucks. With that in mind, Tracy felt compelled to say:
“Using the Dodge Li’l Red Express’ powertrain seems fun, but if it were me, I’d just keep the 4.0 in there or go with a more modern 360 V8 out of a Ram,” said a pensive Tracy. “The Li’l Red Express’s 360 V8 mated to a three-speed auto may have been a quick combination back in the late 1970s, but by the late 1980s, I think there were better Chrysler-derived options to be had.”
In a way, he’s right. It would have been a unique set up, but in an XJ, maybe not a particularly quick one. The V8 in the Li’l Red only made 225 hp and generated only 295 ft lbs of torque, despite all the parts borrowed from its powerful truck cousins. If we deviate from the Chrysler powered theme, a viable option may have been the turbo-six from a 1986 Buick Regal Grand National (GN). The engine from the GN was a super car killer, since it outran the Ferrari Testarossa, a Lamborghini Countach, and a Porsche 928S.
No matter what any enthusiast thinks may have been a wiser power choice, absolutely no one can deny the artistic genius behind Arellano’s work. The boxy design was maintained, the wheel choice fit the 80’s appeal, and colors were also fitting of the era – it’s nothing short of convincing. If someone were to take the renderings for what they were without knowing the context, these would be the ultimate April Fool’s joke. Great job, Arellano. Keep ’em coming.
Photos: Arellano’s Facebook
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