To bring this new Grand Cherokee more into sync with current design trends, DaimlerChrysler designers moved up the beltline and reduced the glass-to-body ratio. The corners and sides were also squared off. All of which tends to give the vehicle a more solid, more substantial appearance compared with its predecessor. Yet it is still instantly recognizable from every angle as a Grand Cherokee.
Signature features of the Grand Cherokee like the seven-slot grille and the trapezoidal wheel openings were carried over into the new vehicle. The hood, air dam and side mirrors evince hours of development time in the wind tunnel. The heavy cladding used on the previous model was replaced with a more slab-like bodyside shape. Apparently this new shape better protects the sides of the vehicle from road debris tossed up by the big tires.
The Grand Cherokee was introduced to America in 1992. It was the world’s first luxury SUV, alas.
