The much anticipated 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is in stock now. The standard engine is Chrysler’s new Pentastar V6; the 290 horsepower V6 engine is said to be smoother than competitors from Toyota, Honda, and GM, and has variable cam timing to allow for good gas mileage. The Hemi will remain optional across the board, and may be pushed by Chrysler while V6 production ramps up. The independent front and rear suspension have isolated cradles. Variable-rate rear springs improve on-road handling and comfort, and the spare tire is stored inside as opposed to underneath. Torsional rigidity has been increased 146%.

To get all of the Grand Cherokee’s power and torque to the trail, Jeep offers three 4WD systems. Quadra Trac I is a single-speed all-wheel-drive system identical to that in the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Quadra Trac II offers all-wheel drive, as well as 4WD High and Low (2.72:1) ranges with a locking center differential. Quadra Drive II is the top dog in the line and adds an electronic limited-slip differential to the rear axle that works with the four-wheel ABS-brake-based traction control. Quadra Trac II and Quadra Drive II both come with Selec-Terrain—a center-console-mounted five-position dial (Sand/Mud, Sport, Auto, Snow and Rock) that coordinates the throttle, transmission, transfer case, hill-start assist and hill-descent control to match the condition.

The cabin has been improved as well. One glance around the cabin reveals vast improvements, with soft-touch panels everywhere the hand might fall. Limited and top-level Overland models pack plenty of beautifully lacquered real wood and soft leather. Even the dash vents move in a way that feels solid and upscale. And yes, if you check enough option boxes, you’ll have heated and cooled seats, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control and just about every feature you’d find in a luxury sedan. Get your 2011 Grand Cherokee today! View our 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee inventory at Reedman-Toll Chrysler.

As the speedy Dodge Viper wraps up production, it gets the chance to make one last showcase. The Viper Cup race series will feature a total of 10 events held at five tracks across the country, starting this weekend. The rules are pretty simple: entrants must take to the field in more or less identical 2010 Viper ACR-X models. The winner walks away with $6,500 in cold hard cash, plus another $1,000 in Mopar Vouchers for parts and the like. Prizes trickle down from there.

Each car in the series is a purpose-built Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X, 640 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of torque from its massive 8.4-liter V-10 engine. The car weighs 160 pounds less than the production model, and features a full aerodynamic package to improve downforce at high speeds. In short, they’re monsters, and should make for some brilliant racing on the track.

This weekend will actually see the first two events run, as the series doubles up at each track it’s going to, with a race on both Saturday and Sunday of each race weekend. First up is Virginia International Raceway, followed by Hallett Raceway, Pocono Raceway, Miller Motorsports Park, and Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch. The cable network Versus will be broadcasting each event in a 30-minute show format, so while the action won’t be live, folks can enjoy it throughout the country.  Dodge has also even thrown in a few “celebrity” names into the event, including Shaun Bailey, the associate engineering editor at Road & Track, and Sergent Michael Kohn, of Olympic bobsled renown.