AMP will present the electric Grand Cherokee in Detroit

The small North American manufacturer AMP Electric Vehicles is back once again with its conversions of behemoths into eco-friendly behemoths. In 2010 it did so with the Chevrolet Equinox, in 2011 with the Mercedes-Benz ML, and at the next NAIAS, the abbreviated name of the Detroit Auto Show, it will unveil to the public its reinterpretation of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee powered solely by batteries.

The choice of this model is very simple: this SUV shares the platform of the German vehicle, since it was developed when Chrysler and Daimler were still together. Therefore, for AMP it did not represent much effort to adapt the Jeep. However, AMP’s president, Steve Burns, stated in an interview with AutoblogGreen that its behaviour will be more focused on the city than on the motorway, as the ML was.

That, and the fact that its width is slightly greater, are the only differences of this conversion for the Grand Cherokee. Performance and other figures differ very little from those of the Mercedes-Benz, that is, a range of just over 160 kilometres, offered by the same 37.6 kWh lithium-ion batteries. However, Burns clarified that each conversion has to be positioned in the price levels corresponding to the models.

In short, the electric Grand Cherokee will be cheaper than the ML, although there is constant talk of around 60,000 dollars before incentives (about 46,000 euros). In this way it can compete with its only rival for now, the new Tesla Model S, whose base trim also carries that price. Interested buyers will have to go to the United States to order one, as AMP will not sell it outside that country. Perhaps if it is well received it could give ideas to Sergio Marchionne once he crosses off a few of the goals on his list…

Via | AutoblogGreen