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Like the children’s fairy tale of the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan, the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee bids to become Chrysler Corp.’s sport-utility swan.

The 1999 Grand Cherokee by virtually anybody’s assessment is areally attractive sport ute.

As a vehicle type that generally has the lines of a barn with wheels, the all-new Grand Cherokee has acquired a more fluid style. The term “all-new” often is bantered about with casual reference to fact in the automotive field these days. But the new Grand really is all new, since only 127 parts have been carried over from the predecessor model.

The ’99 Jeep is longer, wider, and higher, yet has a reduced step-in height.

The interior provides higher levels of fit, finish and refinement. A new 4.7-liter V-8 (258 cubic inches) offers more power. The engine is hooked up to an innovative 4/5-speed automatic transmission.

New four-wheel drive, suspension, braking and steering systems make the Grand a grander Jeep than anything previously produced.

That’s the good news.

I wouldn’t say the cost is bad news, but the ’99 Grand Cherokee is no econobox. A base Laredo model begins at a whisker less than$27,000, and you can put about $35,000 or more into a Limited. Stylists did not lose the key design signature for Jeep, the seven slot grille. Overall, the front end is more curved and is the base for jewel-like quad headlamps. These lamps improve the total lumen output by 90 percent.

The windshield has more rake. From the side, the C and D pillars are more angled. The roof has more arc. At the rear, tri-colored tail lamps incorporate air extractors.

When combined with the extractor vents in the D-pillars, it nearly triples the air flow through the cabin area. A new liftgate with rear cut lines for better fit and finish replaces the previous wraparound design. An optional tow hitch now is integrated with the bumper fascia.

This structure is mounted on a retained 105.9 inches of wheelbase, but the Grand is 4.4 inches longer (181.5), has a 1-inchwider track (59.5), is 2.2 inches higher (69.4), and is 1.6 inches wider (72.3) than the previous-generation vehicle.

This gives the occupants more front/rear head room. Cargo space is further increased by locating the spare tire under the cargo bay’s floor.

The Grand is a five-seater in a traditional sense, with the individual front seats being divided by a center console. Instrumentation includes oil pressure and voltage gauges as well as the standard speedometer-tachometer-temperature-fuel layout.

The Jeep, even in luxury form, is known as a heavy hauler. So, to handle this chore, engineering developed a new, single-overhead-cam, 16-valve 287-cubic-inch V-8. The engine has 10percent less displacement than the 5.2-liter V-8 it replaces, butdevelops seven percent more power at 235-horsepower.

Fuel efficiency has been increased 1 mile per gallon. The 4.0-liter (242-cubic-inch) push rod/rocker arm in-line 6 has been retained, with a 10-hors epower boost over the previous six-cylinder motor.

Equally prominent in the Grand’s mechanical functions is a new multi-speed automatic that was designed to complement the new V-8.This 45RFE transmission has a tall 3.00-to-1 ratio first gear for initial acceleration and a split second gear with an alternate ratio that gives the automatic five forward speeds. Second gear has a 1.67 or a 1.50 ratio available with a kick-downoperation.

Four-wheel drive is the way to go these days, and Jeep’s new Quadra-Drive is an industry exclusive.

Combining a second-generation Quadra-Trac II transfer case and Vari-Lok progressive front and rear differentials, the system has the ability to keep the Grand going even if only one wheel has traction.

Incorporating a front axle speed-sensing torque differential, power transfer is proportional to wheel speed differences rather than conventional torque d ifference.

Handling the power output is a new three-link rear suspension with less unsprung weigh t for improvement in ride. A new recirculating ball steering gear give the driver a sports sedan rack-and-pinion steering feel. And electronic brake distribution enhances stability during hard stops.

Probably one of the more interesting luxury features is an infra-red dual-zone climate control system that reads driver and passenger body temperatures to independently adjust cabin temperatures for individual comfort.

This is the first use of an infra-red climate control system in a vehicle.