The Jeep Trailhawk concept was designed to be a mix between the rugged, capable Wrangler and the more refined, road-biased Jeeps, such as the Grand Cherokee. The show car in
Detroit was built on the body-on-frame chassis found in the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, so its proportions are familiar, though the design of the body is more dramatic. "The key to the look of the Trailhawk," said Nick Vardis, the lead exterior designer on this project, "is the vehicle's distinctive proportions, due in part to its 116-inch wheelbase. The dash-to-front-axle dimension is dramatically long, giving the vehicle a sense of forward motion, while the front and rear overhangs are tight and abbreviated." In using that chassis, the Trailhawk aims to be as refined on-road as it is capable off, though it is highly unlikely that the Trailhawk will go into production as a model in its own right.
We suspect that the nose of the Trailhawk will be seen on the replacement for the current Grand Cherokee and perhaps the distinctive rake of the rear end too. The five-spoke 22-inch alloys are just for the show, as is the unusual roof treatment. Tinted glass panels in the roof and the panel over the cargo area are removable, as is the rear hatch. With these removed and the side windows retracted, Jeep says that the Trailhawk offers occupants "virtually the same open-air ambience as a typical soft-top Jeep".
Inside, Jeep's designers have mixed high quality materials such as leather and solid chunks of aluminium with a rugged look and feel. All the authentic off-roading equipment is included, such as a compass and inclinometer, and the concept also features a 'Terrain Selector' switch, which sounds suspiciously like Land Rover's Terrain Response...
Shane O' Donoghue - 10 Jan 2007