The Jeep® Trailhawk concept merges the
spectrum of the Jeep brand by combining the core off-road features of the
new body-on-frame four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with the refined
sophistication of an all-new on-road open-air concept vehicle, providing a
unique and fresh expression for Jeep. Built off the new Wrangler platform,
the Jeep Trailhawk is a more refined highway cruiser without sacrificing any
of Jeep’s legendary off-road capabilities.
Click to enlarge
“The key to the look of the Trailhawk,” said
Nick Vardis, principal exterior designer, “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.“
Click to enlarge
.
.
Vardis said the body side is muscular
and broad-shouldered, with the sheet metal pulled into shape, much
like a drawn arrow in the bow of a skilled archer. Even the pillars
are pulled back. The forward motion of the body is further accented
by the drive of the raising beltline.
“The flares are stretched and pulled
taut at one end,” Vardis said. “Each presents a ‘long side’ angled
toward the center of the body.”
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
The stance is broad, and the
wheels, pushed to the corners of the vehicle, are enclosed in robust
flares dramatically offset from the body. Partly trapezoidal in shape,
yet not asymmetrical, these angular, crisply-contoured wheel flares
reinterpret one of Jeep’s fundamental design cues.
The body in turn tapers toward the
front in plan view to expose more of the flares and accent the wide
stance. The flares enclose large 22-inch, five-spoke wheels, each with a
hefty 34-inch overall diameter. The specially-crafted tires are accented
by a red stripe, with the red color repeated on the exposed brake
calipers.
The lower body, which kicks outward
along the bottoms of the doors, intersects the flares crisply. Tucked
beneath this horizontal element is a recessed running board, accented by
a silver molding. A tall trapezoidal vent, located at the front
fender-front door cut line, is home to the circular Trail Rated badge.
The Trailhawk’s long hood is
fronted by a signature seven-slot Jeep grille angled rearward to match
the lean-back surface of the forward flares, with the slots filled with
a mesh texture. Bracketed between the grille and the flares, the
chamfered headlamps mimic the lean-back stance. Beneath their clear
flush lenses, HID projector beam quad lamps nestled into twin
“telescopic” polished aluminum barrels light the way forward while LEDs,
configured in parallel stripes provide park and turn signals.
“The main headlamp units are cropped
diagonally across the top,” said Vardis. “They peer out from an angled
brow, giving the vehicle its bold, sinister look. In front view, the
left and right lamps evoke the hooded eyes of a bird of prey.
The taillamps mimic the look of the
headlamps, including the striped turn signals, with the surface of the
liftgate carved away.
The vehicle’s upper structure is set onto
the lower body, encased by a crisp, chamfered 360-degree molding that
runs around the greenhouse, accenting the high, arching beltline. At the
base of the windshield is a seven-slot cowl screen that reprises the
grille. The body is painted in Argent Pearl high-gloss, with the flares
and lower body a slightly darker low-gloss variant.
The side windows retract fully into
the body, leaving no B-pillar above the belt, while the diagonal quarter
windows are also fully retractable. Gray-tinted twin longitudinal glass
panels over the first- and second-row seats and the glass panel over the
cargo compartment are removable, as is the swing-up backlight. With all
the glass lowered and removed, the Trailhawk offers occupants virtually
the same open-air ambience as a typical soft top Jeep. The fixed central
spine contains overhead lighting and several integrated storage bins.
“The Jeep Trailhawk interior emphasizes the
vehicle’s open air-freedom, inviting elements of the exterior theme into the
interior,“said Cliff Wilkins, responsible for the interior design. “Tough
mechanical elements which evoke exterior details are contrasted with
sophisticated materials and finishes to give a modern, rugged, purposeful
interior while delivering a premium off-road experience.”
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
The four-passenger interior is
dominated by two major design elements —the cross-car instrument
panel (I/P) form and a full-length central spine which forms the
floor console. The AC outlets, center stack compass/inclinometer,
and the dimensional, double-deck “biplane” gauges are housed in
circular casings having the appearance of machined aluminum, with
detailing matching headlamp surrounds. The two-tone leather-wrapped
aluminum steering wheel features vertical individual switches for
lights and speed control.
Riding the transmission tunnel,
the console’s raised walls create a full-length open bin, handy for
the storage of sundry items. Within the console’s side rails, two
front/rear combination armrest/storage bin modules, movable via
concealed tracks, can be positioned fore-aft at the occupants’
discretion. Using the familiar touchpad technology of laptop
computers, a flip-out pad for the remote control fold-away flat
screen navigation unit is housed in the forward armrest.
“The open console’s unique utility is
enhanced by the relocation of the transfer case ‘Terrain Selector’
switch to the center stack of the I/P,” said Wilkins. “Also, there
is the use of an electronic gear selector/park brake lever mounted
to the right side of the steering column to continue this effect.”
Additional storage is available forward of the drop-open center
stack control module, and in the lower door trim panels.
The driver and three passengers
can relax in individual premium leather seating in Bark Black and
Firewood Orange. The vehicle’s floor is a durable spray-finish with
integrated non-slip heel pads, practical for all-weather use.
In the cargo area, each quarter panel
houses a removable, portable “audio pod” sound system. Handsome in their
rectangular dark gray cases accented with silver circular speaker bezels,
each “pod” is fitted with a dock for an MP3 player. For carrying of first
aid or road hazard gear, jerry-can style boxes in easy-to-find Firewood
Orange are mounted forward of the speaker “pods.”
The utility of the cargo area is
enhanced by a drop-down tailgate featuring integral concealed storage, four
cup holders, and a sliding Load ‘N Go cargo tray with movable partitions
that roll rearward for easy retrieval of stored items.
“One of the most remarkable things about the
interior,” concludes Wilkins, “is that it was designed and surfaced entirely
electronically — there were no traditional sketches or 3-D models. Even so,
the interior turned out just as we had envisioned.”
