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NEWS
GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Trail-rated Renegade no joke
Although barely a handful of buyers will ever use them, Renegade Trailhawk promises proper off-road credentialsJeep engineers and insiders are serious about the offroad capabilities of the brand’s new tiddler, the Renegade. Launched at the Geneva Motor Show today, the Renegade’s main role is to expand the brand’s footprint globally, but, Jeep engineers are adamant the vehicle has retained real off-road ability. And to show how serious the brand is, it will offer a full trail-rated version of the sub-compact SUV.
Dubbed the Renegade Trailhawk, the model gets unique front and rear bodywork to improve approach and departure angles, and will feature bigger wheels and, critically, a high-specification all-wheel drive system.
Jeep insiders say the Renegade leverages the 4x4 systems developed for the midsized Cherokee (set to go on sale Down Under in June). Labelled Jeep Active Drive Low, the system use a combination of mechanical and brake-operated traction control systems to (according to Jeep): “provide up to 100 per cent of the engine’s available torque to the ground, through any wheel, for optimal grip”.
As you’d expect, given its name, the Jeep Active Drive Low system also has the benefit of a low crawler gear setting. This is the result of coupling a low first gear and lower final drive ratio, in turn facilitated by the Renegade’s first-in-segment use of a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The Trailhawk version of the Renegade also comes with a new version of Jeep’s smart Selec-Terrain system. In the off-road Renegade it features a fifth and exclusive ‘Rock’ mode.
Trailhawk will be offered with a choice of 2.0-litre turbo-diesel or 2.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol engines. The top diesel engine is rated at 125kW/350Nm, while the ‘Tigershark’ petrol four punches out 137kW/236Nm – both impressive sets of stats for the class.
Compared to the ‘normal’ Renegade, the Trailhawk also features increased ride height (around 20mm) and around 50mm extra wheel articulation (up to 205mm). Jeep claims the light-car sized SUV has a safe fording depth of 480mm.
Wheels are larger in diameter than front-drive Renegade's at 17-inch and are fitted with all-terrain tyres. Other changes obvious to motivated observers include off-road-racer-style skid plates, and front and rear tow hooks. Jeep will also offer Trailhawk in unique colour and graphic schemes.
The abovementioned bodywork changes (and raised ride height) deliver 30.5 degree approach, 25.7 degree breakover and 34.3 degree departure angles. This compares to 17.9, 21.2, 29.7 (degrees) respectively for the most road-orientated Renegade models.
It’s not clear whether Jeep Australia will offer both turbo-diesel and petrol powertrains for the Trailhawk. And added bonus for turbo-diesel Trailhawk buyers is an upgrade to maximum towing rating from 900 to 1500kg.
The Trailhawk label is set to gain prominence in Jeep’s line-up. Already a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk model is offered Down Under. When it goes on sale in June, the new Cherokee will also feature a trail-rated Trailhawk variant.
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Written byMike Sinclair
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