Trailhawk eyes fresh prey

Jeep's apparent quest to plug every possible micro-niche in the all-terrain segment advances another step with the unveiling of its latest concept at next week's North American International Auto Show at Detroit.

Presenting the Trailhawk concept, so named because its headlights "peer out from an angled brow... evoking the hooded eyes of a bird of prey."

The design study is built on the body-on-frame chassis of the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, but its job description is to provide the "refined sophistication of an all-new on-road open-air concept vehicle."

Translation? The Trailhawk -- or at least the eventual production model it will spawn -- will be pitched at buyers who quite fancy a butch-looking Jeep but want a bit more refinement than that offered by the utilitarian Wrangler.

Jeep says the dash-to-front-axle dimension was deliberately made dramatically long to give the vehicle a "sense of forward motion". Helping in this regard (and benefiting approach and departure angles) are short front and rear overhangs.

The Trailhawk's stance is broad, thanks in no small part to the chunky, angular flares, which enclose large 22-inch, five-spoke wheels, each with a hefty 34-inch overall diameter.

Naturally it wouldn't be a Jeep without the trademark seven-slot grille, and this is angled rearward to match the ‘lean-back' surface of the front flares.

The side windows retract fully into the body, leaving no B-pillar above the belt, while the diagonal quarter windows are also fully retractable. Grey-tinted 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.

Jeep says that 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.

Motive power? That's taken care of by a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel BLUETEC engine with 158kW and a robust 510Nm.

Hmmm...it's not exactly pretty, but we have to admit the Trailhawk does have presence. And, unlike the soon-to-launch Compass, you will be able to go off-road in it.