WhichCar
motor

VIDEO: Jeep reveals Wrangler Trailcat concept

Jeep drops 527kW Hellcat motor in Wrangler

Jeep reveals Wrangler Trailcat concept
Gallery2

Jeep is perfectly aware it’s important to keep your fans happy.

Which explains why for the 50th Jeep-worshipping event held in Utah, America, called the Easter Safari, that also coincides with the brand’s 75th anniversary, it went a little cuckoo and built a 527kW (707hp) Wrangler concept called the Trailcat.

Power comes from the same supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8 found in the Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcat, which also produces 881Nm of twist and erupts a soundtrack that’ll send lycra-clad eco-mentalists up a tree for hiding.

Jeep Wrangler trailcat rearJeep’s had to stretch the Wrangler’s chassis by 12-inches to accommodate the new engine and beefed up the driveline with Dana 60 axles front and rear.

Fox suspension is tasked with keeping things steady on rocks while 39.5-inch tyres on 17-inch wheels should help it clamber whatever it finds in its way.

Up top where you’ll be sitting the windshield’s been chopped two-inches, while bucket seats have been pinched from the Dodge Viper, matched to harnesses, to keep you in place during spirited rock crawling. Oh, and its doors are pretty much non-existent.

Jeep Wrangler trailcat interior The Hellcat’s engine’s been married to a manual transmission, as the Trailcat scores a six-speed gearbox with a Hellcat ball shifter. Amongst the other concept-specific details there’s a domed and vented hood, LED headlights, foglights, Satin Black grille, and a two-inch lift to its ride height.

Of course, Jeep didn’t limit itself to one concept for the fan festival. It also brought along six others, including a military-service inspired dual-cab Wrangler called the Crew Chief 715, a 12-inch shorter Wrangler named the Shortcut, and even a Renegade ute/pick-up.

But the Trailcat, resplendent in its radiation bright green, is certainly the highlight of the cars. Have a listen to the thing and you’ll instantly get what we mean.

Louis Cordony
Contributor

COMMENTS

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.