TrailHawk.  Is it ready to spread its wings for Jeep? By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net Chrysler introduced two great concept vehicles at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.  One of them was the NASSAU and the other was the TRAILHAWK.  When you say the word Jeep to me, I don’t think of anything as nice as this proposed TRAILHAWK.

The idea was to combine the core off-road capability of the Jeep, which is legendary, and refine the sophistication of an open-air highway cruiser.  I have to admit, I was impressed.  And those drummers that were around for the introduction of the Chrysler Nassau were also around for the introduction of the TRAILHAWK.  I like the drums, but it did begin to hurt my ears after a while.  But the idea of “Jeep is marching to the beat of a different drum” did come through loud and clear.  I liked the TRAILHAWK.

The TRAILHAWK has a 116 inch wheelbase.  The overall length gives it a very real sense of moving forward.  All Jeeps have a certain amount of outdoor look, but the TRAILHAWK is a bit more muscular looking.  The wheels are placed out near the edges of the vehicle and the fender wells are flared out, squared off, and make a dramatic statement.  It’s almost a throwback to the legendary World War Two models of being a distinct shape, instantly recognized, yet new and crisp.

The hood on the TRAILHAWK is long.  The signature seven-slot grill is angled just enough to give a look of forward motion.  The headlamps are positioned adjacent to that grill, and at first glance, gives the appearance of a large hawk – the bird – perched and ready to swoop. 

There is a glass panel over the cargo area that is removable.  The side windows retract into the body well.  The diagonal quarter windows fully retract.  When all is said and done, the TRAILHAWK allows drivers and riders to experience the same open-air feeling as the typical Jeep with a soft-top.  The entire interior makes a statement of  “open-air.”

Sure, you can take this baby into deep mud and have a ball spinning and swooshing, but there are just enough nice things on the inside that you probably won’t want to do that.  But knowing that, in a tight situation, you have the capability to get through that mud is a reassuring feeling.  The steering wheel features two-tone leather wrapping.  The wheel includes individual switches for speed control and the lights.  There is a flip-out touchpad remote control  for a navigation system that is located in the forward armrest.  The seating consists of individual premium leather seating, designed to allow relaxation.  This is not to be an endurance test of sitting on a hard seat and bouncing.  The floor has a spray-on finish that is supposed to be quite durable and hold up under most hard use, yet practical for all-weather use.

The cargo area is a notch above, including a drop-down tailgate with cup holders and a sliding cargo tray with movable partitions.   Cliff Wilkins, interior design engineer, commented, “One of the most remarkable things about the interior is that it was designed and surfaced entirely electronically.  There were no traditional sketches or 3-D models.”  Well, maybe that is remarkable to a lot of folks.  But whatever and however – this is not your ordinary Jeep.  On the other hand, maybe it is.  It has the look and feel of the classic Jeep.  It has the capability of that classic Jeep.  But the TRAILHAWK offers so much more in looks, road worthiness, luxury, and capability.