Jeep Rescue concept | Jeep Treo concept |
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The Jeep booth featured a waterfall with computer-controlled messaging using nearly 7,000 nozzles. The show opened for the press on Sunday January 4th and to the public on January 13th. Jeep unveiled three new vehicles, the Jeep Treo concept, the Jeep Rescue concept and the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. |
Combine legendary Jeep off-road capability with state-of-the-art search and rescue technology, the Jeep Rescue is designed to reach areas in the harshest, most daunting mountainous and desert areas.
“Jeep Rescue is the supreme trail search and research vehicle – one that only Jeep could build, “ said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President – Chrysler Group Design.
Classic Jeep Design Taken to An Exciting New Dimension and Extreme
Starting with a modern interpretation of the timeless, classic Jeep, the Rescue not only hints at a future design direction for a large Jeep – it builds on the rugged Jeep heritage to forge an exciting new dimension for the Jeep brand.
The Rescue can be configured to run almost totally “open” – with folding front windshield and a retractable backlite, a sliding glass sunroof in front, a fold-forward canvas roof in the rear, plus, all four doors are removable.
A Rugged Foundation
Featuring all-new body-on-frame construction with hydroformed frame rails and riding on an 80-inch wide chassis with 123-inch wheelbase and 37-inch tires, the Jeep Rescue is built for anything thrown its way. The front hydropneumatic suspension combines with the heavy-duty link-coil rear suspension to give the Rescue its solid footing on all terrain. The suspension has adjustable ride height and an additional 4-inch lift available for fording. The aforementioned 37-inch tires feature an MTR tread and run-flat capability, negating the need for a spare. On-board tire pressure control has the ability to “tune” tire pressures for maximum traction on all surfaces.
Unequalled Rescue Capability
Powered by a 325-hp (600 ft.-lbs. torque) Cummins Diesel and featuring seating for five, the Jeep Rescue’s primary mission is rescue capability, and its list of rescue and safety equipment is impressive:
“The Jeep Rescue is Jeep capability taken to maximum extreme and that, being Jeep, is unmatchable,” said Creed. “It is everything the Jeep brand represents – in a vehicle equipped for unequalled search and rescue service.”
Advanced, Efficient, Environmentally Accountable Propulsion
Treo’s forward-thinking design brief is matched by its equally forward-thinking alternative propulsion system. Imagined with an efficient, hydrogen fuel cell powering all four wheels via dual electric motors, the Treo is designed to operate in all conditions – while being sensitive and accountable to the environment.
A Bold New Jeep Signature
Treo – a name meaning “three” in various languages - comes from the concept’s unique 2 + 1 seating configuration, which can be changed to accommodate a 2 + gear scenario. The Treo’s “face” presents a bold new Jeep signature – despite the concept’s compact dimensions.
The classic Jeep design elements – the seven slot grille, large “eye” headlamps and the prominent windshield presence – are freshly nuanced and then enhanced by a purposeful lower-front bumper with rugged, oversized tow hooks, slightly exposed front suspension componentry and bolt-on fenders.
The Treo’s shape narrows front-to-back, and culminates in a dramatically tapered tail, which is augmented by twin, high-mounted spar wings that serve a triple functional role as running, brake and tail lamps, cooling air intakes and as the exterior mounting points for twin Jeep Rubicon bikes.
“Treo’s look is rugged and purposeful – a truly imaginative evolution of the Jeep ‘face’ with packaging that belies its compact dimensions. It has real presence in the flesh, on that grows more interesting every time you look at it – from every angle, “ said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President – Chrysler Group Design.
Unique Interior Packaging “Driven” by “Drive-by-Wire” Controls, Advanced Materials
An advanced drive-by-wire system provides a fascinating functional detail to the Treo interior, which in turn allows for instant adaptability for either left- or right-hand drive. The steering column, pedals and instrumentation are all contained in one module – a single piece of sculpture that can be easily slid to either side of the car – which mounts to a one-piece structural beam (a second module contains the radio, GPS and HVAC controls in a touch screen that is removable). This unique functional design feature, combined with the added visibility provided by the Jeep see-through grille and its creative greenhouse design, contribute to the Treo’s roomy, airy interior – allowing it to take full advantage of natural and ambient light sources.
The overall effect of the Treo interior is one of spaciousness and usability. Future-tech materials mesh with tactile textures and surfaces, which results in an interior environment that’s bright, open and functional. The Treo’s rear seat can be folded to store more gear, although the front wheels from the exterior-mounted Jeep Rubicon bikes can be stored in the back without disturbing the rear passenger.
“Treo’s visionary vehicle packaging with its basic 2 + 1-seat configuration and built-in versatility lends itself to future Jeep activity seekers – at an entry-level price position. It is rugged and functional in genuine Jeep fashion, but its adaptability quotient is taken to the next level and beyond,” Creed said.
Jeep "Rescue" concept vehicle
Designed for the most extreme situations and unforgiving conditions, the Jeep® Rescue concept is not only the ultimate type of search and rescue vehicle – it’s the ultimate execution of a Jeep off-road vehicle.
Jeep "Treo" concept vehicle
A vivid new interpretation of where the Jeep® brand could go in the future, the Jeep Treo exemplifies the idea of “fluid imagination” thinking in a stunning, unexpected package – a form and presence that challenges the brand’s traditional dimensions, but in the end, can still be viewed as authentically Jeep.The Treo is the next-generation, urban-active Jeep – one that will allow it to thrive in a city or campus environment, yet one that will easily take its owner to the trailhead. All of this adaptable with the ability to use the freedom of fuel cell technology.