Jeep has a completely electric off-road vehicle called the Wagoneer S Trailhawk

The Jeep Wagoneer S: Spectacular Concepts in the Jeep Era at LEP3 / TechCrunch

The company isn’t committing to putting the Trailhawk concept into production, but during today’s event, executives hinted heavily that the off-roader would indeed eventually become a real EV. Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa said that the Wagoneer S would feature several trims, with the fully loaded Launch Edition coming first.

The Launch Edition will be on sale in the fall with a starting price of $71,995. Other trims, including more affordable models, will be announced later.

Sure, it’s not the fully electric Wrangler that was initially promised and many thought would come first. (That’s coming later as the Jeep Recon.) With sluggish sales and sticker shock keeping many people tethered to their gas engines, its premium pricing is not exactly what a lot of customers are looking for.

The Wagoneer S will have a 400-volt architecture, which means slower DC fast charging, but it won’t have an 800-volt architecture. Jeep claims it will be charging 20 to 80 percent in 23 minutes.

The Jeep Wagoneer S has 3-in-1 EDMs that combine the power electronics into a single unit that is both powerful and efficient. The front EDM has wheel disconnects to reduce energy draw while cruising and to help maximize range.

In order to make the ride as smooth and silent as possible, Jeep’s engineers tweaked the body torsion stiffness for a 35 percent improvement over other midsize Jeeps. The vehicle’s aerodynamics are also optimized — which is typical of an EV — with a drag coefficient of 0.29. And there is some indication of off-road capabilities, with five distinct drive modes: Auto, Eco, Sport, Snow, and Sand. (I’m told that Jeep recommends you select Sand when driving in deep snow and Snow when looking to avoid slippage. Makes sense!)

Most notably, Jeep is betting big on interior screen real estate. A massive 45-inch glass display stretches the width of the dash, including a segment just for passengers — a first for Jeep. The main display of the passenger display runs on the Uconnect operating system, so passengers can share driving directions and other information.

Jeep approach is interesting to say the least. Picking a fight with a Tesla Model Y in a drag race, when the Tesla sells for $20,000 less, may strike some as a mismatched fight. A better equivalent would probably have been Rivian, but more people know Tesla, the clear leader in the EV race.

The forest green SUV features a laser-cut roof rack, 3D-printed tow hooks and other goodies that are not found in the standard Wagoneers S.

Jeep’s most rugged off-road vehicles usually come with the Trailhawk trim name, complete with more durable equipment and materials. Trailhawk vehicles are usually trail rated, meaning they have passed a number of tests for ease of travel and ability to maneuver. With the Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept Jeep is showing interest in a battery-electric segment.

Electric off-roading has been around for a long time. Ford, Chevy, GMC, and Rivian all market their electric trucks as just as capable on gravel as they are on pavement. The section for battery- powered rock crawlers is included in the annual King of the Hammers competition. But Jeep is a brand that prides itself on its overpowered dirt spewers, so introducing a plug-in version would make total sense.