Jeep has put the Trailhawk badge on more off-road-capable petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid SUVs, but never an electric vehicle. That could change.
The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk is a concept for now, based on the recently revealed electric Wagoneer S going on sale in North America later this year and in Australia in 2026.
But this concept looks essentially production-ready, and includes not only various visual modifications but also enhanced capability.
The Selec-Terrain system of the standard Wagoneer S gains a Rock mode, joining the existing Auto, Sand, Snow, Eco and Sport modes.
There’s a driver-selectable electronic rear axle locker, while the concept has lifted suspension and rides on 31.5-inch all-terrain tyres, which are wrapped around 18-inch wheels.
It’s also recognisably different from the standard Wagoneer S by its revised front- and rear-end styling, with heavy-duty tow hooks and functional air extractors.
There’s also an anti-glare bonnet decal and roof rack.
It’s painted in a special green colour called Banner – perhaps a nod to the Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner – and the illuminated seven-slot grille has a new insert and Storm Grey metallic accents.
The colourful cabin is swathed in Mantis Green leatherette trim, with meteorite-inspired real stone veneer, dark metallic accents, Radical Red anodised trim and Ultraviolet accent stitching.
The Trailhawk concept also has a redesigned octagonal steering wheel with “tactical-inspired” grip sections at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions, intended to make it easier to handle when off-roading.
There’s still plenty of luxury here, with heated and ventilated front seats and dual 12.3-inch screens, but there are numerous rugged touches too.
There’s a functional cross-car bar for passengers to grab onto, with exposed fasteners and threaded inserts to mount gear, devices and accessories.
The doors and centre console also feature a new cargo management system with reconfigurable elastic straps.
Jeep hasn’t detailed any changes to the Wagoneer S’ powertrain.
In Launch Edition guise, the new Tesla Model Y rival produces 447kW of power and 800Nm of torque from its dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, good for a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of 3.4 seconds.
Jeep is also promising more than 483km (300 miles) of electric range against the “US cycle”.
That’s likely referring to the US Environmental Protection Agency test cycle, against which a Model Y Performance achieves an estimated 449km of range.
The Wagoneer S uses a 400-volt 100kWh battery pack, with the ability to charge from 20 to 80 per cent in 23 minutes using a DC fast charger.
Jeep has yet to confirm whether the Trailhawk concept will reach production.
The Trailhawk nameplate is a decade old now, and has previously been applied to the Renegade, Compass, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, signifying the most rugged variant in a Jeep’s model range.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe
There are currently no Trailhawks on sale in Australia, however. The Cherokee Trailhawk was axed in 2022, ahead of the Cherokee’s global demise in 2023, while the Compass Trailhawk was axed this year as Jeep shifts sourcing of its small SUV line from India to Italy.
The current WL-series Grand Cherokee is available overseas as a Trailhawk, but unlike its WK2 predecessor the trail-rated offering hasn’t been made available here.
Even if it doesn’t make a Trailhawk version of the Wagoneer S, Jeep will have the rugged Recon on the same STLA Large platform.
