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2008 Jeep Renegade Concept

Currently, three of my favorite SUVs are Jeeps. Well actually, my favorite is the new four-door Wrangler Unlimited, and I love the powertrain from the Grand Cherokee CRD. In an

Jeep's new Renegade might be the ideal off-roader... for two. (Photo: Jeep)

absolutely dissimilar way I also love the GC SRT8, but would never buy one unless money was no object, just because of fuel economy considerations. The diesel, mind you, is highly efficient and extremely powerful. The problem I have with Jeep is that this engine isn't available in its most capable off-roader, the aforementioned Wrangler, as diesels are ideal for off-road applications thanks to their high torque bias and fuel efficiency ... you can go farther into the bush without need of filling up, after all. And while Jeep isn't about to custom-build the vehicle I want, they have come up with a concept that comes pretty close to answering my thrifty 4x4 needs.

Paying homage to Jeep's Willys roots, the storied brand's designers have created a most intriguing new concept, aptly dubbed Renegade. It's sized more like the original JEEP, the wartime transport primarily built by Willys and Ford, a

Crowds gathered around the new Renegade Concept at its introduction in Detroit. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

lightweight off-roader that was once sought after by off-road enthusiasts but are now worth so much to collectors they hardly see any rock crawling duty.

Jeep's B-segment concept would be ideal for rock crawling, however, or mud slinging, sand digging, water fording, snow skidding or whatever you deem as a good time off-road. Unlike the Willys, or any production Jeep ever made, this prototype is only for two, perfect for those camping trips when three's a crowd. And the lightweight Renegade is also a feel-good SUV in other ways, being the most eco-friendly vehicle to wear the most 4x4-capable Wrangler trim designation ever.

The Renegade doesn't get a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder diesel like the GC, mind you, but at half the displacement a tiny 1.5-liter, three-cylinder Bluetec diesel is enough

The Renegade is powered by an efficient diesel-hybrid, good for 110 mpg! (Photo: Jeep)

motivation to make this half-pint off-roader ... well almost enough. Unlike its larger brother, the Renegade concept includes plug-in hybrid support, with a lithium-ion battery pack good enough for 40 miles of electric propulsion, powering electric motors at each axle.

“With an electric motor powering each axle, the Jeep Renegade concept is designed for a 'hang on and have fun experience,'” commented Tony Shamenkov, Jeep Renegade concept principal exterior designer.

Dual 200 kilowatt (268 horsepower) electric motors push and pull a fully capable 4x4 system that includes a low range of gears and locking differentials. Enhancing its efficiency, the Renegade also uses a similar regenerative braking system as other hybrids, and all combined the little 4x4 can achieve a 400 miles range, which is a lot of bush whacking.

As

Aluminum skeleton and lithium-ion battery packs... it's about as enviro-friendly as car's get. (Photo: Jeep)

important to some, the Bluetec diesel generates an additional 115-horsepower when called upon and compared to conventional gasoline powered engines it reduces emissions and fuel consumption substantially. Just how thrifty is it? Well, it can achieve an equivalent petroleum fuel economy of 110 mpg, which is four-to-five times the ability than an equivalent gasoline-only SUV, according to Jeep.

The Renegade's lightweight aluminum structure adds to its eco-friendliness without detracting from crashworthiness thanks to its rigid construction, and aluminum is a fully recyclable material, of course, adding to the little ute's cradle to grave environment footprint. Jeep makes the point that most of the Renegade is recyclable ... all good as far as sustainability goes. In this respect, the Renegade's lithium-ion battery packs are much friendlier to Mother Nature than nickel metal hydride batteries, what every production hybrid is currently using.

All you

Holy doors make for an airy cabin. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

have to do is look at it to see that this little SUV fits in well within the elements. Not only does its Palm Metallic exterior hue camouflage well in the woods, but its big, extended wheel arches are classic Jeep, shielding massive wheels and beefy tires, while its low profile “speedster” windscreen gives it a race-truck appearance. In back it features what Jeep calls “deconstructed rubber-clad headlamps and tail lamps” ... OK? The “just-for-fun elongated triangular openings in each of the two sculpted doors” work well too, adding an airy feeling even when the doors are closed. This in mind, the Renegade concept has no roof, although an integrated roll bar makes sure occupants will be kept safe if it suffers a rollover. To compensate for its lack of a top, Jeep has supplied a variety of “lids” for the cargo deck behind the seats, starting with a “plain lid” or specific lids designed for stowing gear and others for mountain biking and kayaking. Also as part of the concept package are fluid-fill caps, a plug-in port and a first-aid kit.

Interior materials were designed with recycling in mind as well, with one-piece molded soy-based foam seats and doors, a single-piece co-molded instrument panel with a urethane skin, a co-molded aluminum/silicone steering wheel, a one-piece molded chassis created without using environmentally-harmful resins, and a one-piece molded interior compartment “tub.” According to Jeep, the kind of environmental stewardship that went into designing Renegade's cabin aligns with its “harmony with nature” philosophy.

“The Jeep Renegade concept's interior — actually the entire vehicle — is designed to minimize the number of parts necessary for assembly and function,” commented Scott Anderson, the SUV's principal interior designer. “We designed the Renegade with an eye toward simplification of systems, both in parts and processes.”

Jeep cites the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system as an example of such forward thinking processes, stating that it isn't coolant-based, and that the color, grain and gloss of interior components are molded in a single piece. Jeep even goes so far as to make the lightweight composite body's matte exterior color molded right into the material instead of painted on, making it so no harmful solvents were needed.

What else makes it a conscience-light 4x4? While the “dual-cockpit” primary gauge package is designed for left- or right-hand drive, streamlining the build process, which also saves money, no conventional wiring system is needed. Rather, the Renegade's thin multi-plane acrylic instrument pod, which is mounted on the steering column, is a “sealed, self-contained” wireless unit that is interchangeable

Cool sealed instrument pod would be cheap to manufacture and install. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

by the dealer or customer. An exposed horizontal beam incorporating a power strip holds the hollow dash panel in place, while, yaw, pitch and roll indicators are fitted to the passenger side. An interface similar to the gauge cluster fits into the center stack, and it swivels at center to allow an optimal view from either occupant. And just in case you're thinking this Jeep is all about lightweight fun without any concern for safety, the prototype comes with “separately-configured, impact-absorbing, vinyl-wrapped knee-blockers” that “float” below the car-wide beam.

The flat-bottom steering wheel is similar in design to Audi's R8 rim, nice company indeed, only this version, covering a regulation airbag, incorporates a rotating circular LED screen that lets the driver select a given drive mode. For putting the car in Drive, Reverse or Park, translucent shift buttons are colored

Flat-bottom steering wheel makes space for legs. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

red or green ... you figure out for what purpose. Lower down, “hollow-section, billet-formed pedals” are positioned above the tub floor.

As mentioned, the Renegade's doors are hollowed out, and while this well-ventilated alternative might be nice in the summer, Jeep includes remote pull “handles” to cover them up with canvas panels when the weather is less inviting.

With no roof, however, Jeep needed to make sure that the Renegade's “contoured, figure-form seats” expelled rain, and therefore covered them in scuba-like waterproof material that is “soft-touch and flexible”.

“Inspired by the simplicity and functionality of scuba diving gear, we wanted the interior of the

A real attention-getter from any angle. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Jeep Renegade concept to be weather-tight and durable,” Anderson added.

The seats also boast integrated seatbelts and unorthodox hollow, upside-down “U-shaped” headrests. As mentioned, the seat cushions are made of a urethane skin with soy-based foam that's “co-molded with a composite substructure”.

An item that I really like, and could see myself using on camping trips is a “thermal unit” integrated into the center stack that plugs into the Renegade's electrical battery pack, allowing food to be heated or cooled.

Unlike the Honda Element's all-plastic interior surfaces, the Renegade has been designed for easy cleaning. Yes, you can actually hose it down thanks to wireless electronics. A drain has been fitted into the floorboard, while the floor mats have been formed to flow water toward the drain hole.

Even if the Renegade wasn't the ultimate earth-friendly sport utility, I couldn't help falling for it as it looks so good. Its two-seat configuration would make it a no-go for me and my five-person family, but I could see younger people and older empty-nesters buy into something this thrifty, and stylish. Considering that the smart fortwo sells well and only seats two, the Renegade begins to make sense. A roof would be needed, of course, but nothing more than a removable soft-top. Yes, I think that Jeep's certainly onto something here.

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