Electrified 4xe Jeeps find the ‘magic’ off-road formula

“We’re going to push trail rating even higher with electric because I think we can do even better.”

Jeep has thrown its electric cards on the table confirming at least two battery-powered seven-slot models for the Australian market, and it says those concerned that zero-emissions power will blunt the brand’s off-road edge need not worry.

According to the company’s top executive, the future is even brighter for Jeep’s range of all-terrain machinery with the advent of electrification, and its new era of plug-in hybrids and pure electric models will be more capable than ever before.

Speaking at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Jeep Brand CEO Christian Meunier said electrification allowed the company’s rigorous ‘trail rated’ development and testing to get even tougher.

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“Now that we have all these (electric) products coming in, I’m going to push harder,” he said. “We’re going to push trail rating even higher with electric because I think we can do even better.”

Jeep’s process of trail-rating a model focuses on a tiered system to test and evaluate its all-terrain ability, including one of its most gruelling challenges on the iconic Rubicon Trail.

With the introduction of electric models, Jeep coined its 4xe boot badge to denote plug-in or all-electric power coupled with four-wheel drive. One of the first to adopt the new moniker was the iconic Wrangler, which, according to Meunier, sets the standard for its siblings.

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“The Recon is going to be Trail Rated six, which will make the Rubicon Trail. Wrangler is a 10, so the king remains the king. With electric, the Wrangler is unbeatable.

“The trail rating is going to be even more stringent and we’re going to push the limit of what we can do.”

While Jeep claims the instant and easily controllable torque of electric motors will enhance Jeep’s adventure credentials, the issue of battery range is a harder nut to crack, but the company has a solution here too.

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“The Recon will be trail rated. It can do the Rubicon Trail in a day and a half and you have enough juice to get to the next town to charge it. On top of that, we’re working on solar charging stations that we’ll put on the trails.”

Over the coming years, Jeep will continue to roll out its web of wilderness charging points with a plan to eventually cover all its most esteemed trails, and Meunier is encouraging Jeep Australia to adopt a similar strategy.

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“We have 80 trails in the US which are the Badge of Honor trails on which you get a badge for making it,” he explained.

“All these trails will be equipped with charging stations (currently four) and I’m pushing the other regions, including Australia, to do the same.

“People have realised that electric mixed with 4x4 is magic. It’s the formula.”