The 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S packs 600 horsepower…but not a huge amount of off-road capability.
When Jeep launched the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk back in 2018, quite a few folks cried foul at the brand’s decision to put a 707-horsepower, supercharged V8 under the hood of what has been one of its most iconic cars in its modern history. Oh, sure, it can accelerate from 0-60 in 3.5 seconds…but that’s not really the point of having a Jeep, is it? With the new and fully electric Wagoneer S, we find ourselves in a similar situation: Why launch a 600-horsepower SUV with 6.4 inches of ground clearance when the main focus of the brand is its off-road prowess?
Well, the Jeep Recon — an electric reimagining of sorts for the iconic Wrangler — is still on the horizon. Before that, though, the automaker did show it’s still thinking about off-roading when it revealed the Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept. It still isn’t your “typical” Jeep, but at least it aims to address some of the louder criticisms of its street-savvy counterpart.
One of the biggest changes for this particular concept is dealing with the ground clearance issue. The Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept gets a three-inch lift over the standard model, bringing the clearance up to a more respectable 9.4 inches. That primarily comes from a two-inch suspension lift, but the larger 31.5-inch all-terrain tires give it another inch on top of that. The 18-inch beadlock-capable wheels also obviously offer up more sidewall than the standard 20s on the Launch Edition, so it’s actually possible to air down when needed were you to actually take something like this onto the trails (again, that’s the point of the Trailhawk models).
The Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept also gets reshaped front and rear bumpers to improve ground clearance, as well as the hallmark orange-painted recovery hooks front and rear. Up top, there’s a useful aluminum roof rack, and you still get a large dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
Inside, in place of a 10.25-inch screen, your passenger gets a large grab bar instead. The Trailhawk concept also gets Mantis Green interior instead of black or red, as well as a bright red panel for the center console-mounted drive mode selector. Speaking of drive modes, the Selec-Terrain system also (appropriately) gets a “Rock” mode, which the Launch Edition entirely lacks.
One other cool touch is the stone veneer in place of a more conventional wood or sporty carbon fiber look. The octagonal-shaped steering wheel gets a “tactical-inspired” grip section at the 9 and 3-o’clock positions, while the doors and center console use a modular cargo system with elastic straps.
Will it actually go into production, though?
While the Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk concept aims to appeal to what you’d expect from the brand, it’s not clear at the moment whether it will actually go into production. Part of the angle for bringing this concept along for the production Wagoneer S Launch Edition reveal is probably to get feedback, and from there we may see Jeep green-light a version you’ll actually be able to buy.
Tommy and Alex from Auto Buyer’s Guide take a deeper look at both the new Wagoneer S and this Trailhawk concept in New York City. Check that out below:
