2004 Jeep Rescue Concept

Targeting Its Old Market?

What are the power brokers behind the Jeep brand thinking? Are they trying to build the worlds largest Wrangler for entry in the annual monster truck road show?

While that might not be a bad idea for branding the Jeep image on impressionable young minds, the real reason behind this project is a no-brainer. After all, how many "allied offensives" do our armed forces have to take part in before the original army conveyance takes back its rightful place from Hummer?

The Willys Jeep typified the never surrendering spirit that American and Allied forces embodied during World War II. Today it is an icon, as important to the development of the North American way of life as Fords Model T and, ironically, Volkswagens Beetle.

Now, in case you dont think that todays Chrysler Group is a worthy caretaker of the legendary Jeep heritage, take a look down memory lane to such service oriented notables as the M-4 Sherman tank. Under the direction of Chrysler Corporation President K.T. Keller, Chrysler established the Detroit Tank Arsenal in Warren, Michigan, where 18,000 Shermans, another backbone of the U.S. ground forces, were built.

While Chrysler also built nearly 8,000 "Sea Mule" marine tugs and hundreds of Harbor Utility Tugs at Chrysler facilities for the war effort, Dodge plants delivered close to 500,000 "fighting trucks," primarily for hauling troops and equipment. Of these the M47, M48 Power Wagons and WC6 Command Cars were most notable. Dodge also constructed more than 18,000 Wright Cyclone engines for the B-29 Superfortress, while other plants spewed out gyro-compasses, submarine nets, cooking stoves, practice shells, air raid sirens (for homefront use), smoke screen generators and billions of ammunition cartridges from 1942 through to 1945.

Altogether, Chrysler and Dodge supplied Allied fighting forces with $3.4 billion in equipment before the war ended in 1945. Yes, its more than reasonable to say that Chrysler Group is worthy to carry the Jeep brand back into the military arena.

Of course, not all Willys Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge military vehicles of the past were used for direct combat. Jeeps and Dodge trucks were rigged for supply and ambulance duty, as well as fighting forest fires and rescue work after the war.

This is a market, along with the obvious military opportunities, todays Jeep is targeting with its new Rescue concept. The segment is now dominated by the previously American Motors Corp. owned AM General, and its Hummer HUMVEE, or H1 as it is referred to by civilians since the brands marketing rights were placed in the hands of Chrysler Group rival General Motors.

After a lengthy lawsuit between the two companies regarding the use of the seven-slat grille, a loss that without doubt still smarts like a chronic war wound on the hind ends of top Chrysler Group execs, Jeep has countered with a conceptual challenger to the HUMVEE. The Rescue is no Wrangler, making a shadow that covers no less than 80 inches of real estate in width, and featuring a wheelbase that stretches 123 inches. Its MTR tread, run-flat tires are a mammoth 37 inches in diameter! Additionally, an on-board tire pressure monitor allows the driver to "tune" tire pressures for optimal traction on any surface.

Under the XXXL exterior is an all-new body-on-frame architecture with hydroformed frame rails supporting a hydropneumatic front suspension and heavy-duty link-coil rear suspension. This is said to deliver to a "solid footing on all terrain," according to Jeep. Whats more, the suspension features adjustable ride height allowing an additional 4 inches of lift when needed.

"Jeep Rescue is the supreme trail search and research vehicle - one that only Jeep could build," stated Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President - Chrysler Group Design.

But of course it could also make an alluring civilian vehicle, for those Schwarzeneggers in the crowd who can never get enough size and capability. And the Rescue should be capable indeed, able to ford deep waters, trek up steep grades and overcome otherwise impassable obstacles.

But theres more to the new Jeep concept than just feats of bravery. If youve ever sat inside a Hummer H1, youll appreciate the Rescues interior layout. Stretch out your arm and its actually possible to touch your fellow passenger, a near impossibility in the ridiculously un-ergonomic H1. The Rescue looks inviting too, with high-quality materials and a functional layout where the Hummer is horribly archaic, featuring bargain basement plastics incorporated into an eclectic circus of switchgear, gauges and ancillary equipment.

Front and center on the Rescues dash is what just might be the largest infotainment screen to ever grace an automobiles cabin, less something customized for the sport compact "Sound Off" competition. The new concepts main gauges are larger than life, for easy legibility, and set into a rugged looking horizontal cross-member that also boasts seamlessly integrated air vents. A metal spine-like center stack and console look as if structurally responsible for carrying the weight of the vehicle, while housing the audio, 3-D topographical mapping software and topographical navigation system, and other ancillary controls, automatic transmission and shift-on-the-fly 4x4 levers, simple metal cupholders and oversized armrest.

The metal and leather steering wheel looks purposeful, with countless buttons and switches a fingers tip away from actuation. Just below, drilled aluminum pedals look more utilitarian than sport, a theme that permeates the entire machine.

Again, unlike the Hummer H1 the Rescue features three rows of seats, with those in the back able to fold forward for hauling long items. Their metal backs and rigid pedestals are able to withstand heavy loads without giving way, while ample tie-down hooks have been added to the cargo area to keep tall items in place. Attractive metal grab handles are also placed at all outboard seating positions to keep occupants from going airborne when traversing the rough stuff. The seats up front feature exposed coil spring shock absorbers to reduce the jar of off-roading, a feature common to large highway trucks and heavy duty machinery.

Like the Willys of old, the new Rescue can be opened up to let the elements in, with a folding front windshield, retractable backlite, sliding glass sunroof up front and fold-forward canvas roof in the rear, while all four doors can be removed.

The Rescue also beats the Hummer H1 when it comes to power and torque, as its the rolling stock surrounding the Dodge divisions new High Output Cummins "600" Turbo Diesel that produces 600 lb-ft of torque while featuring common-rail technology for decreased noise, vibration and harshness plus improved fuel efficiency and emissions.

The concept also features an impressive array of unique equipment, including an AC electric power (10 kW) generator, under-chassis point-of-view cameras for avoiding obstacles, passive infrared (thermal) cameras for search and rescue applications, satellite telephone, VHF radio, digital video recorder with satellite transmission capability, retractable 4-point harnesses for vehicle occupants, exterior perimeter lighting, white LEV lighting for long distance visual search and reduced power use, folding seats in rear compartment of vehicle, and two remote control winches, one in the front and on at the rear.

"The Jeep Rescue is Jeep capability taken to maximum extreme and that, being Jeep, is unmatchable," said Creed. "It is everything the Jeep brand represents - in a vehicle equipped for unequalled search and rescue service."

While some inside the Chrysler Group team have commented that the Rescue was merely a backdrop to display the new Cummins powerplant, I think theres a great deal more to this concept. Personally, I believe Jeep would be foolish not to build it and take back some of its lost military ground, restoring the pride of supplying Americas armed forces to the brands Toledo, Ohio troops - Toledo being Jeeps recently renovated ancestral home.

Like its name implies, there are plenty of additional applications for the Rescue, with few manufacturers able to supply the demand. On the outside, it seems that the Rescue is an opportunity waiting to happen, and one I fully expect to become a reality soon.