Fitted with two 5,7-litre Hemi V8s, the Jeep Hurricane concept is feted as the “most manoeuvrable and powerful 4×4 ever built”.
Fitted with two 5,7-litre Hemi V8s, the Jeep Hurricane concept is feted as the “most manoeuvrable and powerful 4×4 ever built”.
One of the biggest drawcards at the Detroit Motor Show, the Hurricane has a carbon-fibre body, lots of exposed structure and mechanicals, two seats and no roof. There are tiny indicators integrated into the front lamp units, “Thrill rated” badges on the side flanks, intricate interior switchgear, and exposed square rear lamps with a deeply embossed cross.
But the heart of the Hurricane is a centre transfer case that manages the engines’ combined 1 000 N.m of torque and directs power to propshafts that run alongside the vehicle – one engine drives the left-side wheels, while the other drives the right-side ones.
All four wheels turn to steer the car in a variety of different ways. According to Jeep, the Hurricane is capable of spinning around, turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels to reduce the vehicle’s turning radius, or moving sideways (ie like a crab) to manoeuvre through tight spaces.
Chrysler has taken out several patents on the drivetrain design and components. Both engines are equipped with the same cylinder deactivation technology found on the Chrysler 300C, and the Hurricane can be motivated by 4, 8, 12 or 16 cylinders.
