DETROIT -- The Jeep Hurricane concept doesn't have one of the powerful Hemi engines that DaimlerChrysler AG has successfully used to help reinvigorate its Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep brands.
Actually, the sport utility vehicle concept has two. One 5.7-liter Hemi sits in front and another is in back, together delivering 670 horsepower and the ability to hit 60 mph in less than five seconds. And the Hurricane can be powered by four, eight, 12, or all 16 of the engines' cylinders, depending on the driver's needs.
Yet the Hurricane's off-road-focused performance features don't end there. Front tires can be turned inward and rear tires outward, allowing the Hurricane to spin in a circle, literally giving the rig a turn radius of zero. When off-roaders in tight spaces want to move sideways, all four wheels turn in the same direction, another example of the Hurricane's multiple four-wheel steering modes.
"It's the absolute extreme," said Dieter Zetsche, Chrysler's president and CEO. "It can do ostensibly what no other vehicle can do."
The Hurricane was one of three concepts Chrysler unveiled at the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Jeep Gladiator pickup and Chrysler Firepower sports car shared the stage with the Hurricane. Chrysler is using the diesel-powered Gladiator concept to gauge public interest in again adding such a pickup to the Jeep brand. But it was the Hurricane that grabbed attention.
Following the lead of the high-powered Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle and Chrysler ME Four-Twelve sports car concepts from previous years, the Hurricane is billed as a look at how far the Jeep brand can go.
In the Hurricane's case, though, performance has more to do with off-road capability and maneuverability than speed.
Zetsche said Chrysler has built a "mule" test vehicle of the fully functional Hurricane concept. The two-seat SUV could be put into production for military uses or extreme off-roading, he said.
Jeep designers, who go off-roading together, were challenged a year ago to come up with a concept that embodied the four-by-four brand. Aaron Pizzuti's creation won out, and they spent the year working on the Hurricane.
"This idea literally came from me in the middle of the night," Pizzuti said yesterday. "There's so many possibilities with this concept."
An off-road enthusiast who drives a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Pizzuti said his favorite feature in the Hurricane is "skid steer." The four-wheel steering mode keeps the wheels straight but powers one side in the front and the opposite in back.
The Hurricane's steering system isn't the only feature that lends itself to clearing and scaling obstacles while off-roading.
The Hurricane has a ground clearance of more than 14 inches, five inches higher than the most off-road capable existing Jeep, the Wrangler Rubicon. It has little front and rear overhang, giving the SUV nearly vertical approach and departure angles.
Interior amenities, however, are not part of the Hurricane formula. The Hurricane doesn't have doors _ passengers must jump in over the sides _ but it does have a global positioning system.
John Sgalia, Jeep's director of design, said some styling or other aspects of the Hurricane eventually may be found on production Jeeps even if the concept as a whole doesn't become reality.
"It's readily recognizable as a Jeep at any view," he said.
Source: Topix.net
-Matt-
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I'm pretty sure Chrysler got the idea for the hurricane from the Warthog in Halo. And that's awesome because the Warthog Rocks! They wheels turn they same way too.
PLEASE FALLOW OUR FORUM RULES AND POST JEEP INFORMATION UNLESS NOTED AS AN INTRODUCTION OF A NEW VEHICLE IN OUR JEEP FORUM... THANK YOU!
Bob, I WAS following the rules. The Hurricane IS still a concept and IS a rumor. It's not even in production yet thanyou very much.Therefore it WAS in the correct forum I know the Df rules and I've been here longer than you kiddo Plus, if you take a lookie at the Df terms of service, nothing about this is specified http://www.dodgeforum.com/m_10843/tm.htm
Thanks for the pictures Amanda. I searched for some last night before I posted, but couldn't find any.
Once again Jeep presents what we would all like at the shows but what they offer at the dealerships are nothing like that and are very outdated and not selling very well. No one will realize the fine capabilities of Jeeps if they remain so ugly no one will get in them. The traditional World War Ii look can only go so far. The new Grand?? Cherokee is not what it should be and the newer and bigger Wagonneer is no styling leader either. We constantly hear about new stylish versions about to be offered but for years they have disappointed us. Hopefully the latest rumors are true and they will bring out some freshly styled Jeeps or Jeepsters we can get excited about. Remember how excited you were when you first heard about the Liberty and then how you felt when you saw it? I was so happy to see them clean up the Liberty's front corners for 2005. There are still a lot of American jobs depending upon Jeep offering vehicles people will buy.
Jeep concept pushes off-road ability
I know the Df rules and I've been here longer than you kiddo 
Plus, if you take a lookie at the Df terms of service, nothing about this is specified 
